rferl--2020-10-28--Ukraine's Top Court Deals Critical Blow To Anti-Corruption Agency

Ukraine 's Constitutional Court has stripped the country ’ s anti-corruption agency of some of its critical powers .
The high court ’ s ruling published on October 28 declared it unconstitutional to hold officials criminally liable for intentionally providing false information on asset declarations .
It also struck down several powers of the National Agency for Preventing Corruption ( NAZK ) .
The court decision may impact lending from the International Monetary Fund and threaten visa liberalization with the European Union .
Anti-corruption campaigners said the ruling undermines Ukraine ’ s battle against graft .
“ The decision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant rollback in Ukraine ’ s anti-corruption reform , ” watchdog Transparency International Ukraine ’ s Executive Director Andrii Borovyk said in a statement .
“ These legislative provisions were the cornerstones of the anti-corruption system , while corruption has been recognized as one of the threats to the national security.
” The court ruled unconstitutional NAZK ’ s powers to verify asset declarations and monitor officials ’ lifestyles for signs of corruption .
Free public access to officials ' declarations was also made illegal , as was electronic declarations meant to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also deprived the NAZK of the right to access registers , draft reports on violations , and conduct anti-corruption inspections in government agencies .
The decision can not be appealed .
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would continue to fight corruption .
He also suggested he would take legislative action to restore the electronic declaration system and hold those who intentionally violate rules to account .
“ Ukrainian officials and deputies will continue to declare their property and income , and anti-corruption bodies will have the necessary powers to inspect them and bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The ruling could impact reforms required under a $ 5 billion International Monetary Fund deal Zelenskiy 's government secured in June to fight a sharp economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
But the IMF has held back tranches due to concerns over Ukraine 's performance in tackling corruption and implementing reforms .
Visa liberalization with the EU is also contingent on Ukraine fighting endemic corruption .
The court ruling is also controversial because four judges are under investigation by the NAZK for failing to properly declare assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not recuse themselves from the case , despite calls to do so from the government and anti-corruption campaigners .
With reporting by the Kyiv Post , Reuters , and RFE/RL 's Ukrainian Service

Ukraine's Constitutional Court has stripped the country’s anti-corruption agency of some of its critical powers.
The high court’s ruling published on October 28 declared it unconstitutional to hold officials criminally liable for intentionally providing false information on asset declarations. It also struck down several powers of the National Agency for Preventing Corruption (NAZK).
The court decision may impact lending from the International Monetary Fund and threaten visa liberalization with the European Union.
Anti-corruption campaigners said the ruling undermines Ukraine’s battle against graft.
“The decision of the Constitutional Court will lead to a significant rollback in Ukraine’s anti-corruption reform,” watchdog Transparency International Ukraine’s Executive Director Andrii Borovyk said in a statement. “These legislative provisions were the cornerstones of the anti-corruption system, while corruption has been recognized as one of the threats to the national security.”
The court ruled unconstitutional NAZK’s powers to verify asset declarations and monitor officials’ lifestyles for signs of corruption. Free public access to officials' declarations was also made illegal, as was electronic declarations meant to increase transparency.
Among other things, it also deprived the NAZK of the right to access registers, draft reports on violations, and conduct anti-corruption inspections in government agencies.
The decision cannot be appealed.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would continue to fight corruption. He also suggested he would take legislative action to restore the electronic declaration system and hold those who intentionally violate rules to account.
“Ukrainian officials and deputies will continue to declare their property and income, and anti-corruption bodies will have the necessary powers to inspect them and bring violators to justice,” he said in a statement.
The ruling could impact reforms required under a $5 billion International Monetary Fund deal Zelenskiy's government secured in June to fight a sharp economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
But the IMF has held back tranches due to concerns over Ukraine's performance in tackling corruption and implementing reforms. Visa liberalization with the EU is also contingent on Ukraine fighting endemic corruption.
The court ruling is also controversial because four judges are under investigation by the NAZK for failing to properly declare assets in their declarations.
The four judges did not recuse themselves from the case, despite calls to do so from the government and anti-corruption campaigners.
With reporting by the Kyiv Post, Reuters, and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service


rferl--2020-10-28--Armenia, Azerbaijan Accuse Each Other Of Shelling Civilians

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of shelling civilian targets on October 28 and breaking a U.S.-brokered truce .
The @ @ @ @ @ buildings in Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s main city , Stepanakert , were hit and that it @ @ @ @ @ .
Azerbaijan called the accusation “ deliberately spread disinformation.
” Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry @ @ @ @ @ and 70 injured in rocket attacks on the city of Barda .
Yerevan denied carrying @ @ @ @ @ the report “ groundless and false.
” Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting between Armenia @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh region have intensified after each side blamed the other for the collapse of a @ @ @ @ @ .

Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of shelling civilian targets on October 28 and breaking a U.S.-brokered truce. The Armenian Defense Ministry said several buildings in Nagorno-Karabakh’s main city, Stepanakert, were hit and that it was clarifying information about victims. Azerbaijan called the accusation “deliberately spread disinformation.” Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said 21 civilians were killed and 70 injured in rocket attacks on the city of Barda. Yerevan denied carrying out the attacks, calling the report “groundless and false.” Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region have intensified after each side blamed the other for the collapse of a third attempt at a cease-fire.


rferl--2020-10-28--Belarus's Interior Minister Hints At Use Of Lethal Force As Lukashenka Likens Protests To A 'Terrori

Belarus's Interior Minister Hints At Use Of Lethal Force As Lukashenka Likens Protests To A 'Terrorist' Threat

Belarus ’ s interior minister says security forces can use live fire against those participating in “ sabotage or a terror attack , ” as weeks of protests against strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka swell into a national strike .
The warning from Interior Minister Yury Karayeu on October 28 comes a day after Lukashenka described strikes called by the opposition this week `` the actions of organized criminal groups . ''
Lukashenka said the country was `` starting to face terrorist threats , '' in reference to weeks of peaceful protests against his rule .
Karayeu , who has been put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the brutal crackdown on protesters , said in an interview that weapons should not be used against peaceful protesters .
`` [ If ] a person carries out sabotage or a terror attack , attacks police officers , of course they must be stopped via any means at a police officer ’ s disposal -- from physical force to combat weapons , '' he said .
Belarus has witnessed near daily protests since the country ’ s August 9 presidential election that Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , claims he won by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the poll was rigged .
A violent crackdown by authorities has resulted in several deaths , hundreds of injuries , and more than 10,000 arrests .
There have been widespread and credible reports of torture .
Thousands of workers at state-owned factories and private firms as well as students at universities across the Eastern European country have heeded a call from opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya to join a national strike after Lukashenka ignored a demand that he resign , halt a brutal crackdown on protesters , and free political prisoners by October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she was so far `` satisfied '' with a mass general strike launched on October 26 , but suggested police intimidation and retribution against workers led to lower-than-expected mobilization .
With the Belarusian state controlling a large part of the economy , previous strikes in factories have not lasted , as workers have faced intimidation and threats of dismissal .
Speaking at a digital press conference following a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide , Tsikhanouskaya described the strikers and protesters as `` heroes . ''
She also pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in explaining why the strikes have not been as `` big as we expected . ''
On October 25 , a demonstration brought an estimated 100,000 people together in Minsk , in the latest mass showing of popular discontent against Lukashenka .
Most of the country ’ s opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to flee , including Tsikhanouskaya .
She left Belarus for Lithuania days after the vote amid threats against herself and her family .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Belarus Service , AFP , and Interfax

Belarus’s interior minister says security forces can use live fire against those participating in “sabotage or a terror attack,” as weeks of protests against strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka swell into a national strike.
The warning from Interior Minister Yury Karayeu on October 28 comes a day after Lukashenka described strikes called by the opposition this week "the actions of organized criminal groups."
Lukashenka said the country was "starting to face terrorist threats," in reference to weeks of peaceful protests against his rule.
Karayeu, who has been put under EU sanctions for his role in the brutal crackdown on protesters, said in an interview that weapons should not be used against peaceful protesters.
"[If] a person carries out sabotage or a terror attack, attacks police officers, of course they must be stopped via any means at a police officer’s disposal-- from physical force to combat weapons," he said.
Belarus has witnessed near daily protests since the country’s August 9 presidential election that Lukashenka, in power since 1994, claims he won by a landslide
The opposition and Western governments say the poll was rigged.
A violent crackdown by authorities has resulted in several deaths, hundreds of injuries, and more than 10,000 arrests. There have been widespread and credible reports of torture.
Thousands of workers at state-owned factories and private firms as well as students at universities across the Eastern European country have heeded a call from opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya to join a national strike after Lukashenka ignored a demand that he resign, halt a brutal crackdown on protesters, and free political prisoners by October 25.
Tsikhanouskaya said on October 28 that she was so far "satisfied" with a mass general strike launched on October 26, but suggested police intimidation and retribution against workers led to lower-than-expected mobilization.
With the Belarusian state controlling a large part of the economy, previous strikes in factories have not lasted, as workers have faced intimidation and threats of dismissal.
Speaking at a digital press conference following a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide, Tsikhanouskaya described the strikers and protesters as "heroes."
She also pointed to "how violent riot police” behave, in explaining why the strikes have not been as "big as we expected."
On October 25, a demonstration brought an estimated 100,000 people together in Minsk, in the latest mass showing of popular discontent against Lukashenka.
Most of the country’s opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to flee, including Tsikhanouskaya. She left Belarus for Lithuania days after the vote amid threats against herself and her family.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarus Service, AFP, and Interfax


rferl--2020-10-28--Civilians Reported Killed As Conflict Between Armenia, Azerbaijan Spills Into Urban Areas

BAKU/YEREVAN -- Deadly fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region has intensified as both sides blame each other for the collapse of a third attempt at a cease-fire .
Azerbaijan and Armenian reported civilian casualties in urban areas on October 28 , two days after a U.S.-brokered cease-fire was to go into effect .
Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry said 21 civilians were killed and 70 injured in Smerch multiple-rocket system attacks on the city of Barda , located in central Azerbaijan outside the Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Four civilians were reportedly killed in another attack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Armenian Defense Ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of attacking civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh , including the shelling of a hospital and maternity clinic in the enclave ’ s main city , Stepanakert .
The rocket attacks caused damage but inflicted no casualties .
One civilian was killed and two others were injured in a rocket attack on the nearby town of Shushi ( Susa ) .
Both sides denied the other 's claims that civilians were being targeted .
The International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) said urban areas had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society was killed in the shelling .
Two other volunteers were injured .
`` Alongside thousands of civilians , the ICRC witnessed intense shelling in urban areas on both sides of the front line today , leading to death , destruction , injuries , and desolation , '' it said in a statement .
`` These latest exchanges signal that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict risks spiraling out of control , '' it warned .
Both sides have claimed the other is targeting civilians during a month of intense clashes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halt the worst fighting the region since a 1994 cease-fire .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on October 27 spoke separately by phone with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev , urging both sides to pursue a diplomatic solution and abide by the cease-fire brokered by Washington over the weekend .
Two Russian-brokered humanitarian cease-fires have similarly collapsed within minutes of going into effect .
Ethnic tensions in the region between Christian Armenians and their mainly Muslim neighbors have flared in Nagorno-Karabakh for decades .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops were pushed out of the breakaway region in a war in the early 1990s .
The latest fighting began September 27 , escalating quickly to involve heavy artillery , rockets , and drones .
At least 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting .
Nagorno-Karabakh officials say 1,068 of their troops and 39 civilians have been killed in the clashes , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does not disclose its military losses , but they say the fighting has killed 69 civilians and wounded 322 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow believes the death toll from the fighting was nearing 5,000 .
Aliyev said on October 28 that Armenian forces had lost 5,000 troops , a claim denied by the Armenian side .
`` As to our losses , I 've said we will make them public after the fighting is over .
But I have to say that they are a lot less [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Aliyev has demand that Nagorno-Karabakh be returned to Azerbaijan , as well as seven surrounding districts controlled by Armenian forces .
Armenia says it will not withdraw from territory it views as part of its historic homeland and where the population needs protection .
Heavy fighting has been reported on multiple fronts in recent days , with Azerbaijani forces reportedly capturing territory in the southern sector along the border with Iran .
Iran 's Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited areas near Iran ’ s border with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harming the security of Iranian territories .
“ The security of border regions , dams , and constructions is highly significant for the Islamic Republic of Iran and is a red line , ” Araqchi said , according to IFP News .
Araqchi plans to begin a trip on October 28 to several countries , including Armenia , Azerbaijan , Turkey , and Russia , to discuss the crisis , the Iranian Foreign Ministry said .
The United States , France , and Russia -- co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OSCE ) -- said their foreign ministers would meet on October 29 in Geneva to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh issue .
The Minsk Group , formed to mediate the conflict , said the meeting would `` to discuss , reach agreement on , and begin implementation , in accordance with a timeline to be agreed upon , of all steps necessary to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict . ''
Ahead of that meeting , Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on October 27 with his Turkish counterpart , Recep Tayyip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the `` steps being taken to achieve a cease-fire as soon as possible and de-escalate the crisis , '' a Kremlin statement said .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has sparked concerns over a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey , which is an ally of Azerbaijan , and Russia , which has a military pact with Armenia .
Turkey has demanded a bigger role in the Minsk Group , which Ankara and Baku say has sidelined the Nagorno-Karabakh issue for decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting by AP , AFP , dpa , and TASS

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BAKU/YEREVAN -- Deadly fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region has intensified as both sides blame each other for the collapse of a third attempt at a cease-fire.
Azerbaijan and Armenian reported civilian casualties in urban areas on October 28, two days after a U.S.-brokered cease-fire was to go into effect.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said 21 civilians were killed and 70 injured in Smerch multiple-rocket system attacks on the city of Barda, located in central Azerbaijan outside the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Four civilians were reportedly killed in another attack on the city on the previous day.
The Armenian Defense Ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of attacking civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh, including the shelling of a hospital and maternity clinic in the enclave’s main city, Stepanakert. The rocket attacks caused damage but inflicted no casualties. One civilian was killed and two others were injured in a rocket attack on the nearby town of Shushi (Susa).
Both sides denied the other's claims that civilians were being targeted.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said urban areas had been hit and that one volunteer from the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society was killed in the shelling. Two other volunteers were injured.
"Alongside thousands of civilians, the ICRC witnessed intense shelling in urban areas on both sides of the front line today, leading to death, destruction, injuries, and desolation," it said in a statement.
"These latest exchanges signal that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict risks spiraling out of control," it warned.
Both sides have claimed the other is targeting civilians during a month of intense clashes that have drawn in world powers seeking to halt the worst fighting the region since a 1994 cease-fire.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on October 27 spoke separately by phone with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, urging both sides to pursue a diplomatic solution and abide by the cease-fire brokered by Washington over the weekend.
Two Russian-brokered humanitarian cease-fires have similarly collapsed within minutes of going into effect.
Ethnic tensions in the region between Christian Armenians and their mainly Muslim neighbors have flared in Nagorno-Karabakh for decades.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops were pushed out of the breakaway region in a war in the early 1990s.
The latest fighting began September 27, escalating quickly to involve heavy artillery, rockets, and drones. At least 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting.
Nagorno-Karabakh officials say 1,068 of their troops and 39 civilians have been killed in the clashes, while 122 civilians have been wounded.
Azerbaijan does not disclose its military losses, but they say the fighting has killed 69 civilians and wounded 322.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow believes the death toll from the fighting was nearing 5,000.
Aliyev said on October 28 that Armenian forces had lost 5,000 troops, a claim denied by the Armenian side.
"As to our losses, I've said we will make them public after the fighting is over. But I have to say that they are a lot less [than Armenia's losses]," he said.
Aliyev has demand that Nagorno-Karabakh be returned to Azerbaijan, as well as seven surrounding districts controlled by Armenian forces.
Armenia says it will not withdraw from territory it views as part of its historic homeland and where the population needs protection.
Heavy fighting has been reported on multiple fronts in recent days, with Azerbaijani forces reportedly capturing territory in the southern sector along the border with Iran.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited areas near Iran’s border with Azerbaijan and warned the warring parties against harming the security of Iranian territories.
“The security of border regions, dams, and constructions is highly significant for the Islamic Republic of Iran and is a red line,” Araqchi said, according to IFP News.
Araqchi plans to begin a trip on October 28 to several countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Russia, to discuss the crisis, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
The United States, France, and Russia -- co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- said their foreign ministers would meet on October 29 in Geneva to discuss the Nagorno-Karabakh issue.
The Minsk Group, formed to mediate the conflict, said the meeting would "to discuss, reach agreement on, and begin implementation, in accordance with a timeline to be agreed upon, of all steps necessary to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
Ahead of that meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on October 27 with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, telling him about contacts with the leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia and the "steps being taken to achieve a cease-fire as soon as possible and de-escalate the crisis," a Kremlin statement said.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has sparked concerns over a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey, which is an ally of Azerbaijan, and Russia, which has a military pact with Armenia.
Turkey has demanded a bigger role in the Minsk Group, which Ankara and Baku say has sidelined the Nagorno-Karabakh issue for decades without finding a lasting solution.
With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and TASS


rferl--2020-10-29--Belarus Interior Minister Replaced As Lukashenka Tightens Grip On Country Amid Turmoil

MINSK -- Belarusian Interior Minister Yury Karayeu has been replaced a day after he publicly said that security forces can use live munitions against demonstrators who have flooded the country 's streets for weeks of protests against a disputed election that gave strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka a new six-year term as president .
State media reported on October 29 that Karayeu was replaced by Ivan Kubrakou , who , before his appointment to the post , led the Minsk city police department .
Karayeu was moved to the position of presidential aide in the western Hrodna region , while Deputy Interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide in Minsk and Valer Vakulchyk , , the former chief of the Belarusian KGB , became a presidential aide in the western region of Brest .
The shake-up and appointment of others close to Lukashenka in top security positions signals a tightening of the leader 's grip on security across the country , and especially in the capital , the epicenter of the protests and the place where the most violent police crackdowns have taken place .
Karayeu is already under EU sanctions for his role in the crackdown on protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his aides ' responsibilities will be widened and their `` task is to select cadres and control their activities . ''
Belarus has witnessed near daily protests since the country ’ s August 9 presidential election that Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , claims he won by a landslide .
Lukashenka has responded with a crackdown that has seen more than 10,000 arrests and credible accusations of torture and beatings of peaceful demonstrators by security forces .
Media reporters covering the protests have also been attacked .
Most of the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to flee , including Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , whose supporters say was the rightful winner of the August 9 vote .
She left Belarus for Lithuania days after the vote amid threats against herself and her family .
On October 28 , Karayeu said law enforcement can use combat weapon against protesters , who are carrying out `` sabotage or a terrorist attack '' against police .
A day earlier , Lukashenka described ongoing strikes called by the opposition at the start of the week as `` the actions of organized criminal groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` starting to face terrorist threats , '' in reference to weeks of peaceful protests against his rule .
Western governments have voiced support for the opposition , with both the European Union and the United States refusing to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus 's legitimate leader .
The EU has announced asset freezes and visa bans on 40 Belarusian officials for their alleged roles in the repression of protesters and the opposition , as well as fraud during the August vote .
And on October 12 , EU foreign ministers gave a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will include Lukashenka himself .

MINSK -- Belarus has partially closed its land borders with all neighbors except Russia for most travelers, amid strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka's efforts to end weeks of street protests against a disputed election that gave him a sixth consecutive term as president.
The Belarusian Border Control Committee on October 29 announced the closure of borders with Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine, citing the "epidemiological situation" in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
But there is speculation that the move might have a political motivation. It came despite Belarusian officials having minimized the threat of the pandemic for months, and follows claims that Belarus's neighbors have tried to destabilize the situation in the country.
And a shakeup and appointment of others close to Lukashenka in top security positions signals a tightening of his grip on security across the country and especially in the capital, the epicenter of postelection protests and resulting police violence against peaceful demonstrators.
The Border Control Committee said only Belarusian citizens and trucks were being allowed to enter Belarus through land checkpoints.
Rustamas Liubajevas, chief of the Lithuanian border guard, said cars going into Belarus were barred from entry, and within hours the border had been closed to outgoing cars.
The change came without advance warning, Liubajevas told Reuters.
Belarusian opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who left the country under pressure following the election she claims she won, said the border closure was a sign that Lukashenka is "in a panic."
Lukashenka has described the COVID-19 pandemic as a "psychosis." The Belarusian authorities have reported more than 96,000 coronavirus cases, with over 970 deaths.
Earlier on October 29, state media reported that Interior Minister Yury Karayeu was replaced by Ivan Kubrakou, who prior to his appointment to the post led the Minsk city police department.
The move comes a day after Karayeu, who is under EU sanctions for his role in the violent crackdown against protesters, publicly said that security forces could use live munitions against demonstrators who have been a constant presence on the streets since the August 9 presidential election.
He was moved to the position of presidential aide in the western Hrodna region, while Deputy Interior Minister Alyaksandr Barsukou was made a presidential aide in Minsk and Valer Vakulchyk,, the former chief of the Belarusian KGB, became a presidential aide in the western region of Brest.
Local media quoted Lukashenka as saying that his aides' responsibilities will be widened and their "task is to select cadres and control their activities."
Belarus has witnessed near daily protests since the vote that Lukashenka, in power since 1994, claims he won by a landslide.
Lukashenka has responded to demonstrations against the official outcome with a crackdown that has seen more than 10,000 arrests and accusations of torture and beatings by security forces of peaceful demonstrators. Members of the media reporting on the protests have also been attacked.
Most of the country's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country, including Tsikhanouskaya, who has said the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor and considers herself the rightful winner. She left Belarus for Lithuania days after the vote amid threats to her and her family.
On October 28, Karayeu said law enforcement could use combat weapon against protesters considered to be carrying out "sabotage or a terrorist attacks" against police.
The day before, Lukashenka described ongoing strikes called by the opposition at the start of the week as "the actions of organized criminal groups."
Lukashenka said the country was "starting to face terrorist threats," in reference to weeks of peaceful protests against his rule.
Western governments have voiced support for the opposition, with both the European Union and the United States refusing to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus's legitimate leader.
The EU has announced asset freezes and visa bans against 40 Belarusian officials for their alleged roles in the repression of protesters and the opposition, as well as fraud during the August vote.
On October 12, EU foreign ministers gave a political green light to a new sanctions package that will include Lukashenka himself.
With reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters


rferl--2020-10-29--Kyrgyz Supreme Court Refuses Appeal Challenging Election Delay

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan 's Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal filed by the Central Election Commission ( BShK ) challenging a recently adopted law that canceled a decision to rerun parliamentary elections on December 20 .
The Supreme Court explained its October 29 decision to return the appeal to the BShK citing a `` lack of documents proving that the plaintiff had paid the due state fee . ''
It is not clear if the BShK will refile the appeal that came after weeks of political upheaval over disputed elections that toppled the Central Asian nation 's government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeenbekov .
The chaos erupted after allegations of vote-buying and other improprieties marred the October 4 parliamentary vote .
Mass protests over the vote tally , which gave victory mainly to parties aligned with Jeenbekov 's government , prompted the BShK to annul the results of the parliamentary vote and schedule new parliamentary election for December 20 .
However , on October 22 , acting President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments to the constitutional law on elections which postponed the new parliamentary vote to an unspecified date in 2021 and led to the BShK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date for an early presidential election .
Japarov , a former nationalist lawmaker who was jailed on charges of kidnapping a political rival in 2017 , was freed from prison in the midst of the demonstrations , and then approved as prime minister by parliament on October 14 .
He also took over the powers of the presidency when Jeenbekov vacated the post in mid-October and is set to serve as acting president until the January election .
Kyrgyzstan 's constitution forbids a person serving as an acting or interim president from taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on October 25 that he will step down before the end of the year and thus become eligible to run in the January 10 vote .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal filed by the Central Election Commission (BShK) challenging a recently adopted law that canceled a decision to rerun parliamentary elections on December 20.
The Supreme Court explained its October 29 decision to return the appeal to the BShK citing a "lack of documents proving that the plaintiff had paid the due state fee."
It is not clear if the BShK will refile the appeal that came after weeks of political upheaval over disputed elections that toppled the Central Asian nation's government and prompted the resignation of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
The chaos erupted after allegations of vote-buying and other improprieties marred the October 4 parliamentary vote.
Mass protests over the vote tally, which gave victory mainly to parties aligned with Jeenbekov's government, prompted the BShK to annul the results of the parliamentary vote and schedule new parliamentary election for December 20.
However, on October 22, acting President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments to the constitutional law on elections which postponed the new parliamentary vote to an unspecified date in 2021 and led to the BShK decision to set January 10 as the date for an early presidential election.
Japarov, a former nationalist lawmaker who was jailed on charges of kidnapping a political rival in 2017, was freed from prison in the midst of the demonstrations, and then approved as prime minister by parliament on October 14.
He also took over the powers of the presidency when Jeenbekov vacated the post in mid-October and is set to serve as acting president until the January election.
Kyrgyzstan's constitution forbids a person serving as an acting or interim president from taking part in a presidential election so Japarov announced on October 25 that he will step down before the end of the year and thus become eligible to run in the January 10 vote.


rferl--2020-10-29--Death Toll Up In Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict As Fresh Talks Expected

YEREVAN/BAKU -- The death toll is mounting in the fighting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region , with both sides blaming each other for the collapse of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire -- the third since the decades-old conflict flared up again in late September .
The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are expected to hold meetings with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) in Geneva on October 29 .
The United States , France , and Russia are the co-chairs of the Minsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mediator in the conflict .
The Minsk Group said the meeting would be held `` to discuss , reach agreement on , and begin implementation , in accordance with a timeline to be agreed upon , of all steps necessary to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict . ''
The de facto defense ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh said on October 29 that 51 more casualties have taken its military death toll to 1,119 since fighting with Azerbaijani forces erupted on September 27 .
It said that shelling by Azerbaijani forces of civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry in turn said its forces came under fire in the Goranboy district , north of Nagorno-Karabakh .
On October 28 , both Azerbaijan and Armenia reported civilian casualties in urban areas , two days after the U.S. brokered cease-fire should have gone into effect .
Both sides denied the other 's claims civilians were targeted .
Baku said 21 civilians were killed and 70 injured in rocket attacks on the city of Barda , located in central Azerbaijan outside Nagorno-Karabakh .
Four civilians were reportedly killed in another attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Azerbaijan does not disclose its military losses , but they say the fighting has killed 69 civilians and wounded 322 .
Yerevan accused Azerbaijani forces of attacking civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh , including shelling a hospital and maternity clinic in the enclave ’ s main city , Stepanakert .
The rocket attacks caused damage but inflicted no casualties .
The International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) said urban areas had been hit and one volunteer from the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society was killed in the shelling .
Two other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that the other has been targeting civilians during a month of intense clashes that have drawn in world powers seeking to halt the worst fighting in the region since a 1994 cease-fire .
Two Russian-brokered humanitarian cease-fires have similarly collapsed within minutes of going into effect .
Following the collapse of the Washington-brokered cease-fire , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke separately by phone on October 27 with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev , urging both sides to pursue a diplomatic solution and abide by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , former Vice President Joe Biden , urged President Donald Trump to get involved directly in efforts to curb the fighting .
`` After a month of fighting , it is long past time for President Trump to directly engage the leaders of Armenia , Azerbaijan , and Turkey to push for immediate de-escalation and stop the advance of Azerbaijani troops into Nagorno-Karabakh , '' Biden said in a statement on October 28 .
`` The United States should be leading a diplomatic effort to end the fighting , together with our European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance to end the suffering ; under my administration that is exactly what we will do , '' Biden , who will face Trump in the November 3 presidential election , urged .
Ethnic tensions in the region between Christian Armenians and their mainly Muslim neighbors have flared in Nagorno-Karabakh for decades .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population , reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region in a war in the early 1990s .
The latest fighting that began on September 27 escalated quickly to involve heavy artillery , rockets , and drones .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that Moscow believes the death toll from the fighting was nearing 5,000 .
Aliyev has demanded that Nagorno-Karabakh be returned to Azerbaijan as well as seven surrounding districts controlled by Armenian forces .
Armenia says it will not withdraw from territory it views as part of its historic homeland and where the population needs protection .
Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abbas Araqchi visited areas near Iran ’ s border with Azerbaijan and warned the warring parties against harming the security of Iranian territories .
“ The security of border regions , dams , and constructions is highly significant for the Islamic republic of Iran and is a red line , ” Araqchi said , according to IFP News .
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has sparked concerns over a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey , which is an ally of Azerbaijan , and Russia , which has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded a bigger role in the Minsk Group , which Ankara and Baku say has sidelined the Nagorno-Karabakh issue for decades without finding a lasting solution .
With reporting by AP , AFP , dpa , and TASS

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Azerbaijan has handed over to Armenia the bodies of 29 servicemen killed in the ongoing fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, as the death toll mounted in the latest flareup of violence in the decades-old conflict over the separatist region.
The handover was acknowledged by both sides on October 29 as Yerevan and Baku continued to blame each other for the collapse of a U.S.-brokered cease-fire -- the third since fighting broke out on September 27.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said the transfer took place through "the exceptional mediation efforts of the Russian Federation, and with the participation of the field team of the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)."
She said that at the same time, ICRC efforts had resulted in one civilian's repatriation to Armenia.
Stepanian said Armenia "once again reiterates its readiness to hand over to the Azerbaijani side the bodies of Azerbaijani servicemen in the territory of Artsakh [Armenia's name for Nagorno-Karabakh], and to start the process of recovery of bodies in the inter-positional zone throughout the entire Artshakh-Azerbaijan front line of hostilities, as well as exchange of information on POWs and their respective handover in future."
Hikmat Haciyev, an aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, told foreign journalists that the handover was initiated by Baku, with Russia's help.
"On the initiative of Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani side handed over the bodies of 30 dead servicemen to Armenia," Haciyev said.
"Azerbaijan is grateful to the Russian Defense Ministry and, personally, to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, for organizing the transfer of the bodies of deceased Armenian servicemen," Haciyev said.
The handover took place as the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan were expected to hold meetings with the co-chairs of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Geneva on October 29.
However, reports said the talks had been postponed for at least one day.
The United States, France, and Russia are the co-chairs of the Minsk Group, which had been the main mediator in the conflict.
The Minsk Group said the meeting would be held "to discuss, reach agreement on, and begin implementation, in accordance with a timeline to be agreed upon, of all steps necessary to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said it had verified the use of banned cluster bombs by Armenian forces for the first time since fighting with Azerbaijani forces erupted on September 27.
One or several Smerch rockets were fired into the Azerbaijani city of Barda on October 28, hitting a residential neighborhood close to a hospital, according to the London-based human rights group.
Azerbaijani authorities have said at least 21 people were killed in the attack, with dozens more wounded.
On October 5, Amnesty International identified M095 DPICM cluster munitions that appear to have been fired by Azerbaijani forces into Stepanakert.
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's regional director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, urged both sides to immediately stop using cluster munitions and to prioritize the protection of civilians. "The firing of cluster munitions into civilian areas is cruel and reckless, and causes untold death, injury and misery," she said.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, the region's de facto leader, Arayik Harutiunian, said on October 29 that Azerbaijani troops had advanced to within 5 kilometers of the town of Shushi (known as Susa in Azeri), and urged residents to mobilize all their resources to fend off the attack.
Shushi is located about 5 kilometers south of Stepanakert, the largest city in the separatist region.
The de facto Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh said earlier on October 29 that 51 more casualties had taken its military death toll to 1,119 since fighting with Azerbaijani forces erupted on September 27.
It said that shelling by Azerbaijani forces of civilian settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh continued overnight, while the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry in turn said its forces came under fire in the Goranboy district, north of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Nagorno-Karabakh rights ombudsman, Artak Beglarian, said Azerbaijan on October 29 launched its heaviest missile strikes on the largest city in the separatist region since the fighting started on September 27.
"Azerbaijan struck Stepanakert for several hours, dozens of missiles hit the city," Beglarian said.
"Civilians were injured as a result of the strike, the heaviest during the recent fighting," he said.
Both sides have claimed that the other has been targeting civilians during a month of intense clashes that have drawn in world powers seeking to halt the worst fighting in the region since a 1994 cease-fire.
Following the collapse of the Washington-brokered cease-fire, the U.S. Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, urged President Donald Trump to get involved directly in efforts to curb the fighting.
"After a month of fighting, it is long past time for President Trump to directly engage the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey to push for immediate de-escalation and stop the advance of Azerbaijani troops into Nagorno-Karabakh," Biden said in a statement on October 28.
"The United States should be leading a diplomatic effort to end the fighting, together with our European partners, and push for international humanitarian assistance to end the suffering; under my administration that is exactly what we will do," Biden, who will face Trump in the November 3 presidential election, urged.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population, reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops were pushed out of the breakaway region in a war in the early 1990s.
Aliyev has demanded that Nagorno-Karabakh be returned to Azerbaijan as well as seven surrounding districts controlled by Armenian forces.
Armenia says it will not withdraw from territory it views as part of its historic homeland and where the population needs protection.
The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has sparked concerns over a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey, which is an ally of Azerbaijan, and Russia, which has a military pact with Armenia.
Turkey has demanded a bigger role in the Minsk Group, which Ankara and Baku say has sidelined the Nagorno-Karabakh issue for decades without finding a lasting solution.
Turkey is not the only regional player with an eye on the conflict.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited areas near Iran's border with Azerbaijan and warned the warring parties against harming the security of Iranian territories.
Araqchi, who is on a regional tour that also includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, said on October 29 in Moscow that the Minsk Group had proved to be "inefficient" in its efforts to resolve the decades-old conflict.
"It has been 30 years since the Minsk Group was formed, but it has not been able to find a long-term solution to the problem," Araqchi was quoted by the Iranian Embassy in Moscow as saying.
Earlier this week, Iran announced it had drawn up a plan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the hope of stopping fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continuing along its northwestern border.
The European Union, meanwhile, said the escalation was "unacceptable" and called for new peace talks.
"The European Union finds it unacceptable that after three agreements brokered by Russia, France, and the United States on a cease-fire, the fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh still continues," European Commission foreign affairs and security policy spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement late on October 28.
With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, and TASS


rferl--2020-10-29--Media Watchdog Urges End To Hungarian Police Probe Into Journalists' 'Illicit Data Collection'

The Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) has demanded that Hungarian police stop harassing two journalists who were summoned for questioning after they published stories that used drone footage showing armored vehicles parked outside a business of a friend of Prime Minister Viktor Orban .
CPJ said in a news release on October 28 , that Gabriella Horn , a reporter for the investigative news outlet Atlatszo , and Balazs Gulyas , a reporter for the independent news website Magyar Hang , were summoned for questioning over their stories .
The drone footage showed two military-grade armored vehicles parked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by businessman Lorinc Meszaros in Bicske , a town 30 kilometers from Budapest .
Horn and Gulyas said police summoned them as witnesses in a criminal probe into suspected illicit data collection , a criminal offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of three years .
Horn said police asked why she wrote her article , why she thought it was newsworthy , who her sources were , who made the drone footage , and who authorized its publication , CPJ said .
Horn told the authorities she “ wanted to verify information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stationing on the estate and find out how dangerous the vehicles are as she thought this fact might be of interest for the public.
” She refused to answer questions about her sources for her story , which was published on May 15 .
Gulyas , whose story was published on May 8 , told CPJ that police told him a company owned by Meszaros filed a criminal complaint , triggering the investigation .
He said when he was questioned , he refused to answer anything concerning his sources .
He also refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage and who authorized the article .
He also protested the interrogation as judicial harassment and an attack on press freedom .
“ Hungarian police must stop harassing Gabriella Horn and Balazs Gulyas and drop any criminal investigation related to their reporting , which used drone footage to reveal information of public interest , ” said Gulnoza Said , CPJ ’ s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator .
“ It is every journalist ’ s job to hold powerful business leaders with close ties to governments accountable .
Trying to intimidate journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspicions that authorities have something to hide , ” Said said .
Balazs Toth , a lawyer for Atlatszo , said the police investigation was unfounded as the journalists did not use a drone recording to invade privacy but to verify information of public interest .
In an e-mailed response to questions from CPJ , Lieutenant Colonel Tamas Henyecz of the business crime unit of the Hungarian Police in Fejer County said his investigation proceeded lawfully .
Meszaros declined to comment to Atlatszo .
The news outlet reported that the Hungarian Army used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drone footage until the end of 1980s , and they are now mostly used by collectors or for hunting .
Meszaros is a hobby hunter and owns a hunting company , according to Atlatszo and an interview he gave to a Hungarian hunting blog in 2018 .
In an e-mail to Magyar Hang on May 5 , before the publication of the article , the communication department of the Meszaros Group , a holding company belonging to Lorinc Meszaros , said its use of assets was legal and had been reported to authorities @

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has demanded that Hungarian police stop harassing two journalists who were summoned for questioning after they published stories that used drone footage showing armored vehicles parked outside a business of a friend of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
CPJ said in a news release on October 28, that Gabriella Horn, a reporter for the investigative news outlet Atlatszo, and Balazs Gulyas, a reporter for the independent news website Magyar Hang, were summoned for questioning over their stories.
The drone footage showed two military-grade armored vehicles parked on the estates of a company owned by businessman Lorinc Meszaros in Bicske, a town 30 kilometers from Budapest.
Horn and Gulyas said police summoned them as witnesses in a criminal probe into suspected illicit data collection, a criminal offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of three years.
Horn said police asked why she wrote her article, why she thought it was newsworthy, who her sources were, who made the drone footage, and who authorized its publication, CPJ said.
Horn told the authorities she “wanted to verify information swirling in the press about armored vehicles stationing on the estate and find out how dangerous the vehicles are as she thought this fact might be of interest for the public.”
She refused to answer questions about her sources for her story, which was published on May 15.
Gulyas, whose story was published on May 8, told CPJ that police told him a company owned by Meszaros filed a criminal complaint, triggering the investigation.
He said when he was questioned, he refused to answer anything concerning his sources. He also refused to answer questions about who recorded the footage and who authorized the article. He also protested the interrogation as judicial harassment and an attack on press freedom.
“Hungarian police must stop harassing Gabriella Horn and Balazs Gulyas and drop any criminal investigation related to their reporting, which used drone footage to reveal information of public interest,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator.
“It is every journalist’s job to hold powerful business leaders with close ties to governments accountable. Trying to intimidate journalists is unacceptable, and will only reinforce suspicions that authorities have something to hide,” Said said.
Balazs Toth, a lawyer for Atlatszo, said the police investigation was unfounded as the journalists did not use a drone recording to invade privacy but to verify information of public interest.
In an e-mailed response to questions from CPJ, Lieutenant Colonel Tamas Henyecz of the business crime unit of the Hungarian Police in Fejer County said his investigation proceeded lawfully.
Meszaros declined to comment to Atlatszo. The news outlet reported that the Hungarian Army used vehicles similar to those seen in the drone footage until the end of 1980s, and they are now mostly used by collectors or for hunting.
Meszaros is a hobby hunter and owns a hunting company, according to Atlatszo and an interview he gave to a Hungarian hunting blog in 2018.
In an e-mail to Magyar Hang on May 5, before the publication of the article, the communication department of the Meszaros Group, a holding company belonging to Lorinc Meszaros, said its use of assets was legal and had been reported to authorities.


rferl--2020-10-29--U.S. Senator Urges Administration To Sanction Russians Indicted For Cyberattacks

The highest-ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is calling on the Trump administration to impose targeted sanctions on five Russian nationals indicted last week by the Justice Department for a series of cyberattacks .
Senator Bob Menendez ( Democrat-New Jersey ) asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to impose the sanctions in a letter on October 28 .
Menendez urged Mnuchin to counter the threat of cyberattacks with “ all the tools at its disposal , ” including sanctions under the Countering America ’ s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act ( CAATSA ) .
“ The Russian government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies , and institutions remain a significant threat to our country ’ s security , ” Menendez said in the letter .
“ The threat of malign Russian cyber activity is real , and the Treasury Department must send a message of zero tolerance to the Russian government to deter future attacks.
” The United States charged six Russians on October 19 with a `` destructive '' criminal cybercampaign that included the worldwide distribution of harmful malware and attempts to undermine the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine .
The indictment also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea , and an international organization investigating Russia 's use of a deadly nerve agent .
Menendez named only five of the six because one of the men has already been sanctioned under CAATSA for hacking the website of a state board of elections .
The charges announced on October 19 are the latest in a series of cybercriminal indictments leveled by the United States against Russian state and nonstate actors .
The Russian nationals are all alleged to be officers in a unit of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the GRU , which the United States accused in 2018 of hacking into the computers of the Democratic National Convention two years earlier .
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady called the officers ' campaigns `` the most destructive and costly cyberattacks in history . ''
Brady said no country has weaponized its cybercapabilities as maliciously or irresponsibly as Russia .
The six men indicted are Yury Andrienko , Sergei Detistov , Pavel Frolov , Anatoly Kovalev , Artyom Ochichenko , and Pyotr Pliskin .
Kovalev was sanctioned under CAATSA in December 2018 .

The highest-ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is calling on the Trump administration to impose targeted sanctions on five Russian nationals indicted last week by the Justice Department for a series of cyberattacks.
Senator Bob Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey) asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to impose the sanctions in a letter on October 28.
Menendez urged Mnuchin to counter the threat of cyberattacks with “all the tools at its disposal,” including sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
“The Russian government’s ongoing cyberattacks targeting U.S. individuals, companies, and institutions remain a significant threat to our country’s security,” Menendez said in the letter. “The threat of malign Russian cyber activity is real, and the Treasury Department must send a message of zero tolerance to the Russian government to deter future attacks.”
The United States charged six Russians on October 19 with a "destructive" criminal cybercampaign that included the worldwide distribution of harmful malware and attempts to undermine the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine.
The indictment also accused the men of hacking French elections, the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, and an international organization investigating Russia's use of a deadly nerve agent.
Menendez named only five of the six because one of the men has already been sanctioned under CAATSA for hacking the website of a state board of elections.
The charges announced on October 19 are the latest in a series of cybercriminal indictments leveled by the United States against Russian state and nonstate actors.
The Russian nationals are all alleged to be officers in a unit of the Russian military intelligence directorate, known as the GRU, which the United States accused in 2018 of hacking into the computers of the Democratic National Convention two years earlier.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady called the officers' campaigns "the most destructive and costly cyberattacks in history."
Brady said no country has weaponized its cybercapabilities as maliciously or irresponsibly as Russia.
The six men indicted are Yury Andrienko, Sergei Detistov, Pavel Frolov, Anatoly Kovalev, Artyom Ochichenko, and Pyotr Pliskin.
Kovalev was sanctioned under CAATSA in December 2018.


rferl--2020-10-29--G7 'Alarmed' By Ukraine 'Undoing' Anti-Graft Reforms

KYIV – The Group of Seven ( G7 ) leading industrialized countries says it is `` alarmed '' by the rollback of reforms in Ukraine after the Constitutional Court stripped the country 's anti-corruption agency of some of its critical powers .
`` The G7 ambassadors are alarmed by efforts to undo the anti-corruption reforms that followed the Revolution of Dignity , '' the group said in a statement on October 29 , referring to the 2014 pro-Western Euromaidan uprising by its official name in Ukraine .
`` Too much progress has been made , Ukraine must not go back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adds .
In a ruling published on October 28 , the Constitutional Court declared it unconstitutional to hold officials criminally liable for intentionally providing false information on asset declarations .
It also struck down several powers of the National Agency for Preventing Corruption ( NAZK ) .
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on October 29 called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council , saying new bills should `` immediately '' be introduced to parliament to undo the damage caused by the court 's decision .
The court ruled the NAZK 's powers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifestyles for signs of corruption unconstitutional .
Free public access to officials ' declarations was also made illegal , as was electronic declarations meant to increase transparency .
It also deprived the NAZK of the right to access registers , draft reports on violations , and conduct anti-corruption inspections in government agencies .
The decision could threaten visa liberalization with the European Union and impact reforms required under a $ 5 billion International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) deal Zelenskiy 's government secured in June to fight a sharp economic slowdown caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has held back tranches due to concerns over Ukraine 's performance in tackling corruption and implementing reforms .
Visa liberalization with the EU is also contingent on Ukraine fighting endemic corruption .
The court ruling is also controversial because four judges are under investigation by the NAZK for failing to properly declare assets in their declarations .
The four judges did not recuse themselves from the case , despite calls to do so from the government and anti-corruption campaigners .
With reporting by Reuters and AFP

KYIV – The Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries says it is "alarmed" by the rollback of reforms in Ukraine after the Constitutional Court stripped the country's anti-corruption agency of some of its critical powers.
"The G7 ambassadors are alarmed by efforts to undo the anti-corruption reforms that followed the Revolution of Dignity," the group said in a statement on October 29, referring to the 2014 pro-Western Euromaidan uprising by its official name in Ukraine.
"Too much progress has been made, Ukraine must not go back to the past," the statement adds.
In a ruling published on October 28, the Constitutional Court declared it unconstitutional to hold officials criminally liable for intentionally providing false information on asset declarations. It also struck down several powers of the National Agency for Preventing Corruption (NAZK).
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on October 29 called an urgent meeting of the National Security Council, saying new bills should "immediately" be introduced to parliament to undo the damage caused by the court's decision.
The court ruled the NAZK's powers to verify asset declarations and monitor officials' lifestyles for signs of corruption unconstitutional. Free public access to officials' declarations was also made illegal, as was electronic declarations meant to increase transparency.
It also deprived the NAZK of the right to access registers, draft reports on violations, and conduct anti-corruption inspections in government agencies.
The decision could threaten visa liberalization with the European Union and impact reforms required under a $5 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal Zelenskiy's government secured in June to fight a sharp economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
But the IMF has held back tranches due to concerns over Ukraine's performance in tackling corruption and implementing reforms.
Visa liberalization with the EU is also contingent on Ukraine fighting endemic corruption.
The court ruling is also controversial because four judges are under investigation by the NAZK for failing to properly declare assets in their declarations.
The four judges did not recuse themselves from the case, despite calls to do so from the government and anti-corruption campaigners.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP


rferl--2020-10-29--Russia's Annual Commemoration Of Victims Of Stalin's Great Purge Held Online

MOSCOW -- An annual ceremony to commemorate thousands of people executed during communist dictator Josef Stalin 's Great Terror has been held in Moscow and some other Russian cities online due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Russian Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova launched the 12-hour ceremony , known as Returning the Names , on YouTube on the morning of October 29 .
The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has held the ceremony every year since 2006 at the Solovki Stone memorial on Moscow 's Lubyanka Square , which is the site of the former headquarters of the Soviet KGB and current headquarters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FSB ) .
Participants -- relatives of the dead , rights activists , and others -- read aloud the names , ages , occupations , and dates of executions of some of the estimated 1 million or more Soviet citizens executed by Stalin 's regime in 1937-38 .
The ceremony , which is held each year ahead of the October 30 Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Political Repressions in Russia , was barred in several Russian cities this year due to coronavirus restrictions .
In the city of Perm , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Tver , city authorities allowed people younger than 65 to held the ceremony in the city center .
It was recommended that others participate by lighting candles in their windows .
October 30 was chosen as the date for the Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Political Repressions to honor gulag inmates in the Russian regions of Mordovia and Perm who started a mass hunger strike on that day in 1974 , protesting political persecutions in the Soviet Union .

MOSCOW -- An annual ceremony to commemorate thousands of people executed during communist dictator Josef Stalin's Great Terror has been held in Moscow and some other Russian cities online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Russian Ombudswoman Tatyana Moskalkova launched the 12-hour ceremony, known as Returning the Names, on YouTube on the morning of October 29.
The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has held the ceremony every year since 2006 at the Solovki Stone memorial on Moscow's Lubyanka Square, which is the site of the former headquarters of the Soviet KGB and current headquarters of the successor Federal Security Service (FSB).
Participants -- relatives of the dead, rights activists, and others -- read aloud the names, ages, occupations, and dates of executions of some of the estimated 1 million or more Soviet citizens executed by Stalin's regime in 1937-38.
The ceremony, which is held each year ahead of the October 30 Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Political Repressions in Russia, was barred in several Russian cities this year due to coronavirus restrictions.
In the city of Perm, the ceremony is being held online as well.
In Tver, city authorities allowed people younger than 65 to hold the ceremony in the city center. It was recommended that others participate by lighting candles in their windows.
October 30 was chosen as the date for the Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Political Repressions to honor gulag inmates in the Russian regions of Mordovia and Perm who started a mass hunger strike on that day in 1974, protesting political persecutions in the Soviet Union.


rferl--2020-10-29--Bulgarian President In Quarantine After Aide Tests Positive For COVID-19

SOFIA -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is self-isolating after his chief of staff tested positive for coronavirus , his office @ @ @ @ @ Radev 's secretary-general , Dimitar Stoyanov , was diagnosed with coronavirus on October 29 .
@ @ @ @ @ on leave since October 26 , and his last contact with staff at the presidential @ @ @ @ @ .
The president , whose role is largely ceremonial , and employees who had been @ @ @ @ @ to carry out their duties remotely while under quarantine .
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and @ @ @ @ @ are also in quarantine after testing positive for the virus .
As of October 29 @ @ @ @ @ high schools , and nightclubs for two weeks as the country struggles to contain a @ @ @ @ @ A new daily record of 2,760 infections was reported on October 29 .
Overall , @ @ @ @ @ tested positive for the disease and nearly 1,200 have died .

SOFIA -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is self-isolating after his chief of staff tested positive for coronavirus, his office says.
The presidency said Radev's secretary-general, Dimitar Stoyanov, was diagnosed with coronavirus on October 29.
It said Stoyanov had been on leave since October 26, and his last contact with staff at the presidential administration occurred three days earlier.
The president, whose role is largely ceremonial, and employees who had been in contact with Stoyanov are to carry out their duties remotely while under quarantine.
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Central Bank Governor Dimitar Radev are also in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.
As of October 29, Bulgaria closed universities, high schools, and nightclubs for two weeks as the country struggles to contain a surge in coronavirus cases.
A new daily record of 2,760 infections was reported on October 29.
Overall, more than 45,000 Bulgarians have tested positive for the disease and nearly 1,200 have died.


rferl--2020-10-29--Mayor Of Ufa, Capital Of Russia's Bashkortostan, Dies Of COVID-19

UFA , Russia -- The mayor of Ufa , the capital of Russia 's Bashkortostan region , Ulfat Mustafin , @ @ @ @ @ the age of 61 .
The head of Bashkortostan , Radiy Khabirov , said on @ @ @ @ @ after being hospitalized , 35 days after testing positive for the coronavirus .
A day @ @ @ @ @ Mustafin was in grave condition and the virus had seriously damaged his lungs .
As @ @ @ @ @ number of registered coronavirus cases in Bashkortostan , a republic located in the Urals-Volga area @ @ @ @ @ 51 deaths .
In Russia overall , there have been 1,581 693 registered cases , @ @ @ @ @ .

UFA, Russia -- The mayor of Ufa, the capital of Russia's Bashkortostan region, Ulfat Mustafin, has died of COVID-19 at the age of 61.
The head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov, said on October 29 that Mustafin died after being hospitalized, 35 days after testing positive for the coronavirus.
A day earlier, Khabirov said that Mustafin was in grave condition and the virus had seriously damaged his lungs.
As of October 29, the number of registered coronavirus cases in Bashkortostan, a republic located in the Urals-Volga area, was 10,586, including 51 deaths.
In Russia overall, there have been 1,581 693 registered cases, of which 27,301 patients died.


rferl--2020-10-29--Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia Singled Out For 'Entrenched' Impunity In Killings Of Journalists

Afghanistan , Pakistan , and Russia remain near the top on the list of countries where the Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) says `` impunity '' in cases of murdered journalists is `` entrenched . ''
The New York-based watchdog 's 2020 Global Impunity Index highlighted a total of 12 countries where `` journalists are singled out for murder and their killers go free . ''
Somalia , Syria , Iraq , South Sudan , and Afghanistan occupy the worst five spots in a ranking based on deaths as a percentage of each country 's population , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycle of violence and lawlessness . ''
In war-torn Afghanistan alone , 13 unresolved killings of journalists over the 10-year index period have been recorded , according to the CPJ .
The country was followed by Mexico , the Philippines , Brazil , and Pakistan , which ranked ninth in the index with 15 unresolved slayings of journalists .
WATCH : Hundreds of mourners bid farewell to independent Russian journalist Irina Slavina , who died after setting herself on fire in an apparent reaction to investigators trying to tie her to an opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of harassment by authorities .
The CPJ welcomed a decision by Pakistan 's Supreme Court this year to accept an appeal challenging a lower court 's ruling overturning the murder convictions of four men accused in the killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 .
The `` surprise '' legal development , although not directly affecting the 2020 Impunity Index , showed that `` even murder cases that were long thought to be resolved can be upended , '' the watchdog noted .
Pakistan is followed in the raking by Bangladesh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place with six unresolved killings of journalists -- and India .
Illustrating the `` entrenched nature of impunity , '' the 12 countries on the index account for 80 percent of the global total of unsolved murders of journalists over the past 10 years , according to CPJ .
It said that in these 12 countries , powerful actors such as criminal and political groups , politicians , and business leaders `` resort to violence to silence critical and investigative journalists , '' while corruption , weak institutions , and lack of political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all factors behind impunity there .
During the period ending on August 31 , a total of 277 journalists were killed for their work worldwide and no perpetrators have been successfully prosecuted in 83 percent of those cases .
CPJ noted that the rate of `` complete impunity has inched lower '' in recent years .
The number of journalists killed in reprisal for their work was the lowest in 2019 that CPJ had recorded in any year since 1992 , and while the number of killings in 2020 has already exceeded last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a major increase . ''
However , the group warned that `` incremental progress toward reducing the murders of journalists worldwide is fragile and could be thwarted by legal appeals and lack of political leadership . ''
It cited the case of a Serbian court that overturned in September the convictions of four former state security officers involved in the 1999 killing of journalist Slavko Curuvija and ordered a retrial .
And in Slovakia , a court acquitted a business tycoon suspected of ordering the 2018 killings of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak @ @ @ @

Russia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan remain near the top on the list of countries where the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says "impunity" in cases of murdered journalists is "entrenched."
The New York-based watchdog's 2020 Global Impunity Index highlighted a total of 12 countries where "journalists are singled out for murder and their killers go free."
Somalia, Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and Afghanistan occupy the worst five spots in a ranking based on deaths as a percentage of each country's population, as "war and political instability perpetuate the cycle of violence and lawlessness."
In war-torn Afghanistan alone, 13 unresolved killings of journalists over the 10-year index period have been recorded, according to the CPJ.
The country was followed by Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, and Pakistan, which ranked ninth in the index with 15 unresolved slayings of journalists.
WATCH: Hundreds of mourners bid farewell to independent Russian journalist Irina Slavina, who died after setting herself on fire in an apparent reaction to investigators trying to tie her to an opposition group and what's been described as years of harassment by authorities.
The CPJ welcomed a decision by Pakistan's Supreme Court this year to accept an appeal challenging a lower court's ruling overturning the murder convictions of four men accused in the killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
The "surprise" legal development, although not directly affecting the 2020 Impunity Index, showed that "even murder cases that were long thought to be resolved can be upended," the watchdog noted.
Pakistan is followed in the raking by Bangladesh, Russia -- which was in 11th place with six unresolved killings of journalists -- and India.
Illustrating the "entrenched nature of impunity," the 12 countries on the index account for 80 percent of the global total of unsolved murders of journalists over the past 10 years, according to CPJ.
It said that in these 12 countries, powerful actors such as criminal and political groups, politicians, and business leaders "resort to violence to silence critical and investigative journalists," while corruption, weak institutions, and lack of political will to thoroughly investigate murder cases are all factors behind impunity there.
During the period ending on August 31, a total of 277 journalists were killed for their work worldwide and no perpetrators have been successfully prosecuted in 83 percent of those cases.
CPJ noted that the rate of "complete impunity has inched lower" in recent years.
The number of journalists killed in reprisal for their work was the lowest in 2019 that CPJ had recorded in any year since 1992, and while the number of killings in 2020 has already exceeded last year it is "not on track for a major increase."
However, the group warned that "incremental progress toward reducing the murders of journalists worldwide is fragile and could be thwarted by legal appeals and lack of political leadership."
It cited the case of a Serbian court that overturned in September the convictions of four former state security officers involved in the 1999 killing of journalist Slavko Curuvija and ordered a retrial.
And in Slovakia, a court acquitted a business tycoon suspected of ordering the 2018 killings of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee.


rferl--2020-10-29--Putin Says Russia Ready To Work With Anyone Who Wins U.S. Presidency

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is ready to work with any U.S. president , regardless of who wins next week 's election .
`` We are analyzing all developments [ around the upcoming U.S , presidential election on November 3 ] .
We will accept any decision made by the American people and will work with any administration .
I hope that the decision will be well-weighed , '' Putin told a plenary session of the VTB Capital Forum Russia Calls on October 29 in Moscow .
The Russian president declined to talk in depth about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , our [ U.S. ] partners may cling to to prove Russia 's imaginary meddling into the election process in the United States . ''
U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with the aim of helping Donald Trump , including by hacking into the campaign of his rival , Hillary Clinton .
Moscow denies that charge .
In September fresh warnings arose of Russian hackers targeting the 2020 election , including the indictment of a Russian man stealing American identities as part of election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Russian-linked politician for spreading disinformation .
Trump is currently campaigning for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden and Russia has denied it is again attempting to interfere in the campaign .
Some analysts believe Biden will be tougher on Russia than Trump , but also less unpredictable to deal with , which could perhaps make him more open to forging deals in areas such as nuclear arms control .
According to Putin , there are pluses and minuses in the current climate of Russian-U.S. cooperation .
`` The current [ U.S. ] administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our companies and economic operators , which is the highest number ever ... .
But as strange as it may look , at the same time , despite the restrictions , the volume of commodities ' turnover [ between Russia and the United States ] increased by 30 percent in the last year , '' Putin said .

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is ready to work with any U.S. president, regardless of who wins next week's election.
"We are analyzing all developments [around the upcoming U.S, presidential election on November 3]. We will accept any decision made by the American people and will work with any administration. I hope that the decision will be well-weighed," Putin told a plenary session of the VTB Capital Forum Russia Calls on October 29 in Moscow.
The Russian president declined to talk in depth about the election noting that "whatever I say, our [U.S.] partners may cling to to prove Russia's imaginary meddling into the election process in the United States."
U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with the aim of helping Donald Trump, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival, Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge.
In September fresh warnings arose of Russian hackers targeting the 2020 election, including the indictment of a Russian man stealing American identities as part of election meddling and the imposition of sanctions against a Russian-linked politician for spreading disinformation.
Trump is currently campaigning for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden and Russia has denied it is again attempting to interfere in the campaign.
Some analysts believe Biden will be tougher on Russia than Trump, but also less unpredictable to deal with, which could perhaps make him more open to forging deals in areas such as nuclear arms control.
According to Putin, there are pluses and minuses in the current climate of Russian-U.S. cooperation.
"The current [U.S.] administration has imposed sanctions on Russia 46 times on our companies and economic operators, which is the highest number ever.... But as strange as it may look, at the same time, despite the restrictions, the volume of commodities' turnover [between Russia and the United States] increased by 30 percent in the last year," Putin said.


rferl--2020-10-29--U.S. Whistle-Blower Snowden Will Be Father, Child Can Be Russian Citizen

Whistle-blower Edward Snowden will become a father by the end of the year and his child is eligible to be a citizen of Russia , where the U.S. citizen has been living since in 2013 after releasing details of the U.S. electronic-surveillance program .
Snowden 's lawyer , Anatoly Kucherena , said on October 29 that his client and his wife , Lindsay Mills , were expecting the child 's birth sometime in late December .
He added that `` at the moment , there is no information '' about Snowden 's possible intention to become a Russian citizen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian if neither parent claims the child 's citizenship in another country .
A week earlier , Kucherena said that Snowden , a former employee and subcontractor of the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) , had obtained permanent residency in Russia .
Snowden was charged under the U.S .
Espionage Act for leaking some 1.5 million secret documents from the National Security Agency ( NSA ) on government surveillance , prompting public debate about the legality of some of the agency 's programs , as well as over privacy concerns and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and neighbors .
If convicted in the United States , Snowden faces up to 30 years in prison .
Snowden fled the United States in 2013 , traveling to Hong Kong and then to Russia , where he was stranded at a Moscow airport after the United States revoked his passport and he was later granted temporary asylum .
U.S. President Donald Trump said in August that he was considering a pardon for Snowden , while in September , the whistle-blower called on French President Emmanuel Macron to grant him asylum .
Snowden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one day return home to the United States .
Mills joined him in Russia in 2014 and they married in 2017 .
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax

Whistle-blower Edward Snowden will become a father by the end of the year and his child is eligible to be a citizen of Russia, where the U.S. citizen has been living since in 2013 after releasing details of the U.S. electronic-surveillance program.
Snowden's lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said on October 29 that his client and his wife, Lindsay Mills, were expecting the child's birth sometime in late December.
He added that "at the moment, there is no information" about Snowden's possible intention to become a Russian citizen. The infant is automatically eligible to receive Russian if neither parent claims the child's citizenship in another country.
A week earlier, Kucherena said that Snowden, a former employee and subcontractor of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), had obtained permanent residency in Russia.
Snowden was charged under the U.S. Espionage Act for leaking some 1.5 million secret documents from the National Security Agency (NSA) on government surveillance, prompting public debate about the legality of some of the agency's programs, as well as over privacy concerns and how the United States snoops on its citizens and neighbors.
If convicted in the United States, Snowden faces up to 30 years in prison.
Snowden fled the United States in 2013, traveling to Hong Kong and then to Russia, where he was stranded at a Moscow airport after the United States revoked his passport and he was later granted temporary asylum.
U.S. President Donald Trump said in August that he was considering a pardon for Snowden, while in September, the whistle-blower called on French President Emmanuel Macron to grant him asylum.
Snowden has previously stated that he was hoping to one day return home to the United States. Mills joined him in Russia in 2014 and they married in 2017.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-10-29--Uzbek Scholar Andrei Kubatin Dies Of COVID-19 One Year After Release From Prison

Andrei Kubatin , a well-known Uzbek scholar who was released from prison a year ago after a court fully exonerated him of espionage charges , has died of COVID-19 at the age of 36 .
Media reports in Uzbekistan quoted the Uzbek Academy of Sciences as saying that Kubatin died on October 29 in a Tashkent hospital where he was being treated for coronavirus .
U.S. human rights lawyer Steve Swerdlow told RFE/RL that Kubatin 's relatives had confirmed the scholar ’ s death .
Kubatin , a well-known Turkologist and historian , who was an expert on dozens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as ancient Uyghur manuscripts , was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2017 for passing scanned copies of historic scripts to a Turkish company that planned to issue travel guides for tourists visiting Uzbekistan .
In 2018 , Kubatin 's prison term was shortened to five years .
In late September last year , a Tashkent court exonerated the scholar and ordered his release after dozens of academics from several countries signed a petition urging Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev to release Kubatin .
As of October 29 , the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including 560 deaths .

Andrei Kubatin, a well-known Uzbek scholar who was released from prison a year ago after a court fully exonerated him of espionage charges, has died of COVID-19 at the age of 36.
Media reports in Uzbekistan quoted the Uzbek Academy of Sciences as saying that Kubatin died on October 29 in a Tashkent hospital where he was being treated for coronavirus.
U.S. human rights lawyer Steve Swerdlow told RFE/RL that Kubatin's relatives had confirmed the scholar’s death.
Kubatin, a well-known Turkologist and historian, who was an expert on dozens of languages and on Central Asian history as well as ancient Uyghur manuscripts, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2017 for passing scanned copies of historic scripts to a Turkish company that planned to issue travel guides for tourists visiting Uzbekistan.
In 2018, Kubatin's prison term was shortened to five years.
In late September last year, a Tashkent court exonerated the scholar and ordered his release after dozens of academics from several countries signed a petition urging Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev to release Kubatin.
As of October 29, the number of registered coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan was 66,313, including 560 deaths.


rferl--2020-10-29--Moscow Court Sentences 'New Greatness' Group Member To Six Years In Prison

A court in Moscow has sentenced a member of the so-called New Greatness movement to six years in prison on extremism charges .
The Lyublino district court on October 29 found Pavel Rebrovsky guilty of creating an extremist organization and sentenced him the same day .
The court also ruled that Rebrovsky will be under parole-like police supervison for one year after serving his term and barred him from placing any materials on the Internet for three years..
In addition , the court concluded that Rebrovsky may have psychiatric problems and must undergo medical treatment because of that .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with investigators to testify against other suspects in the high-profile case , and was sentenced to 29 months in prison for being a member of the group .
However , several months later , after Rebrovsky recanted his testimony , saying it had been made under duress , prosecutors demanded that his verdict and sentence be annulled , which the Moscow City Court did in October 2019 .
Then in August this year , the Lyublino district court sentenced seven members of the movement to prison terms ranging from seven years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the defendants were arrested in 2018 and charged with creating an extremist group with the intention of overthrowing Russian President Vladimir Putin 's government .
Critics say the case against them was fabricated by Russia ’ s security services .
The rights group Memorial describes the seven as political prisoners .
The group members said they had turned their online chat group , which was critical of Russia 's government , into a political movement called New Greatness at the suggestion of one group member .
Later , it was revealed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote the movement 's charter , and rented premises for gatherings was a special agent of Russia 's Federal Security Service ( FSB ) .
Last year , another member of the group , Rustam Rustamov , who also made a deal with the investigators , received a suspended 18-month prison sentence .
One more member of the group , Sergei Gavrilov , fled to Ukraine in October 2019 , where he asked for political asylum .

A court in Moscow has sentenced a member of the so-called New Greatness movement to six years in prison on extremism charges.
The Lyublino district court on October 29 found Pavel Rebrovsky guilty of creating an extremist organization and sentenced him the same day.
The court also ruled that Rebrovsky will be under parole-like police supervison for one year after serving his term and barred him from placing any materials on the Internet for three years..
In addition, the court concluded that Rebrovsky may have psychiatric problems and must undergo medical treatment because of that.
In April last year, Rebrovsky made a deal with investigators to testify against other suspects in the high-profile case, and was sentenced to 29 months in prison for being a member of the group.
However, several months later, after Rebrovsky recanted his testimony, saying it had been made under duress, prosecutors demanded that his verdict and sentence be annulled, which the Moscow City Court did in October 2019.
Then in August this year, the Lyublino district court sentenced seven members of the movement to prison terms ranging from seven years in prison to four-year suspended sentences.
All of the defendants were arrested in 2018 and charged with creating an extremist group with the intention of overthrowing Russian President Vladimir Putin's government.
Critics say the case against them was fabricated by Russia’s security services.
The rights group Memorial describes the seven as political prisoners.
The group members said they had turned their online chat group, which was critical of Russia's government, into a political movement called New Greatness at the suggestion of one group member.
Later, it was revealed that the man who proposed the idea, wrote the movement's charter, and rented premises for gatherings was a special agent of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).
Last year, another member of the group, Rustam Rustamov, who also made a deal with the investigators, received a suspended 18-month prison sentence.
One more member of the group, Sergei Gavrilov, fled to Ukraine in October 2019, where he asked for political asylum.


rferl--2020-10-29--Lukashenka Closes Belarus's Borders, Reshuffles Security Team Amid Protests

MINSK -- Belarus has partially closed its land borders with all neighbors except Russia for most travelers , amid strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka 's efforts to end weeks of street protests against a disputed election that gave him a sixth consecutive term as president .
The Belarusian Border Control Committee on October 29 announced the closure of borders with Latvia , Lithuania , Poland , and Ukraine , citing the `` epidemiological situation '' in light of the coronavirus pandemic .
But there is speculation that the move might have a political motivation .
It came despite Belarusian officials having minimized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and follows claims that Belarus 's neighbors have tried to destabilize the situation in the country .
And a shakeup and appointment of others close to Lukashenka in top security positions signals a tightening of his grip on security across the country and especially in the capital , the epicenter of postelection protests and resulting police violence against peaceful demonstrators .
The Border Control Committee said only Belarusian citizens and trucks were being allowed to enter Belarus through land checkpoints .
Rustamas Liubajevas , chief of the Lithuanian border guard , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry , and within hours the border had been closed to outgoing cars .
The change came without advance warning , Liubajevas told Reuters .
Belarusian opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , who left the country under pressure following the election she claims she won , said the border closure was a sign that Lukashenka is `` in a panic . ''
Lukashenka has described the COVID-19 pandemic as a `` psychosis . ''
The Belarusian authorities have reported more than 96,000 coronavirus cases , with over 970 deaths .
Earlier on October 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yury Karayeu was replaced by Ivan Kubrakou , who prior to his appointment to the post led the Minsk city police department .
The move comes a day after Karayeu , who is under EU sanctions for his role in the violent crackdown against protesters , publicly said that security forces could use live munitions against demonstrators who have been a constant presence on the streets since the August 9 presidential election .
He was moved to the position of presidential aide in the western Hrodna region , while Deputy Interior Minister Alyaksandr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minsk and Valer Vakulchyk , , the former chief of the Belarusian KGB , became a presidential aide in the western region of Brest .
Local media quoted Lukashenka as saying that his aides ' responsibilities will be widened and their `` task is to select cadres and control their activities . ''
Belarus has witnessed near daily protests since the vote that Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , claims he won by a landslide .
Lukashenka has responded to demonstrations against the official outcome with a crackdown that has seen more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beatings by security forces of peaceful demonstrators .
Members of the media reporting on the protests have also been attacked .
Most of the country 's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country , including Tsikhanouskaya , who has said the vote was rigged in Lukashenka 's favor and considers herself the rightful winner .
She left Belarus for Lithuania days after the vote amid threats to her and her family .
On October 28 , Karayeu said law enforcement could use combat weapon against protesters considered to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist attacks '' against police .
The day before , Lukashenka described ongoing strikes called by the opposition at the start of the week as `` the actions of organized criminal groups . ''
Lukashenka said the country was `` starting to face terrorist threats , '' in reference to weeks of peaceful protests against his rule .
Western governments have voiced support for the opposition , with both the European Union and the United States refusing to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus 's legitimate leader .
The EU has announced asset freezes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their alleged roles in the repression of protesters and the opposition , as well as fraud during the August vote .
On October 12 , EU foreign ministers gave a political green light to a new sanctions package that will include Lukashenka himself .
With reporting by AP , dpa , and Reuters