rferl--2020-07-14--Babaryka Not Registered Among Four Presidential Challengers To Lukashenka In Belarus

MINSK -- The Central Election Commission ( CEC ) of Belarus has barred Viktar Babaryka , seen as a major @ @ @ @ @ , from running in a presidential election next month .
CEC Chairwoman Lidziya Yarmoshyna said @ @ @ @ @ candidates , including Lukashenka , were registered for the August 9 vote , but that @ @ @ @ @ because his income declaration did not correspond to his real incomes and a foreign organization @ @ @ @ @ election campaign .
She did not elaborate .
The five candidates are Lukashenka , who @ @ @ @ @ since 1994 , Andrey Dzmitryyeu , Hanna Kanapatskaya , Syarhey Cherachan , and Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya @ @ @ @ @ of a jailed vlogger , Syarhey Tsikhanouski , who also sought to take part in @ @ @ @

MINSK -- Thousands of people across Belarus protested and scuffles broke out with police after a top challenger to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka was barred from running in the country's election next month amid growing public discontent over the Belarusian authoritarian leader's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Belarusian Central Election Commission (CEC) announced on July 14 that five candidates were officially registered for the August 9 ballot, including Lukashenka, 65, who has ruled the country since 1994.
However, the CEC also said that Viktar Babaryka, a former bank manager now in jail on charges that he and his campaign say are politically motivated, was left off the list of candidates.
CEC chairwoman Lidziya Yarmoshyna said that Babaryka was not registered because inconsistencies were allegedly found in his income and property declaration, and because a foreign organization had taken part in his election campaign. She did not elaborate.
Valer Tsapkala, a prominent businessman and former Belarusian ambassador to the United States, was also disqualified from running by the CEC.
'Lacking In Transparency'
Yarmoshyna said Tsapkala had been disqualified due to the rejection of many of the signatures his campaign collected to get him on the ballot.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that "the seemingly arbitrary exclusion of candidates limits the possibility for the Belarusian people to express their will and already undermines the overall integrity and democratic nature of the elections."
"By denying the registration of Viktar Babaryka and [Valer] Tsapkala the Belarusian authorities have failed to ensure a meaningful and competitive political contest," Borrell said in a statement.
In the capital, Minsk, thousands of protesters held demonstrations at various locations, walking peacefully and clapping as passing drivers honked their horns in support. Similar protests were held in regional cities, including Brest and Gomel.
More than 140 people were detained across the country, according to the human rights center Viasna.
Among those detained were two RFE/RL journalists during a live broadcast in Minsk.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters being detained by police officers and plainclothes police, who threw some protesters into vans.
In scenes rarely seen during a recent wave of protests, protesters also scuffled with riot police and plainclothes police officers.
The protests over the disqualification of candidates on July 14 were only the latest in weeks of political unrest that has resulted in dozens of demonstrations and scores of arrests.
The upcoming election comes as Lukashenka faces mounting public opposition to his rule. The country has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic with more than 65,000 confirmed cases as of July 14, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Lukashenka ignored calls to institute any lockdown measures, dismissing the virus as nothing more than a 'psychosis.' Hundreds of people, including activists and bloggers have been arrested as the government has cracked down hard on rallies and demonstrations despite calls for restraint from Western governments and institutions, including the United Nations.
Babaryka and his son were arrested on June 18 after police questioned them on allegations of tax evasion and money-laundering in connection with an investigation at the Russian-owned Belgazprombank, where the elder Babaryka worked for 20 years.
Belarusian authorities on June 15 took control of the bank and arrested more than a dozen top executives on charges of tax evasion and money-laundering.
Analysts said Babaryka could have posed a threat at the ballot box to Lukashenka. His election team said they had collected nearly 435,000 signatures to support his candidacy, a number they said was unprecedented for an independent candidate in Belarus and more than four times the required 100,000 needed to get on the ballot.
Besides Lukashenka, the CEC cleared four other candidates for the August 9 poll: Andrey Dzmitryyeu, Hanna Kanapatskaya, Syarhey Cherachan, and Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Tsikhanouskaya is the wife of a jailed vlogger, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, who also sought to take part in the presidential election.
Tsikhanouski was detained in May and sentenced to 10 days in jail for taking part in an unsanctioned rally in the western city of Hrodna in late-May held to collect signatures for potential presidential candidates, including himself.
He was set to be released on June 8 after completing the sentence but authorities kept him incarcerated and said a day later that he and seven others had been charged with "the organization and preparation of actions that severely violated public order," a reference to the Hrodna rally.
If convicted, Tsikhanouski and the seven others in the case may face up to three years in prison.
On July 1, Tsikhanouski received an additional 15 days in jail for refusing to follow a police officer's orders during the rallies. He and his supporters have rejected all the charges, calling them politically motivated.
Amnesty International has recognized Babaryka, his son Eduard and Syarhey Tsikhanouski as prisoners of conscience.
Kanapatskaya was one of two opposition candidates elected to the Belarusian parliament in 2016. However, her 2019 bid to seek reelection to the lower house of the country's largely rubber-stamp National Assembly was struck down by the CEC, which has been led by Yarmoshyna for 20 years.


rferl--2020-07-14--Tehran Says It Has Executed Alleged Iranian Spy For CIA

Iran ’ s judiciary says a a former defense ministry worker convicted of selling information to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) has been executed .
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said on July 14 that Reza Asgari had been in touch with the CIA during his last years serving at the Defense Ministry and sold the agency information about Iran 's missile program .
Esmaili said Asgari was executed last week , adding that he had worked in the aerospace department of the Defense Ministry and retired four years ago .
Separately , Esmaili said a death sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of spying for the United States and Israel , is still to be carried out .
Iranian authorities have said that Musavi-Majd passed on information about the whereabouts of Qassem Soleimani , the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ' ( IRGC ) , who was killed in a U.S. air strike in Iraq in January .
The judiciary said last month that Musavi-Majd ’ s death sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court and will be carried out “ soon.
” Based on reporting by Reuters , AP , and @

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


rferl--2020-07-14--Tajik Prosecutor-General Rejects Austria's Move To Invalidate Extradition Of Tajik Activist

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan says an Austrian court 's decision to invalidate the extradition of a Tajik asylum seeker who has already been sent home is `` not valid '' in the Central Asian nation .
`` Hizbullo Shovalizoda was prosecuted on the basis of evidence gathered in the criminal case that proved his illegal actions inside Tajikistan , '' Tajik Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon told reporters on July 14 .
The statement comes a week after the Supreme Court of Austria invalidated an extradition order for Shovalizoda , 29 , who was sent back to Tajikistan in March and sentenced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a court in Dushanbe found him guilty on charges that included participating in the activities of an extremist organization and high treason .
According to the court ruling , Austria failed to secure the Tajik national 's right to freely leave the country .
It added that the decision on his extradition was based on outdated information about the current situation in the former Soviet republic .
Shovalizoda 's lawyer in Vienna , Gregor Klammer , told RFE/RL last week that the Supreme Court had obliged Austria to bring his client back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Shovalizoda was suspected of being a member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan ( IRPT ) and of participating in an attempt to overthrow the government by force .
The IRPT , long an influential party with representatives in the government and parliament , was labeled a terrorist group and banned in 2015 .
Dozens of IRPT officials and supporters have been prosecuted and many of them imprisoned , drawing criticism from human rights groups .
Shovalizoda arrived in Austria in early 2019 and asked for asylum but instead was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tajik opposition activists told RFE/RL that they had urged Austrian authorities not to extradite Shovalizoda , as he was not a member of any political opposition group or party .
The IRPT said at the time that Shovalizoda had never been one of its members .
`` Shovalizoda is most likely to be subjected to torture , ill-treatment , and unfair trial .
He , as in previous similar situations , may be forced to testify against himself and other people under torture , '' the party said in a statement at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities have been criticized for cracking down on dissent for years .
In 2014 , the opposition movement Group 24 was labeled as terrorist and extremist and banned .
In March 2015 , the movement 's founder , Umarali Quvatov , was assassinated in Istanbul .

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan says an Austrian court's decision to invalidate the extradition of a Tajik asylum seeker who has already been sent home is "not valid" in the Central Asian nation.
"Hizbullo Shovalizoda was prosecuted on the basis of evidence gathered in the criminal case that proved his illegal actions inside Tajikistan," Tajik Prosecutor-General Yusuf Rahmon told reporters on July 14.
The statement comes a week after the Supreme Court of Austria invalidated an extradition order for Shovalizoda, 29, who was sent back to Tajikistan in March and sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 10 after a court in Dushanbe found him guilty on charges that included participating in the activities of an extremist organization and high treason.
According to the court ruling, Austria failed to secure the Tajik national's right to freely leave the country. It added that the decision on his extradition was based on outdated information about the current situation in the former Soviet republic.
Shovalizoda's lawyer in Vienna, Gregor Klammer, told RFE/RL last week that the Supreme Court had obliged Austria to bring his client back to Vienna.
Tajik authorities have said that Shovalizoda was suspected of being a member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) and of participating in an attempt to overthrow the government by force.
The IRPT, long an influential party with representatives in the government and parliament, was labeled a terrorist group and banned in 2015.
Dozens of IRPT officials and supporters have been prosecuted and many of them imprisoned, drawing criticism from human rights groups.
Shovalizoda arrived in Austria in early 2019 and asked for asylum but instead was placed under arrest in January.
Exiled Tajik opposition activists told RFE/RL that they had urged Austrian authorities not to extradite Shovalizoda, as he was not a member of any political opposition group or party.
The IRPT said at the time that Shovalizoda had never been one of its members.
"Shovalizoda is most likely to be subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and unfair trial. He, as in previous similar situations, may be forced to testify against himself and other people under torture," the party said in a statement at the time of the extradition hearing.
Tajik authorities have been criticized for cracking down on dissent for years.
In 2014, the opposition movement Group 24 was labeled as terrorist and extremist and banned. In March 2015, the movement's founder, Umarali Quvatov, was assassinated in Istanbul.


rferl--2020-07-14--Iranian Rights Activist Says She, Her Cellmates Suffering From COVID-19 Symptoms

Imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi says she has been suffering from symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 -- the illness caused by the coronavirus -- including coughs , fatigue , diarrhea , and loss of smell , and has complained that authorities have not released the results of her test .
In a letter from prison published online on July 13 , Mohammadi said she and 11 of her cellmates in the Zanjan prison , some 330 kilometers west of the capital , Tehran , are suspected of having been infected with the coronavirus .
Mohammadi , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Human Rights Defenders in Iran founded by Nobel Peace Prize-winner Shirin Ebadi , said “ signs ” of an outbreak of coronavirus emerged in the prison about two weeks ago .
The rights activist , who is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being found guilty of anti-government propaganda and membership in a banned group opposed to the death penalty , called on Iran ’ s health ministry to send a representative to the Zanjan prison to investigate the situation .
Mohammadi said that she and other prisoners in her ward are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ medication , treatment , and proper nutrition.
” Mohammadi ’ s relatives have said in past months that she has been denied health care and prevented from talking over the phone to her children , who live in France .
“ Unfortunately , the judiciary wants to teach her a lesson and force her not to take any stands .
Not to be herself .
Narges Mohammadi is being denied every basic right because she takes a stand , ” her husband , Taghi Rahmani , told the New York-based Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mohammadi has been awarded several prestigious prizes , including the American Physical Society 's Andrei Sakharov Prize in 2018 for outstanding leadership in upholding human rights .
Iran has been struggling to contain the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 13,000 Iranians and infected nearly 260,000 , according to official figures .
Real numbers are believed to be significantly higher .
Following the easing of restrictions , Iran has experienced a rise in infections and fatality numbers .
In March , the judiciary announced that it has ordered the temporary release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the spread of the coronavirus in crowded jails .


rferl--2020-07-14--Russia-Turkey Joint Patrol Hit By Bomb Attack In Syria

Russia 's Defense Ministry said on July 14 that a roadside bomb planted by militants hit a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in Syria , wounding three Russian soldiers , Russian news agencies reported .
Several Turkish soldiers were also wounded in the blast , according to reports .
The blast occurred in the southern part of the rebel-controlled Idlib region in northeastern Syria during a joint patrol mission along the strategic M4 highway , which connects Aleppo to Latakia on the Mediterranean coast .
`` The explosion damaged an armored personnel carrier belonging to the Russian military police and a Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minor injuries .
There were also injuries on board the Turkish armored vehicle .
All injured servicemen were rapidly evacuated from the area , '' the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria said in a statement quoted by Interfax on July 14 .
Turkey and Russia brokered a March cease-fire in Idlib following a months-long Russia-backed offensive by Syrian forces that displaced nearly 1 million people and threatened to send a flood of refugees into Turkey .
As part of the cease-fire deal , Turkish and Russian troops conduct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebel fighters and Syrian government forces along a section of the M4 highway .
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax

Russia's Defense Ministry said on July 14 that a roadside bomb planted by militants hit a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in Syria, wounding three Russian soldiers, Russian news agencies reported.
Several Turkish soldiers were also wounded in the blast, according to reports.
The blast occurred in the southern part of the rebel-controlled Idlib region in northeastern Syria during a joint patrol mission along the strategic M4 highway, which connects Aleppo to Latakia on the Mediterranean coast.
"The explosion damaged an armored personnel carrier belonging to the Russian military police and a Turkish armored vehicle. Three Russian servicemen sustained minor injuries. There were also injuries on board the Turkish armored vehicle. All injured servicemen were rapidly evacuated from the area," the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria said in a statement quoted by Interfax on July 14.
Turkey and Russia brokered a March cease-fire in Idlib following a months-long Russia-backed offensive by Syrian forces that displaced nearly 1 million people and threatened to send a flood of refugees into Turkey.
As part of the cease-fire deal, Turkish and Russian troops conduct joint patrols in a buffer zone between rebel fighters and Syrian government forces along a section of the M4 highway.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax


rferl--2020-07-14--Calls For Restraint After Deadly Armenia-Azerbaijan Border Clashes

Armenia and Azerbaijan remained on edge on July 14 following two days of deadly border clashes that prompted international calls for immediate de-escalation .
The two neighbors in the South Caucasus region have blamed each other for starting the latest flare up along their volatile border .
Azerbaijan ’ s Defense Ministry said on July 14 that 11 of its armed forces personnel , including Major General Polad Hasimov and Colonel Ilqar Mirzayev , had been killed and several more wounded since clashes erupted on July 12 , while Armenia 's Defense Ministry said three of its soldiers and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides reportedly used artillery , mortars , and tanks in the northern area of their border near the village of Tavush .
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said the artillery fire from Azerbaijan `` receded '' later on July 13 , claiming Yerevan was `` fully controlling '' the situation .
`` Armenia 's political and military leadership will bear the entire responsibility for the provocation , '' Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said on July 13 .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian accused Azerbaijan of `` provocations '' that would `` not go unanswered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed 100 Armenian troops were “ destroyed and wounded ” alongside military equipment and accused Yerevan of “ hiding its losses.
” The Armenian Defense Ministry denied the losses , calling the reports “ disinformation.
” The two neighbors have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan 's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years .
But the clashes over the past two days were far from Nagorno-Karabakh and directly between the two nations , which occur rarely .
The European Union , United States , and Russia urged restraint in a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Sergei Lavrov held phone conversations with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts , urging de-escalation between the two countries with which it has close relations .
Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry expressed `` serious concerns '' over the clashes , which it said `` endanger the region 's stability , '' urging the countries to `` show restraint . ''
The U.S. State Department urged both sides to adhere to a cease-fire and resume negotiations in a bid to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
In a statement , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the armed confrontation , refrain from action and rhetoric that provoke tension , and undertake immediate measures to prevent further escalation.
” The clashes came days after Azerbaijani President Aliyev raised the possibility of a new war with Armenia and denounced stalled peace talks .
On July 7 , Aliyev threatened to withdraw from negotiations `` if they yield no results . ''
He did not provide further details .
Mainly ethnic Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan amid a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces that Azerbaijan says include troops supplied by Armenia .
The region 's claim to independence has not been recognized by any country .
Negotiations involving the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) , co-chaired by Russia , the United States , and France , helped forge a cease-fire in the region , which is not always honored , but have failed to produce a lasting settlement of the conflict .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Azerbaijani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , TASS , and dpa

Seven Azerbaijani servicemen, including an army general, and four Armenian soldiers were reported killed on July 14 in the third day of border clashes involving heavy artillery amid international calls for an immediate de-escalation.
The two neighbors in the South Caucasus region that fought a war in 1988-1994 over the Nagorno-Karabakh region have blamed each other for starting the latest flare-up along their volatile border.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said on July 14 that Major General Polad Hasimov and Colonel Ilqar Mirzayev were among those killed on the Azerbaijani side in the fresh fighting.
Armenia's Defense Ministry also said four of its servicemen, including a major and a captain, had been killed in the July 14 skirmishes.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalian said the city of Berd had been shelled near the border but Armenian forces had "destroyed the Azeri bases" that fired on it.
Overall, at least 16 people have been reported killed from both sides since Armenian and Azerbaijani troops exchanged fire in the northern section of their border on July 12.
In the evening of July 14, hundreds of people gathered in Baku for a march in support of the Azerbaijani military and President Ilham Aliyev.
However, some of the participants called for the resignation of Najmaddin Sadikhov, the chief of general staff of the armed forces.
At one point late in the protest, a group entered the parliament building but were quickly removed by police, who then used water cannons, tear gas, and batons to disperse those gathered in front.
Separately, hundreds of residents of Baku’s Khatai district went to the streets to meet dead body of Colonel Mirzayev.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have exchanged mutual accusations over which side is responsible for the flare-up.
"Armenia's political and military leadership will bear the entire responsibility for the provocation," Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said on July 13.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian accused Azerbaijan of "provocations" that would "not go unanswered."
The two neighbors have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years.
But the latest clashes have been far from Nagorno-Karabakh and directly between the two nations, which occurs rarely.
The European Union, United States, and Russia urged restraint in a series of statements on July 13.
Calls For Calm
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held phone conversations with his Armenian and Azerbaijani counterparts, urging de-escalation between the two countries with which it has close relations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concerns" over the clashes, which it said "endanger the region's stability," urging the countries to "show restraint."
The U.S. State Department urged both sides to adhere to a cease-fire and resume negotiations in a bid to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In a statement, the EU urged both sides to “stop the armed confrontation, refrain from action and rhetoric that provoke tension, and undertake immediate measures to prevent further escalation.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "deeply concerned" and "urges an immediate end to the fighting and calls on all involved to take immediate steps to deescalate the situation and refrain from provocative rhetoric," according to his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.
The clashes came days after Azerbaijani President Aliyev raised the possibility of a new war with Armenia and denounced stalled peace talks.
On July 7, Aliyev threatened to withdraw from negotiations "if they yield no results." He did not provide further details.
Mainly ethnic Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh declared independence from Azerbaijan amid a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Since 1994, it has been under the control of ethnic Armenian forces that Azerbaijan says include troops supplied by Armenia. The region's claim to independence has not been recognized by any country.
Negotiations involving the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), co-chaired by Russia, the United States, and France, helped forge a cease-fire in the region, which is not always honored, but have failed to produce a lasting settlement of the conflict.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani and Armenian Services, AFP, AP, Reuters, TASS, and dpa


rferl--2020-07-14--Russian Journalist Prokopyeva Wins Press Freedom Award After Conviction For 'Justifying Terrorism'

Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva has won a prestigious media award , just days after a Russian court found her guilty of “ justifying terrorism ” in a controversial case widely criticized as an attack on freedom of speech .
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) announced on July 13 that Prokopyeva was one of its 2020 International Press Freedom awardees alongside three other journalists from Bangladesh , Iran , and Nigeria who have been “ arrested or faced criminal prosecution in reprisal for their reporting.
” “ Like brave and committed journalists everywhere , CPJ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news without fear or favor for the benefit of their communities , their country , and the world , ” said Joel Simon , CPJ executive director .
Prokopyeva , a freelance contributor to RFE/RL 's Russian Service , was ordered by a court on July 6 to pay a fine of 500,000 rubles ( about $ 6,950 ) , but she escaped a prosecutor ’ s demands for six years in prison and a ban on journalistic activities for four years .
Prokopyeva said she will appeal the decision .
The case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian journalists , RFE/RL , media rights groups , and Western governments .
Prokopyeva was charged in connection with a commentary she wrote in November 2018 , published by an affiliate of Ekho Moskvy radio .
In the text , she discussed a bombing outside the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) offices in the northern city of Arkhangelsk .
Russian media have reported that the suspected bomber , who died in the explosion , had posted statements on social media accusing the FSB of tampering with criminal cases .
In her commentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the political climate under President Vladimir Putin .
She suggested that political activism in the country was severely restricted , leading people to despair .
CPJ will honor the International Press Freedom awardees on November 19 at a virtual annual benefit gala due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
The other awardees are Shahidul Alam of Bangladesh , Mohammad Mosaed of Iran , and Dapo Olorunyomi of Nigeria .

Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva has won a prestigious media award, just days after a Russian court found her guilty of “justifying terrorism” in a controversial case widely criticized as an attack on freedom of speech.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced on July 13 that Prokopyeva was one of its 2020 International Press Freedom awardees alongside three other journalists from Bangladesh, Iran, and Nigeria who have been “arrested or faced criminal prosecution in reprisal for their reporting.”
“Like brave and committed journalists everywhere, CPJ’s honorees set out to report the news without fear or favor for the benefit of their communities, their country, and the world,” said Joel Simon, CPJ executive director.
Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor to RFE/RL's Russian Service, was ordered by a court on July 6 to pay a fine of 500,000 rubles (about $6,950), but she escaped a prosecutor’s demands for six years in prison and a ban on journalistic activities for four years. Prokopyeva said she will appeal the decision.
The case against Prokopyeva was widely criticized by independent Russian journalists, RFE/RL, media rights groups, and Western governments.
Prokopyeva was charged in connection with a commentary she wrote in November 2018, published by an affiliate of Ekho Moskvy radio. In the text, she discussed a bombing outside the Federal Security Service (FSB) offices in the northern city of Arkhangelsk.
Russian media have reported that the suspected bomber, who died in the explosion, had posted statements on social media accusing the FSB of tampering with criminal cases.
In her commentary, Prokopyeva linked the teenager's statements to the political climate under President Vladimir Putin. She suggested that political activism in the country was severely restricted, leading people to despair.
CPJ will honor the International Press Freedom awardees on November 19 at a virtual annual benefit gala due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The other awardees are Shahidul Alam of Bangladesh, Mohammad Mosaed of Iran, and Dapo Olorunyomi of Nigeria.


rferl--2020-07-14--Three Pakistani Soldiers Killed In Balochistan Ambush

The Pakistani military says three soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in an ambush in the restive southwestern @ @ @ @ @ incident took place in the Panjgur district on July 14 as the soldiers were on @ @ @ @ @ came under fire from `` terrorists , '' the army said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ personnel were in critical condition .
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack .
@ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan and Iran , has been plagued by sectarian violence , Islamist militant attacks , @ @ @ @ @ has led to thousands of casualties since 2004 .
Seven soldiers were killed in two @ @ @ @ @ in May .

The Pakistani military says three soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded in an ambush in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan.
The incident took place in the Panjgur district on July 14 as the soldiers were on a routine patrol when they came under fire from "terrorists," the army said in a statement.
It said the wounded security personnel were in critical condition.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Resource-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by sectarian violence, Islamist militant attacks, and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since 2004.
Seven soldiers were killed in two separate attacks in the province in May.


rferl--2020-07-14--Life Ban Upheld For Former Chief Of Afghan Soccer Federation

The former head of Afghanistan ’ s soccer federation on July 14 lost his appeal against a life ban for sexually abusing players from the women ’ s national team .
In June 2019 , soccer 's global governing body , FIFA , banned the Afghanistan Football Federation 's former president , Keramuddin Karim , for life and fined him about $ 1 million -- the most severe sanction possible available under the FIFA Code of Ethics .
In its judgement upholding FIFA ’ s verdict , the Court of Arbitration for Sport 's panel said that Karim `` violated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and physical dignity and integrity of young female players . ''
`` With his appalling acts , he had destroyed not only their careers , but severely damaged their lives , '' it added .
FIFA welcomed the Lausanne-based court ’ s decision , saying in a statement that it confirms the importance of its `` zero tolerance policy against physical , mental and sexual abuses at all levels of football . ''
The organization also praised `` the bravery of those victims who , under dreadful personal circumstances in their home country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice to be served . ''
The investigation by FIFA found that Karim had `` abused his position and sexually abused various female players . ''
At least five Afghan players had accused him of repeated sexual abuse in 2013-2018 .

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


rferl--2020-07-14--Hefty Prison Terms Sought For 'New Greatness' Youth Activists

MOSCOW -- A Russian prosecutor has demanded that three members of the New Greatness youth activist group facing extremism charges receive between 4 and 7 1/2 years in prison .
The prosecutor on July 14 asked Moscow ’ s Lyublino District Court to sentence Ruslan Kostylenkov , 27 , to 7 1/2 years in prison , Pyotr Karamzin , 34 , to 6 1/2 years and Vyacheslav Kryukov , 22 , to 6 years .
The prosecutor also requested that the four other defendants in the high-profile case -- Maria Dubovik , Anna Pavlikova , Dmitry Poletayev , and Maksim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 4 and 6 1/2 years .
All the defendants were arrested in 2018 and charged with creating an extremist group aiming to overthrow the government of President Vladimir Putin .
Critics say the case has been fabricated by Russia ’ s security services , and the rights group Memorial has recognized the accused as political prisoners .
Pavlikova was 17 at the time of her arrest .
She spent several months under house arrest , which sparked protests in Moscow and other cities .
The defendants say they had turned their online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement called New Greatness at the suggestion of a group member .
Later , it was revealed that the man who proposed the idea , wrote the movement 's charter , and rented premises for the movement 's gatherings was a special agent of the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) .
In April 2019 , another member of the group , Pavel Rebrovsky , was sentenced to 29 months in prison .
Earlier , another member , Rustam Rustamov , received a suspended 18-month prison sentence .
Both pleaded guilty and cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the group , Sergei Gavrilov , fled to Ukraine in October 2019 , where he has asked for political asylum .

MOSCOW -- A Russian prosecutor has demanded that three members of the New Greatness youth activist group facing extremism charges receive between 4 and 7 1/2 years in prison.
The prosecutor on July 14 asked Moscow’s Lyublino District Court to sentence Ruslan Kostylenkov, 27, to 7 1/2 years in prison, Pyotr Karamzin, 34, to 6 1/2 years and Vyacheslav Kryukov, 22, to 6 years.
The prosecutor also requested that the four other defendants in the high-profile case -- Maria Dubovik, Anna Pavlikova, Dmitry Poletayev, and Maksim Roshchin -- be handed suspended sentences of between 4 and 6 1/2 years.
All the defendants were arrested in 2018 and charged with creating an extremist group aiming to overthrow the government of President Vladimir Putin.
Critics say the case has been fabricated by Russia’s security services, and the rights group Memorial has recognized the accused as political prisoners.
Pavlikova was 17 at the time of her arrest. She spent several months under house arrest, which sparked protests in Moscow and other cities.
The defendants say they had turned their online chat criticizing the government into a political movement called New Greatness at the suggestion of a group member. Later, it was revealed that the man who proposed the idea, wrote the movement's charter, and rented premises for the movement's gatherings was a special agent of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
In April 2019, another member of the group, Pavel Rebrovsky, was sentenced to 29 months in prison.
Earlier, another member, Rustam Rustamov, received a suspended 18-month prison sentence.
Both pleaded guilty and cut deals with investigators.
One more member of the group, Sergei Gavrilov, fled to Ukraine in October 2019, where he has asked for political asylum.


rferl--2020-07-14--Navalny Summoned For Questioning In Libel Case

MOSCOW -- Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has been summoned for questioning in a criminal case launched over comments he made on social media .
Navalny wrote on Instagram that he was handed a subpoena when he was leaving his Moscow apartment on July 14 .
He did not say exactly when he was ordered to show up at the Investigative Committee for questioning .
The Investigative Committee said in mid-June that Navalny had been accused of libeling a World War II veteran who featured in a video clip with other Russians to express support for proposed constitutional reforms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , Navalny , one of President Vladimir Putin 's most vocal critics , described those in the video as “ traitors , ” “ people with no conscience , ” and “ corrupt lackeys.
” The Investigative Committee said the comments contained `` deliberately false information denigrating the honor and dignity '' of the WWII veteran .
Navalny faces penalties ranging from a fine of 1 million rubles ( $ 14,255 ) to 240 hours of community service if convicted .
Earlier this year , Russian state-run media broadcast videos of WWII @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing their support for constitutional amendments that were approved by a national vote on June 25-July 1 .
Among other changes , the amendments allow Putin to seek two more presidential terms after his current second , consecutive presidential term ends in 2024 .
Navalny , 44 , has been jailed several times in recent years , barred from running for president , and had a bid to run for Moscow mayor blocked .
In March , Navalny and his associate Ivan Zhdanov said that their bank accounts had been emptied and all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been blocked in what they described as a move to discredit and disgrace them .

MOSCOW -- Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has been summoned for questioning in a criminal case launched over comments he made on social media.
Navalny wrote on Instagram that he was handed a subpoena when he was leaving his Moscow apartment on July 14.
He did not say exactly when he was ordered to show up at the Investigative Committee for questioning.
The Investigative Committee said in mid-June that Navalny had been accused of libeling a World War II veteran who featured in a video clip with other Russians to express support for proposed constitutional reforms.
In a social media post on June 2, Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics, described those in the video as “traitors,” “people with no conscience,” and “corrupt lackeys.”
The Investigative Committee said the comments contained "deliberately false information denigrating the honor and dignity" of the WWII veteran.
Navalny faces penalties ranging from a fine of 1 million rubles ($14,255) to 240 hours of community service if convicted.
Earlier this year, Russian state-run media broadcast videos of WWII veterans, celebrities, and ordinary people expressing their support for constitutional amendments that were approved by a national vote on June 25-July 1.
Among other changes, the amendments allow Putin to seek two more presidential terms after his current second, consecutive presidential term ends in 2024.
Navalny, 44, has been jailed several times in recent years, barred from running for president, and had a bid to run for Moscow mayor blocked.
In March, Navalny and his associate Ivan Zhdanov said that their bank accounts had been emptied and all their payment cards and those of relatives been blocked in what they described as a move to discredit and disgrace them.


rferl--2020-07-14--Ukraine Urged To Protect Journalist Threatened Over Her Reporting

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) is urging Ukraine 's authorities to investigate death threats against a local independent journalist who has written about the alleged influence of far-right groups on a fact-checking website , and ensure that she and her family are safe .
Kateryna Sergatskova was targeted in social media posts in which people posted personal information , including photographs of her son , the New York-based watchdog said in a statement on July 14 .
Sergatskova , co-founder of the online media outlet Zaborona , told HRW that she had contacted a lawyer to file a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not have to fear for their lives because of what they report , ” said Hugh Williamson , Europe and Central Asia director at HRW .
Williamson called on Ukraine to `` stand up for free speech and protect '' Sergatskova and others `` who are repeatedly targeted for legitimate journalism . ''
On July 3 , Zaborona published an article detailing alleged friendships between the leaders of far-right or neo-Nazi groups and the directors of StopFake.org , a website that aims to stop the dissemination of false information about Ukraine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- including RFE/RL contributor Christopher Miller -- suggested that these friendships had influenced StopFake ’ s editorial choices .
StopFake rejected the claims , saying they were part of a campaign of `` harassment and intimidation from pro-Russian media . ''
Meanwhile , a Ukrainian journalist last week posted a picture of Sergatskova with her five-year-old son , published details about her personal life , and suggested that she was working for Russian intelligence services .
Responding to the post , social-media users threatened Sergatskova with death and physical violence over what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her address , as well as photos of her home .
The post appears to have been deleted , but the journalist continued to write insults and falsehoods about Sergatskova , who gave up her Russian citizenship to become a Ukrainian citizen in 2015 .
Sergatskova said she had been subject to online harassment before , particularly for her reporting on the work of Ukraine 's security services .
HRW said online harassment , threats , and the publication of personal information on the Internet of journalists or other figures perceived as pro-Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s forcible seizure of Ukraine ’ s Crimea region in 2014 and subsequent fighting by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine .
In 2016 , the Ukrainian website Myrotvorets published the names and personal data af hundreds of journalists and others who had been accredited to work by separatist groups who are holding parts of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk .
“ Little progress has been made into a criminal investigation that was opened in 2017 into the website , despite ongoing public pressure '' from the United Nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights ( OHCHR ) , according to HRW .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is urging Ukraine's authorities to investigate death threats against a local independent journalist who has written about the alleged influence of far-right groups on a fact-checking website, and ensure that she and her family are safe.
Kateryna Sergatskova was targeted in social media posts in which people posted personal information, including photographs of her son, the New York-based watchdog said in a statement on July 14.
Sergatskova, co-founder of the online media outlet Zaborona, told HRW that she had contacted a lawyer to file a police report about the threats.
“Journalists should not have to fear for their lives because of what they report,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW.
Williamson called on Ukraine to "stand up for free speech and protect" Sergatskova and others "who are repeatedly targeted for legitimate journalism."
On July 3, Zaborona published an article detailing alleged friendships between the leaders of far-right or neo-Nazi groups and the directors of StopFake.org, a website that aims to stop the dissemination of false information about Ukraine.
In the article, commentators and journalists -- including RFE/RL contributor Christopher Miller -- suggested that these friendships had influenced StopFake’s editorial choices.
StopFake rejected the claims, saying they were part of a campaign of "harassment and intimidation from pro-Russian media."
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian journalist last week posted a picture of Sergatskova with her five-year-old son, published details about her personal life, and suggested that she was working for Russian intelligence services.
Responding to the post, social-media users threatened Sergatskova with death and physical violence over what they alleged was pro-Russian propaganda, and posted her address, as well as photos of her home.
The post appears to have been deleted, but the journalist continued to write insults and falsehoods about Sergatskova, who gave up her Russian citizenship to become a Ukrainian citizen in 2015.
Sergatskova said she had been subject to online harassment before, particularly for her reporting on the work of Ukraine's security services.
HRW said online harassment, threats, and the publication of personal information on the Internet of journalists or other figures perceived as pro-Russia has become "more prominent" since Russia’s forcible seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014 and subsequent fighting by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
In 2016, the Ukrainian website Myrotvorets published the names and personal data af hundreds of journalists and others who had been accredited to work by separatist groups who are holding parts of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
“Little progress has been made into a criminal investigation that was opened in 2017 into the website, despite ongoing public pressure" from the United Nation’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), according to HRW.


rferl--2020-07-14--Afghan Watchdog: Average Of 16 Civilians Killed, Wounded Every Day In Past Six Months

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission ( AIHRC ) says that on average 16 civilians have been killed or wounded every day across the country in the first half of 2020 .
A total of 1,213 civilians have been killed and 1,744 others wounded in 880 separate security incidents during the first six months of the year , according to the AIHRC ’ s report on civilian casualties published on July 14 .
The report said civilian casualties have dropped by 11 percent compared to the same period last year .
The AIHRC said Taliban attacks were responsible for 48.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government forces are behind 15.5 percent of the casualties , the Islamic State ( IS ) extremist group 6.3 percent , and international forces 2.3 percent .
Attacks by unknown perpetrators accounted for 26.7 percent of the casualties .
Most of the casualties were from targeted killings , home-made bomb blasts such as roadside bombs or sticky bombs , rocket attacks , suicide attacks , ground battles , airstrikes and night raids , the AIHRC said .
Casualties from suicide attacks have increased by 109 percent compared to the first six months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the IS group .
On July 14 , a roadside bomb in eastern Kabul killed at least four civilians and wounded four others , including children , officials said .
Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz said the victims were riding in a car in the district of Surobi when their vehicle hit the bomb , setting it off .
District Governor Gohar Khan Baburi gave a higher casualty toll , saying five civilians were killed and 11 wounded .
No group or individual immediately claimed responsibility for the attack , but the district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roadside bomb to target a military convoy .
The Taliban have stepped up attacks across Afghanistan in recent weeks , targeting Afghan security forces .
The surge comes despite the militant group 's signing of a peace deal with the United States in February aimed at paving the way for an end to the war in Afghanistan .


rferl--2020-07-14--Russian Lawmakers Approve In Initial Reading Expanded 'Extremism" Law Aimed At Crimea

Russia 's lower chamber of parliament , the State Duma , has approved the first reading of an expanded extremism bill aimed at further quelling opposition activists and politicians as well as anyone questioning Moscow ’ s forcible seizure of the Crimean Peninsula .
Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said on July 14 that , after the bill is adopted and becomes law , `` calls for the violation of Russia 's territorial integrity , including calls to alienate parts of its territory , will be considered extremism . ''
`` Any calls to separate Russia 's region or its part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volodin said .
The bill , proposed by a group of lawmakers , is primarily aimed at targeting any discussion or criticism of Russia taking Crimea from Ukraine .
Among other things , the legislation outlines fines and criminal liability for `` public appeals '' using the media , the Internet , or any other information channel .
Volodin said that the bill would amend the law on extremism bringing it in line with constitutional amendments that were adopted and took effect on July 4 amid protests by opposition and rights defenders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed President Vladimir Putin to seek two more presidential terms after his current second term in a row expires in 2024 .
The bill must go through approvals in two more readings by the State Duma and an approval by the parliament 's upper chamber , the Federation Council , before President Putin signs it into law .
The head of the committee for constitutional legislation and state-building at the parliament ’ s upper chamber , Andrei Klishas , who is also the bill 's author , said on July 8 that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of July .
Russian lawmakers amended the Criminal Code in July 2014 , several months after Moscow illegally annexed Ukraine 's Crimea , toughening punishment for public calls for separatism by introducing the possibility of imposing a sentence of up to five years in prison for publicly advocating separatism via media and the Internet .
That amendment was used by Russian authorities to proseecute dozens of journalists and activists in Crimea for their open stance opposing the seizure of the Black Sea peninsula .
The new bill proposes imprisonment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated violations of the law .
With reporting by TASS and Interfax

Russia's lower chamber of parliament, the State Duma, has approved the first reading of an expanded extremism bill aimed at further quelling opposition activists and politicians as well as anyone questioning Moscow’s forcible seizure of the Crimean Peninsula.
Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said on July 14 that, after the bill is adopted and becomes law, "calls for the violation of Russia's territorial integrity, including calls to alienate parts of its territory, will be considered extremism."
"Any calls to separate Russia's region or its part are unacceptable and must suppressed," Volodin said.
The bill, proposed by a group of lawmakers, is primarily aimed at targeting any discussion or criticism of Russia taking Crimea from Ukraine. Among other things, the legislation outlines fines and criminal liability for "public appeals" using the media, the Internet, or any other information channel.
Volodin said that the bill would amend the law on extremism bringing it in line with constitutional amendments that were adopted and took effect on July 4 amid protests by opposition and rights defenders.
Among other changes, the constitutional amendments allowed President Vladimir Putin to seek two more presidential terms after his current second term in a row expires in 2024.
The bill must go through approvals in two more readings by the State Duma and an approval by the parliament's upper chamber, the Federation Council, before President Putin signs it into law.
The head of the committee for constitutional legislation and state-building at the parliament’s upper chamber, Andrei Klishas, who is also the bill's author, said on July 8 that the legislation may be fully approved by parliament by the end of July.
Russian lawmakers amended the Criminal Code in July 2014, several months after Moscow illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea, toughening punishment for public calls for separatism by introducing the possibility of imposing a sentence of up to five years in prison for publicly advocating separatism via media and the Internet.
That amendment was used by Russian authorities to proseecute dozens of journalists and activists in Crimea for their open stance opposing the seizure of the Black Sea peninsula.
The new bill proposes imprisonment of 6 to 10 years, especially for repeated violations of the law.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-07-14--Protesters In Russian Far East Continue Push For Release Of Governor Charged With Murders

KHABAROVSK , Russia -- Hundreds of demonstrators have renewed their peaceful protest in Russia 's Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk , demanding the release of the region 's governor , Sergei Furgal , who was arrested last week on charges of attempted murder and ordering the killings of two businessmen in 2004-2005 .
The fifth unsanctioned mass rally since last weekend was held on the central Lenin Square in front of the regional government 's building on July 14 .
Two protesters joined the demonstrator ’ s with posters challenging President Vladimir Putin , saying `` Putin-thief , Furgal-ours !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` provocateurs , '' saying that their demands are about Furgal , not the president .
Police said they detained one of the anti-Putin poster-holders for `` insulting the president . ''
From the square , the protesters marched across the city holding posters of support for the governor that said `` I am/We are Sergei Furgal , '' and `` Return Furgal back to us . ''
Others joined the march as it wound through the streets , with drivers honked their horns to express support for the demonstrators .
The protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanded Khabarovsk Mayor Sergei Kravchuk , who publicly criticized the protests earlier in the day , to meet `` for a fair talk . ''
The protesters also demanded Furgal 's case be investigated locally and any possible trial be held in Khabarovsk , and not Moscow .
Tens of thousands gathered in support of Furgal in Khabarovsk over the weekend , a surprisingly strong showing given how far Khabarovsk is from the Russian capital and how the Kremlin has marginalized all political opposition in the country .
.
The protests were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national vote that has set the stage for President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036 .
Smaller rallies were also held in the military industrial city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and other towns in the region .
Putin 's spokesman , Dmitry Peskov , told reporters on July 14 that the Kremlin `` understands the emotions of Khabarovsk ’ s residents , '' but stressed that the accusations put forward against Furgal were `` very serious . ''
`` Everyone needs patience in this situation .
Investigators must prove the accusations in court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone is guilty or not in the case , ' Peskov said , warning that ongoing mass protests in Khabarovsk may cause a spike in coronavirus cases in the region .
On July 10 , a Moscow court ordered Furgal to be held in pretrial detention for two months .
The 50-year-old member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia ( LDPR ) led by nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky , has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of businessman Aleksandr Smolsky and ordering the murders of two businessmen , Yevgeny Zorya and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surprise victory over Kremlin favorite Vyacheslav Shport in 2018 in a major upset for the ruling United Russia party .

KHABAROVSK, Russia -- Hundreds of demonstrators have renewed their peaceful protest in Russia's Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, demanding the release of the region's governor, Sergei Furgal, who was arrested last week on charges of attempted murder and ordering the killings of two businessmen in 2004-2005.
The fifth unsanctioned mass rally since last weekend was held on the central Lenin Square in front of the regional government's building on July 14.
Two protesters joined the demonstrator’s with posters challenging President Vladimir Putin, saying "Putin-thief, Furgal-ours!"
The demonstrators called the two men "provocateurs," saying that their demands are about Furgal, not the president.
Police said they detained one of the anti-Putin poster-holders for "insulting the president."
From the square, the protesters marched across the city holding posters of support for the governor that said "I am/We are Sergei Furgal," and "Return Furgal back to us."
Others joined the march as it wound through the streets, with drivers honked their horns to express support for the demonstrators.
The protesters chanted "Free Furgal!" and demanded Khabarovsk Mayor Sergei Kravchuk, who publicly criticized the protests earlier in the day, to meet "for a fair talk."
The protesters also demanded Furgal's case be investigated locally and any possible trial be held in Khabarovsk, and not Moscow.
Tens of thousands gathered in support of Furgal in Khabarovsk over the weekend, a surprisingly strong showing given how far Khabarovsk is from the Russian capital and how the Kremlin has marginalized all political opposition in the country. .
The protests were also the largest in the country since a national vote that has set the stage for President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036.
Smaller rallies were also held in the military industrial city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur and other towns in the region.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters on July 14 that the Kremlin "understands the emotions of Khabarovsk’s residents," but stressed that the accusations put forward against Furgal were "very serious."
"Everyone needs patience in this situation. Investigators must prove the accusations in court and only a court will decide if anyone is guilty or not in the case,' Peskov said, warning that ongoing mass protests in Khabarovsk may cause a spike in coronavirus cases in the region.
On July 10, a Moscow court ordered Furgal to be held in pretrial detention for two months.
The 50-year-old member of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) led by nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of businessman Aleksandr Smolsky and ordering the murders of two businessmen, Yevgeny Zorya and Oleg Bulatov in 2004-2005.
Furgal won a surprise victory over Kremlin favorite Vyacheslav Shport in 2018 in a major upset for the ruling United Russia party.


rferl--2020-07-14--Court Confirms Romania Ex-PM Ponta Committed Plagiarism

Romania 's highest court has confirmed that former Prime Minister Victor Ponta plagiarized large parts of his doctoral dissertation .
The High Court of Cassation and Justice found Ponta guilty of copying parts of his dissertation from other sources without naming them , confirming an accusation first levelled in 2012 , against which Ponta had sued .
The science journal Nature had been the first to denounce Ponta , after which the ethics commission of the University of Bucharest unanimously found that Ponta plagiarized 115 pages in his 297-page dissertation .
The 47-year-old served as Romania 's prime minister between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he resigned following a fire at a concert venue in Bucharest that killed more than 60 people , mostly youths .
He was a member of the leftist Social Democratic Party ( PSD ) until 2017 , after which he was expelled over differences with former party leader Liviu Dragnea , who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for abuse of office .
Ponta is currently a lawmaker and the leader of the leftist Pro Romania party , a PSD splinter .
With reporting by digi24.ro , RFE/RL 's Romanian Service , @ @

Romania's highest court has confirmed that former Prime Minister Victor Ponta plagiarized large parts of his doctoral dissertation.
The High Court of Cassation and Justice found Ponta guilty of copying parts of his dissertation from other sources without naming them, confirming an accusation first levelled in 2012, against which Ponta had sued.
The science journal Nature had been the first to denounce Ponta, after which the ethics commission of the University of Bucharest unanimously found that Ponta plagiarized 115 pages in his 297-page dissertation.
The 47-year-old served as Romania's prime minister between May 2012 and November 2015, when he resigned following a fire at a concert venue in Bucharest that killed more than 60 people, mostly youths.
He was a member of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) until 2017, after which he was expelled over differences with former party leader Liviu Dragnea, who is currently serving a three-year prison sentence for abuse of office.
Ponta is currently a lawmaker and the leader of the leftist Pro Romania party, a PSD splinter.
With reporting by digi24.ro, RFE/RL's Romanian Service, and dpa


rferl--2020-07-14--COVID-19: EU To Remove Serbia, Montenegro From Safe List; Red Crescent Warns Of 'Catastrophes' In Af

COVID-19: EU To Remove Serbia, Montenegro From Safe List; Red Crescent Warns Of 'Catastrophes' In Afghanistan Due To Pandemic

The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 574,000 , with more than 13.1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness .
The European Union will remove Serbia and Montenegro from a nonbinding safe list of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the bloc for nonessential visits , according to several EU diplomats .
The officials told RFE/RL on July 14 that recent spikes of coronavirus cases in the two Balkan countries as the reason behind the decision , which is expected to take effect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have officially been infected by the coronavirus in Montenegro and 24 people have died from COVID-19 -- the illness caused by the virus .
Authorities in Serbia have reported nearly 19,000 cases , with 418 deaths .
After the exclusion of Serbia and Montenegro , 13 countries will remain on the EU list : Algeria , Australia , Canada , China , Georgia , Japan , Morocco , New Zealand , Rwanda , South Korea , Thailand , Tunisia , and Uruguay .
On June 30 , the EU announced that citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed to enter the 27-member bloc and four other nations in Europe 's visa-free Schengen travel zone for business or leisure .
The move is aimed at supporting the EU 's tourism industry , which has been dramatically affected by travel restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
The Red Crescent Society says Afghanistan faces `` catastrophes '' as growing coronavirus cases are pushing hospitals and health clinics in the war-ravaged country `` to the limit . ''
More than 34,700 people have officially been infected by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died from COVID-19 -- the illness it causes .
`` Afghanistan is on the edge of potential health , social and economic catastrophes caused by COVID-19 as the disease places a crippling burden on one of the 10 most fragile states in the world , '' the Afghan Red Crescent Society said in a statement on July 14 .
It said the real toll of the pandemic on the Afghan population `` is expected to be much higher and remains under-reported due to limited testing and weak health systems . ''
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has one doctor for every 3,500 inhabitants -- less than a fifth of the global average .
Nilab Mobarez , secretary-general of the Afghan Red Crescent Society , said a `` major shortage '' of personal protective equipment and difficulties in accessing remote regions were hampering the organization ’ s coronavirus response .
But he said the Red Crescent Society was expanding mobile health teams and adding thousands of community volunteers to try detect and prevent the disease , which it said it expected to spread over the coming weeks .
`` Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we fear this will continue over coming weeks .
We are urgently scaling up our response with 39 mobile health teams , 31 immunization teams , 46 health clinics and more than 4,000 trained community volunteers to intensify case detection , '' Mobarez said .
Turkmenistan , the only country in Central Asia that has not officially registered any coronavirus cases within its borders , has suspended the operation of passenger trains amid reports of COVID-19 infections across the tightly controlled energy-rich nation .
Turkmen Railways issued a statement on its website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 16 to July 23 without giving any detailed explanation .
A day earlier Turkmen health officials urged citizens to wear medical masks outdoors `` to prevent lungs from dust . ''
Although Turkmenistan has not officially registered any coronavirus cases , RFE/RL correspondents reported that local hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients with pneumonia symptoms , some of whom , including medical personnel , have died .
In some parts of the country , so-called quarantine zones have been established , and some industrial facilities are being shut down , RFE/RL correspondents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-delayed mission from the World Health Organization arrived in the country for a 10-day visit to assess the situation and work with Turkmen officials to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country .
In neighboring Kazakhstan , Prime Minister Asqar Mamin , announced on July 14 that a second two-week coronavirus lockdown introduced on July 5 has been extended until August 2 .
Education Minister Askhat Aimaghambetov told reporters in Nur-Sultan that schoolchildren in Kazakh towns and cities will start this academic year on September 1 online .
`` Children in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , while in towns and cities they will be taught remotely via the Internet and will gradually start attending schools depending on the situation , '' Aimaghambetov said .
Kazakh Defense Ministry officials told RFE/RL that Deputy Defense Minister Baqyt Qurmanbaev died on July 14 from COVID-19 .
As of July 14 , the number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan was officially reported as 61,755 , including 375 deaths .
In Kyrgyzstan , health authorities said on July 14 that 11,538 coronavirus cases were officially registered in the country , of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not include individuals who died of pneumonia with a negative COVID-19 test .
In Uzbekistan , the latest official data shows that the total registered number of coronavirus cases has reached 13,360 , including 62 deaths .
In Tajikistan , as of July 13 , the number of coronavirus cases was 6,595 , including 55 deaths .
With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak , RFE/RL 's Kazakh , Kyrgyz , Tajik , Turkmen , and Uzbek Services

The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 574,000, with more than 13.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Serbia, Montenegro
The European Union will remove Serbia and Montenegro from a nonbinding safe list of countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the bloc for nonessential visits, according to several EU diplomats.
The officials told RFE/RL on July 14 that recent spikes of coronavirus cases in the two Balkan countries as the reason behind the decision, which is expected to take effect later this week.
More than 1,200 people have officially been infected by the coronavirus in Montenegro and 24 people have died from COVID-19 -- the illness caused by the virus.
Authorities in Serbia have reported nearly 19,000 cases, with 418 deaths.
After the exclusion of Serbia and Montenegro, 13 countries will remain on the EU list: Algeria, Australia, Canada, China, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
On June 30, the EU announced that citizens from 15 “safe” countries would be allowed to enter the 27-member bloc and four other nations in Europe's visa-free Schengen travel zone for business or leisure.
The move is aimed at supporting the EU's tourism industry, which has been dramatically affected by travel restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Afghanistan
The Red Crescent Society says Afghanistan faces "catastrophes" as growing coronavirus cases are pushing hospitals and health clinics in the war-ravaged country "to the limit."
More than 34,700 people have officially been infected by the coronavirus in Afghanistan and over 1,000 people have died from COVID-19 -- the illness it causes.
"Afghanistan is on the edge of potential health, social and economic catastrophes caused by COVID-19 as the disease places a crippling burden on one of the 10 most fragile states in the world," the Afghan Red Crescent Society said in a statement on July 14.
It said the real toll of the pandemic on the Afghan population "is expected to be much higher and remains under-reported due to limited testing and weak health systems."
According to the World Health Organization, Afghanistan has one doctor for every 3,500 inhabitants -- less than a fifth of the global average.
Nilab Mobarez, secretary-general of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said a "major shortage" of personal protective equipment and difficulties in accessing remote regions were hampering the organization’s coronavirus response.
But he said the Red Crescent Society was expanding mobile health teams and adding thousands of community volunteers to try detect and prevent the disease, which it said it expected to spread over the coming weeks.
"Afghanistan has been reaching a peak of infections and we fear this will continue over coming weeks. We are urgently scaling up our response with 39 mobile health teams, 31 immunization teams, 46 health clinics and more than 4,000 trained community volunteers to intensify case detection," Mobarez said.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan, the only country in Central Asia that has not officially registered any coronavirus cases within its borders, has suspended the operation of passenger trains amid reports of COVID-19 infections across the tightly controlled energy-rich nation.
Turkmen Railways issued a statement on its website that all trains will be suspended from July 16 to July 23 without giving any detailed explanation.
A day earlier Turkmen health officials urged citizens to wear medical masks outdoors "to prevent lungs from dust."
Although Turkmenistan has not officially registered any coronavirus cases, RFE/RL correspondents reported that local hospitals have been overwhelmed with patients with pneumonia symptoms, some of whom, including medical personnel, have died.
In some parts of the country, so-called quarantine zones have been established, and some industrial facilities are being shut down, RFE/RL correspondents said.
On July 6, a long-delayed mission from the World Health Organization arrived in the country for a 10-day visit to assess the situation and work with Turkmen officials to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Kazakhstan
In neighboring Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Asqar Mamin, announced on July 14 that a second two-week coronavirus lockdown introduced on July 5 has been extended until August 2.
Education Minister Askhat Aimaghambetov told reporters in Nur-Sultan that schoolchildren in Kazakh towns and cities will start this academic year on September 1 online.
"Children in remote villages will be allowed to attend schools, while in towns and cities they will be taught remotely via the Internet and will gradually start attending schools depending on the situation," Aimaghambetov said.
Kazakh Defense Ministry officials told RFE/RL that Deputy Defense Minister Baqyt Qurmanbaev died on July 14 from COVID-19.
As of July 14, the number of coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan was officially reported as 61,755, including 375 deaths.
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan
In Kyrgyzstan, health authorities said on July 14 that 11,538 coronavirus cases were officially registered in the country, of which 149 were fatal. The numbers do not include individuals who died of pneumonia with a negative COVID-19 test.
In Uzbekistan, the latest official data shows that the total registered number of coronavirus cases has reached 13,360, including 62 deaths.
In Tajikistan, as of July 13, the number of coronavirus cases was 6,595, including 55 deaths.
With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak, RFE/RL's Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, and Uzbek Services


rferl--2020-07-14--Seven Tajik Men Get Prison Terms Over Deadly November Attack On Border Post

DUSHANBE -- A court in Dushanbe has sentenced seven Tajik citizens to prison terms of between two and 27 years for a deadly attack on a post along the Tajik-Uzbek border in November .
Military Prosecutor-General Ikrom Zoirzoda said on July 14 that the trial at the Supreme Court of Tajikistan was held behind closed doors .
Tajik officials have said that 20 members of the Islamic State ( IS ) extremist group attacked the Ishqobod border post on the frontier with Uzbekistan , located 60 kilometers southwest of Dushanbe in the Rudaki district in the early hours of November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a police officer , a border guard , and 15 `` armed masked attackers ' were killed in the incident .
RFE/RL 's investigative reports , however , revealed that the number of border guards killed in the attack was five .
Tajik officials have neither rejected nor confirmed that information .
Tajikistan 's Central Border Guard Directorate said at the time that the group had entered the Qabodiyon district in Tajikistan ’ s Khatlon region from the Qalai-e Zal district of Afghanistan 's Kunduz Province on November 3 .
However , Afghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tajikistan 's border-guarding service have denied that the attackers crossed the Afghan-Tajik border .
Islamic State has confirmed it was responsible for the attack .

DUSHANBE -- A court in Dushanbe has sentenced seven Tajik citizens to prison terms of between two and 27 years for a deadly attack on a post along the Tajik-Uzbek border in November.
Military Prosecutor-General Ikrom Zoirzoda said on July 14 that the trial at the Supreme Court of Tajikistan was held behind closed doors.
Tajik officials have said that 20 members of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group attacked the Ishqobod border post on the frontier with Uzbekistan, located 60 kilometers southwest of Dushanbe in the Rudaki district in the early hours of November 6.
According to official statements, a police officer, a border guard, and 15 "armed masked attackers' were killed in the incident.
RFE/RL's investigative reports, however, revealed that the number of border guards killed in the attack was five. Tajik officials have neither rejected nor confirmed that information.
Tajikistan's Central Border Guard Directorate said at the time that the group had entered the Qabodiyon district in Tajikistan’s Khatlon region from the Qalai-e Zal district of Afghanistan's Kunduz Province on November 3.
However, Afghan border officials and RFE/RL's sources in Tajikistan's border-guarding service have denied that the attackers crossed the Afghan-Tajik border.
Islamic State has confirmed it was responsible for the attack.