rferl--2020-05-12--Kremlin Spokesman Peskov, Wife Hospitalized With COVID-19

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin 's spokesman , Dmitry Peskov , and his wife , Tatyana Navka , have @ @ @ @ @ and are in the hospital being treated for COVID-19 .
`` Yes , I 've @ @ @ @ @ being treated , '' Russian media quoted Peskov as saying on May 12 .
Peskov @ @ @ @ @ website Daily Storm that she also tested positive for COVID-19 and was in the hospital @ @ @ @ @ is the latest high-ranking Russian official to test positive for the virus , which has @ @ @ @ @ Mishustin , Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova , and Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev .
The last @ @ @ @ @ public was on April 30 , the day Mishustin announced he had tested positive .
@ @ @ @ @ day after Putin said Russia had been successful in slowing the rate of infections and @ @ @ @ @ of the nationwide lockdown restrictions instituted to slow the pace of the outbreak .
With @ @ @ @ @ RIA Novosti , Interfax , and TASS

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, and his wife, Tatyana Navka, have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in the hospital being treated for COVID-19.
"Yes, I've gotten sick. I'm being treated," Russian media quoted Peskov as saying on May 12.
Peskov's wife told the news website Daily Storm that she also tested positive for COVID-19 and was in the hospital with her husband.
Peskov is the latest high-ranking Russian official to test positive for the virus, which has also infected Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, and Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev.
The last time Peskov was seen in public was on April 30, the day Mishustin announced he had tested positive.
The announcement comes just a day after Putin said Russia had been successful in slowing the rate of infections and announced an easing of some of the nationwide lockdown restrictions instituted to slow the pace of the outbreak.
With reporting by Daily Storm, RIA Novosti, Interfax, and TASS


rferl--2020-05-12--Turkmen Activists Say Authorities Blocking Aid From Abroad For Storm-Ravaged East

TURKMENABAT , Turkmenistan -- Activists in Turkmenistan say authorities are preventing the distribution of aid they 've collected from foreign sources to give to residents of the country 's storm-ravaged eastern regions .
The activists say the blocked aid was donated by Turkmen citizens in other countries to help residents in the regions of Lebap and Mary who are not receiving government assistance .
The activists told RFE/RL that security officials have detained aid workers who were trying to identify people in the east who need aid .
Ashgabat has been silent about the devastating storm that hit the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy rains , leaving scores of people with damaged houses and ruined livestock shelters .
One of the activists , who took part in the fundraising program , told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that a group of Turkmen in the United States raised $ 5,000 for residents of the Lebap region , who desperately need help , but that money never reached them .
`` The group in the United States also found a way to transfer that amount to Turkmenistan , but security officials somehow found out who exactly received the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them that they would be jailed if they distributed even a single dollar from America among people in Turkmenistan , '' the activist said .
Human rights groups have criticized Turkmen authorities for ignoring the needs of people affected by the storm and heavy rains and detaining residents for filming the damage caused .
RFE/RL correspondents said they counted at least 30 people , including many children , killed by the storms in the Lebap region .
The Independent Turkmen News website quoted a medical official in Turkmenabat as saying that , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed 300 people .
Videos that circulated on the Internet showed roofless buildings and private homes that had been destroyed inside .

TURKMENABAT, Turkmenistan -- Activists in Turkmenistan say authorities are preventing the distribution of aid they've collected from foreign sources to give to residents of the country's storm-ravaged eastern regions.
The activists say the blocked aid was donated by Turkmen citizens in other countries to help residents in the regions of Lebap and Mary who are not receiving government assistance.
The activists told RFE/RL that security officials have detained aid workers who were trying to identify people in the east who need aid.
Ashgabat has been silent about the devastating storm that hit the area on April 27 and was followed by heavy rains, leaving scores of people with damaged houses and ruined livestock shelters.
One of the activists, who took part in the fundraising program, told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that a group of Turkmen in the United States raised $5,000 for residents of the Lebap region, who desperately need help, but that money never reached them.
"The group in the United States also found a way to transfer that amount to Turkmenistan, but security officials somehow found out who exactly received the money, summoned them, and warned them that they would be jailed if they distributed even a single dollar from America among people in Turkmenistan," the activist said.
Human rights groups have criticized Turkmen authorities for ignoring the needs of people affected by the storm and heavy rains and detaining residents for filming the damage caused.
RFE/RL correspondents said they counted at least 30 people, including many children, killed by the storms in the Lebap region.
The Independent Turkmen News website quoted a medical official in Turkmenabat as saying that, in the regional capital alone, the storms killed 300 people.
Videos that circulated on the Internet showed roofless buildings and private homes that had been destroyed inside.


rferl--2020-05-12--Media-Freedom Advocates Demand Justice For Tajik Reporter

DUSHANBE -- Media-freedom watchdogs are urging the Tajik authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack on a reporter for the Asia-Plus news agency and bring the perpetrators to justice .
Abdulloh Ghurbati , a 23-year-old journalist , told RFE/RL on May 12 that two masked men attacked him late the previous evening as he made his way home from a shop .
According to Ghurbati , one attacker hit him on the head from behind and started beating him after he fell .
`` I started loudly calling for help and the two left me alone and fled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that he believes the attack was linked to his professional activities .
Ghurbati said that he had received numerous threats in several phone calls from unknown individuals who threatened him for his articles questioning some of the government ’ s activities , including efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country .
Interior Ministry spokesman Nusratullo Mahmadzoda told RFE/RL that `` necessary measures [ to find the attackers ] will be undertaken , '' if Ghurbati filed an official complaint with police , which the reporter said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the media , Harlem Desir , said he was `` appalled '' by the violent attack and called on the authorities to `` search for & bring to justice the perpetrators . ''
`` Independent media are key to inform the public , especially in times of pandemic , '' he tweeted .
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the Tajik authorities should determine whether the incident was related to his journalistic work and hold those responsible to account .
`` Tajikistan must ensure that journalists can work without fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets or censored or prosecuted by authorities , '' said to Gulnoza Said , CPJ 's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator .
In April , Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) ranked Tajikistan in 161st place out of 180 countries for press freedom .
According to RSF , conditions for independent media working in Tajikistan have dramatically worsened in the last two years .

DUSHANBE -- Media-freedom watchdogs are urging the Tajik authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack on a reporter for the Asia-Plus news agency and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Abdulloh Ghurbati, a 23-year-old journalist, told RFE/RL on May 12 that two masked men attacked him late the previous evening as he made his way home from a shop.
According to Ghurbati, one attacker hit him on the head from behind and started beating him after he fell.
"I started loudly calling for help and the two left me alone and fled the site," Ghurbati said, adding that he believes the attack was linked to his professional activities.
Ghurbati said that he had received numerous threats in several phone calls from unknown individuals who threatened him for his articles questioning some of the government’s activities, including efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Interior Ministry spokesman Nusratullo Mahmadzoda told RFE/RL that "necessary measures [to find the attackers] will be undertaken," if Ghurbati filed an official complaint with police, which the reporter said he had done.
The OSCE representative on freedom of the media, Harlem Desir, said he was "appalled" by the violent attack and called on the authorities to "search for & bring to justice the perpetrators."
"Independent media are key to inform the public, especially in times of pandemic," he tweeted.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the Tajik authorities should determine whether the incident was related to his journalistic work and hold those responsible to account.
"Tajikistan must ensure that journalists can work without fear that they will be attacked on the streets or censored or prosecuted by authorities," said to Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator.
In April, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Tajikistan in 161st place out of 180 countries for press freedom.
According to RSF, conditions for independent media working in Tajikistan have dramatically worsened in the last two years.


rferl--2020-05-12--Russian Health-Care Regulator Checking Ventilators Linked To Deadly Fires

Russia 's health-care regulator , Roszdravnadzor , has started checking ventilation devices widely used for treating serious coronavirus cases in the country following two deadly fires allegedly caused by malfunctions in such equipment .
`` Roszdravnadzor is checking the quality and safety of the ventilation units installed in the hospitals where the fires took place , '' the regulator said in a May 12 statement that came just hours after a fire in the country 's second-largest city , St. Petersburg , killed five COVID-19 patients .
St. Petersburg authorities said the deadly fire was most likely caused by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating on the sixth floor of the St. George Hospital early in the morning of May 12 .
Three days earlier , a female patient was kiilled in a fire in a hospital in Moscow that is also suspected of being sparked by a similar device .
Russian news agencies quoted sources close to law enforcement as saying that devices in both fires were made at the same industrial facility -- the Urals Instrument-Engineering Plant in the city of Yekaterinburg .
The news site Znak.com reported that the company , also known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after receiving a state order for 5,700 ventilator units .
The number of new cases of the coronavirus in Russia rose by 10,899 in the previous 24 hours , officials said on May 12 , bringing the total of officially registered cases to 232,243 , including 2,116 deaths .
Based on reporting by Interfax , TASS , Dozhd , Kommersant , Znak.com , and Fontanka

Russia's health-care regulator, Roszdravnadzor, has started checking ventilation devices widely used for treating serious coronavirus cases in the country following two deadly fires allegedly caused by malfunctions in such equipment.
"Roszdravnadzor is checking the quality and safety of the ventilation units installed in the hospitals where the fires took place," the regulator said in a May 12 statement that came just hours after a fire in the country's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, killed five COVID-19 patients.
St. Petersburg authorities said the deadly fire was most likely caused by a malfunction in a ventilator device that was operating on the sixth floor of the St. George Hospital early in the morning of May 12.
Three days earlier, a female patient was kiilled in a fire in a hospital in Moscow that is also suspected of being sparked by a similar device.
Russian news agencies quoted sources close to law enforcement as saying that devices in both fires were made at the same industrial facility -- the Urals Instrument-Engineering Plant in the city of Yekaterinburg.
The news site Znak.com reported that the company, also known as Rostec, recently increased its output tenfold after receiving a state order for 5,700 ventilator units.
The number of new cases of the coronavirus in Russia rose by 10,899 in the previous 24 hours, officials said on May 12, bringing the total of officially registered cases to 232,243, including 2,116 deaths.
Based on reporting by Interfax, TASS, Dozhd, Kommersant, Znak.com, and Fontanka


rferl--2020-05-12--Afghan Troops 'Go On Offensive' After Deadly Attacks

KABUL -- President Ashraf Ghani says Afghanistan 's security forces will go on the offensive against the Taliban and other militant groups , following a violent day in which gunmen stormed a maternity hospital in Kabul and a suicide bomber targeted a funeral in the eastern province of Nangarhar .
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the May 12 attacks , in which more than 34 people were killed .
The Taliban denied involvement .
Blaming the Taliban and the Islamic State ( IS ) group for the two attacks and `` other attacks in the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was `` ordering Afghan security forces to switch from an active defense mode to an offensive one and to start their operations against the enemies . ''
He said a resumption of operations was necessary `` to defend the country , safeguard our countrymen and infrastructure , and to repel attacks and threats by the Taliban and all other terrorist groups . ''
Noting that the Taliban denied responsibility in the “ horrific ” attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar , U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo urged the Afghan government and Taliban to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As long as there is no sustained reduction in violence and insufficient progress towards a negotiated political settlement , Afghanistan will remain vulnerable to terrorism , '' he said in a statement .
The Taliban signed a landmark deal with the United States in Qatar in February meant to pave the way for direct talks between the militant group and the Western-backed government in Kabul after more than 18 years of war .
But the Taliban has ramped up attacks in recent weeks despite a pledge to reduce violence , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces and civilians .
Earlier in the day in Kabul , three gunmen attacked the state-run hospital in the city ’ s mostly Shi'ite neighborhood of Dasht-e Barchi , setting off an hours-long gunbattle with Afghan security forces .
The Interior Ministry said 14 people were killed in the attack , including two newborn babies , and 15 others were wounded .
Security forces eventually killed all three attackers , allowing the rescue of 80 women and infants from the hospital .
A witness , Jawad Amiri , told RFE/RL that one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uniform and the other two were dressed as doctors . ''
`` They came to the main entrance and opened fire at people everywhere around .
They killed many innocent people , '' he added .
Afghan officials say work at the hospital was supported by the Nobel Prize-winning international nongovernmental charity Doctors Without Borders ( MSF ) .
In a message sent to RFE/RL on May 12 , Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied that the militant group was involved in the hospital attack .
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous other attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kabul .
Meanwhile , in the Khewa district of Nangarhar Province , the provincial governor 's spokesman , Attahullah Khogyani , told RFE/RL that 24 people were killed and more than 68 injured by a suicide bomber who attacked a funeral .
And in the southeastern province of Khost , a bomb planted in a cart at a market killed a child and wounded 10 people .
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that attack .
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed `` shock and revulsion '' at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell condemned them as `` acts of evil '' that showed `` an appalling degree of inhumanity . ''
Human Rights Watch said the assault on the Kabul hospital showed `` blatant disregard for civilian life and is an apparent war crime . ''
The New York-based watchdog said in a statement that attacks on health care in Afghanistan had increased “ sharply ” since 2017 .
IS has claimed responsibility for a spate of violence in Kabul on May 11 that wounded a child and three adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombs as well as a fourth bomb placed under a garbage can in the northern part of the Afghan capital .
The Interior Ministry said on May 11 that Afghan security forces arrested the Islamic State group 's regional leader for South Asia , Abu Omar Khorasani , during an operation on the northern side of the Afghan capital .
With reporting by Reuters , AP , and AFP

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--2020-05-12--COVID-19: Kazakh NGOs Demand Detailed Report On Spending; Iran Allows All Mosques To Open Temporaril

COVID-19: Kazakh NGOs Demand Detailed Report On Spending; Iran Allows All Mosques To Open Temporarily

The global death toll from the coronavirus is some 286,000 with more than 4.1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Dozens of rights activists representing almost 20 nongovernmental organizations in Kazakhstan have demanded the government provide detailed information on how it 's spending billions of dollars allocated to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the country .
In their petition dated May 12 , the activists recalled President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev 's public statement last week saying his government had spent $ 13 billion on measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country and demanded `` transparency and accountability in all measures and financial spending by the State Treasury and the National Fund . ''
`` The coronavirus pandemic is not only causing economic and social hardships , it is creating conditions for corruption , inappropriate and unreasonable budgetary spending .
And that undermines public confidence in government institutions and the measures it undertakes , '' the petition says .
Energy-rich Kazakhstan has registered the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the region with 5,279 , including 32 deaths .
In Tajikistan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on all military units and introduced a temporary ban on family visits to conscripts .
Ministry spokesman Orif Nozimiyon told RFE/RL on May 12 that all military barracks and cafeterias were now being regularly disinfected .
Tajikistan did not officially register a coronavirus case until April 30 , just ahead of a mission by the World Health ( WHO ) to the country .
By May 11 , health authorities had reported 661 cases in Tajikistan , including 21 deaths .
Still , many in the country doubt the data and believe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , Turkmenistan remains the only country in the region that has not officially registered a single coronavirus case yet .
Experts are skeptical of the claim that there are no cases given the lack of transparency and independent media in the country .
The WHO has been working on a possible visit to Turkmenistan to assess the situation on the ground of one of the world 's most tightly run countries .
Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said his country was ready to host the WHO mission .
`` With a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the visit of this [ WHO ] group to Turkmenistan , '' he said .
In neighboring Uzbekistan , the latest official statement says 2,509 coronavirus cases have been registered , including 10 deaths .
In Kyrgyzstan , 1,037 cases have been recorded with 12 deaths .
All mosques in Iran will reopen temporarily on May 12 in another step toward easing restrictions implemented to contain the spread of the new coronavirus .
The decision to reopen the mosques was made in consultation with the Ministry of Health , Iranian state news agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the director of the Islamic Development Organization .
Qomi said later that mosques would only be open for three days commemorating specific nights for the holy month of Ramadan and it was unclear whether they would stay open , according to the semiofficial Fars news agency .
Iran , which has suffered the Middle East 's deadliest coronavirus outbreak , has begun easing restrictions even though some parts of the country have seen a rise in infections .
The Tasnim news agency reported on May 10 that a district in Khuzestan Province had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the governor of the province as saying there had been a sharp rise in new cases , forcing authorities to reverse a phased return to work .
Iran has allowed the phased return since April 11 to help rescue its economy , which has been battered by U.S. sanctions .
The country last week had to devalue its currency to fight hyperinflation caused by the sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic .
Iran 's coronavirus deaths stood at 6,685 on May 11 , Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Hassan Rohani last week announced that mosques in 132 districts considered low-risk for spread of the virus could open .
This amounted to about one-third of Iran 's administrative division .
Friday Prayer gatherings resumed on May 8 in up to 180 Iranian cities and towns seen as being at low risk of coronavirus contagion , state media reported .
Schools will reopen next week , Rohani said on May 10 , according to the presidency 's official website .
Iran has already lifted a ban on intercity trips , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rohani also announced the replacement of the minister of industry , mines and trade on May 11 , according to the official presidential website .
Hossein Modares Khiabani will replace Reza Rahmani as the caretaker head of the ministry , the announcement said without explaining why Rahmani was dismissed .
Rohani called on Khiabani to stabilize car prices , eliminate obstacles for domestic production , and expand nonoil exports .
Rahmani said in a letter to Rohani that the reason for his removal was that the parliament had not agreed to the formation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ copy of his letter was published by Fars .
In Russia , restrictions that have prevented people from going to work formally ended on May 12 even with the country 's official infection rate rising by thousands a day .
Russia has reported almost 11,000 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours -- making its total the second-largest number of confirmed infections in the world -- as lockdowns continued easing in parts of Europe .
Despite having the fastest growth rate of coronavirus infections in Europe and 232,243 cases overall -- trailing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a comparatively low number of fatalities at 2,116 as of May 12 .
Russian officials put the continued daily rise in cases down to widespread testing , noting that more than 5.8 million tests have been carried out so far .
But some critics say that suggests the number of deaths in Russia is being underreported while others say test results can be inaccurate .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Kazakh , Kyrgyz , Tajik , Turkmen , and Uzbek services , RIA Novosti , Reuters , AP , and AFP

The global death toll from the coronavirus is some 286,000 with more than 4.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Central Asia
Dozens of rights activists representing almost 20 nongovernmental organizations in Kazakhstan have demanded the government provide detailed information on how it's spending billions of dollars allocated to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
In their petition dated May 12, the activists recalled President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's public statement last week saying his government had spent $13 billion on measures to slow the spread of the virus in the country and demanded "transparency and accountability in all measures and financial spending by the State Treasury and the National Fund."
"The coronavirus pandemic is not only causing economic and social hardships, it is creating conditions for corruption, inappropriate and unreasonable budgetary spending. And that undermines public confidence in government institutions and the measures it undertakes," the petition says.
Energy-rich Kazakhstan has registered the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the region with 5,279, including 32 deaths.
In Tajikistan, the Defense Ministry has imposed a quarantine on all military units and introduced a temporary ban on family visits to conscripts.
Ministry spokesman Orif Nozimiyon told RFE/RL on May 12 that all military barracks and cafeterias were now being regularly disinfected.
Tajikistan did not officially register a coronavirus case until April 30, just ahead of a mission by the World Health (WHO) to the country.
By May 11, health authorities had reported 661 cases in Tajikistan, including 21 deaths. Still, many in the country doubt the data and believe the government has been underreporting the situation.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan remains the only country in the region that has not officially registered a single coronavirus case yet.
Experts are skeptical of the claim that there are no cases given the lack of transparency and independent media in the country.
The WHO has been working on a possible visit to Turkmenistan to assess the situation on the ground of one of the world's most tightly run countries.
Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said his country was ready to host the WHO mission. "With a big amount of respect, we are awaiting the visit of this [WHO] group to Turkmenistan," he said.
In neighboring Uzbekistan, the latest official statement says 2,509 coronavirus cases have been registered, including 10 deaths.
In Kyrgyzstan, 1,037 cases have been recorded with 12 deaths.
Iran
All mosques in Iran will reopen temporarily on May 12 in another step toward easing restrictions implemented to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
The decision to reopen the mosques was made in consultation with the Ministry of Health, Iranian state news agency IRIB reported, quoting Mohammad Qomi, the director of the Islamic Development Organization.
Qomi said later that mosques would only be open for three days commemorating specific nights for the holy month of Ramadan and it was unclear whether they would stay open, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency.
Iran, which has suffered the Middle East's deadliest coronavirus outbreak, has begun easing restrictions even though some parts of the country have seen a rise in infections.
The Tasnim news agency reported on May 10 that a district in Khuzestan Province had been placed under lockdown. It quoted the governor of the province as saying there had been a sharp rise in new cases, forcing authorities to reverse a phased return to work.
Iran has allowed the phased return since April 11 to help rescue its economy, which has been battered by U.S. sanctions. The country last week had to devalue its currency to fight hyperinflation caused by the sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.
Iran's coronavirus deaths stood at 6,685 on May 11, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said in a statement on state TV. It has 109,286 diagnosed cases.
President Hassan Rohani last week announced that mosques in 132 districts considered low-risk for spread of the virus could open. This amounted to about one-third of Iran's administrative division.
Friday Prayer gatherings resumed on May 8 in up to 180 Iranian cities and towns seen as being at low risk of coronavirus contagion, state media reported.
Schools will reopen next week, Rohani said on May 10, according to the presidency's official website.
Iran has already lifted a ban on intercity trips, and large shopping centers have resumed activities.
Rohani also announced the replacement of the minister of industry, mines and trade on May 11, according to the official presidential website.
Hossein Modares Khiabani will replace Reza Rahmani as the caretaker head of the ministry, the announcement said without explaining why Rahmani was dismissed.
Rohani called on Khiabani to stabilize car prices, eliminate obstacles for domestic production, and expand nonoil exports.
Rahmani said in a letter to Rohani that the reason for his removal was that the parliament had not agreed to the formation of a ministry of commerce. A copy of his letter was published by Fars.
Russia
In Russia, restrictions that have prevented people from going to work formally ended on May 12 even with the country's official infection rate rising by thousands a day.
Russia has reported almost 11,000 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours -- making its total the second-largest number of confirmed infections in the world -- as lockdowns continued easing in parts of Europe.
Despite having the fastest growth rate of coronavirus infections in Europe and 232,243 cases overall -- trailing only the United States -- Russia still has a comparatively low number of fatalities at 2,116 as of May 12.
Russian officials put the continued daily rise in cases down to widespread testing, noting that more than 5.8 million tests have been carried out so far.
But some critics say that suggests the number of deaths in Russia is being underreported while others say test results can be inaccurate.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, and Uzbek services, RIA Novosti, Reuters, AP, and AFP


rferl--2020-05-13--After Deadly Fires, Russia Suspends Use Of Ventilators It Also Sent To U.S.

U.S. emergency officials say ventilators sent to the United States by Russia to help treat COVID-19 patients are the same model that reportedly caused two deadly fires in Russian hospitals .
Early on May 13 , Russia 's health-care regulator , Roszdravnadzor , said it had suspended usage of the devices , produced by the Urals Instrument-Engineering Plant near the city of Yekaterinburg , which had recently increased its output tenfold to accommodate a state order for 5,700 ventilator units .
The devices were never deployed to U.S. hospitals and are being returned to the federal government “ out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) spokeswoman Janet Montesi said in a statement late on May 12 .
The machines were delivered to New York and New Jersey , the U.S. states hardest hit by the coronavirus , but `` the flattening curve meant these ventilators were not needed , '' Montesi added .
Roszdravnadzor began checking the devices , which are widely used for treating serious COVID-19 cases , for quality and safety standards after ventilation units installed in hospitals were suspected of being the cause of fires that killed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Moscow area .
`` The federal health-care control service has suspended the usage on Russia 's territory of Aventa-M artificial lung-ventilation devices ... produced by the Urals Instrument-Engineering Plant , '' a Roszdravnadzor statement said , adding that such units were used in the Spasokukotsky Hospital in Moscow and St. George Hospital in St. Petersburg , where the fires occurred on May 9 and May 12 , respectively .
The ventilators that arrived in the United States were on a Russian plane carrying medical supplies to help fight the coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the supplies had been purchased but did not say how much the United States paid .
Ortagus described the purchase as a “ follow-up ” to a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 30 as New York was experiencing a severe outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
Trump said Putin offered the equipment and that he considered it a “ very nice gesture.
” The arrival of the shipment , which Moscow described as “ aid , ” immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move and whether Putin would use it as a public relations coup .
With reporting by AFP and Reuters

U.S. emergency officials say ventilators sent to the United States by Russia to help treat COVID-19 patients are the same model that reportedly caused two deadly fires in Russian hospitals.
Early on May 13, Russia's health-care regulator, Roszdravnadzor, said it had suspended usage of the devices, produced by the Urals Instrument-Engineering Plant near the city of Yekaterinburg, which had recently increased its output tenfold to accommodate a state order for 5,700 ventilator units.
The devices were never deployed to U.S. hospitals and are being returned to the federal government “out of an abundance of caution," U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokeswoman Janet Montesi said in a statement late on May 12.
The machines were delivered to New York and New Jersey, the U.S. states hardest hit by the coronavirus, but "the flattening curve meant these ventilators were not needed," Montesi added.
Roszdravnadzor began checking the devices, which are widely used for treating serious COVID-19 cases, for quality and safety standards after ventilation units installed in hospitals were suspected of being the cause of fires that killed at least six COVID-19 patients in St. Petersburg and the Moscow area.
"The federal health-care control service has suspended the usage on Russia's territory of Aventa-M artificial lung-ventilation devices...produced by the Urals Instrument-Engineering Plant," a Roszdravnadzor statement said, adding that such units were used in the Spasokukotsky Hospital in Moscow and St. George Hospital in St. Petersburg, where the fires occurred on May 9 and May 12, respectively.
The ventilators that arrived in the United States were on a Russian plane carrying medical supplies to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the supplies had been purchased but did not say how much the United States paid.
Ortagus described the purchase as a “follow-up” to a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 30 as New York was experiencing a severe outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Trump said Putin offered the equipment and that he considered it a “very nice gesture.”
The arrival of the shipment, which Moscow described as “aid,” immediately raised questions over the motives behind the move and whether Putin would use it as a public relations coup.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters


rferl--2020-05-13--Russia's UN Envoy Strongly Opposes U.S. Attempt To Extend Arms Embargo On Iran

Russia ’ s ambassador to the United Nations says Moscow will oppose any attempts by the United States to extend the arms embargo on Iran and reimpose UN sanctions against Tehran .
Vassily Nebenzia ’ s comments on May 12 made clear that the United States will have difficulty extending the embargo past its expiration in October through the UN Security Council , where Russia has veto power .
The United States is seeking to indefinitely extend the UN embargo on conventional arms sales , and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States will use all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A draft UN resolution that has circulated among diplomats would strike the expiration of the arms embargo from the council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between six major powers and Iran , according to U.S. officials and UN diplomats .
Nebenzia said the arms embargo is “ a byproduct ” of the nuclear deal , which prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief .
In Russia ’ s view , it ’ s clear that it expires in October , he said .
Nebenzia spoke with reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observes social-distancing restrictions implemented to help control the spread of the coronavirus He called `` ridiculous '' the U.S. argument that it is still a member of the Iran nuclear deal two years after it left the pact , just so Washington could trigger a so-called snapback that would return all UN sanctions on Tehran .
“ To trigger a snapback , you have to be a participant of the JCPOA , and the U.S. proudly announced on May 8 , 2018 , that they withdrew from the JCPOA and closed the door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also predicted that triggering the snapback would end the JCPOA and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Iran .
Although President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal , the United States maintains that it retains the right to invoke a sanctions snapback that the deal envisaged in the event of “ significant nonperformance ” by Iran .
That position rests on a State Department legal argument that although the United States is no longer in the nuclear deal , it remains an original participant under the terms of the Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 resolution names the United States as a participant , but numerous diplomats in addition to Russia have said the U.S. argument is specious because the United States has demonstrably withdrawn .
Nebenzia also quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif , who wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on May 12 saying the United States is “ in grave violation ” of the 2015 resolution for nonperformance and “ is blatantly attempting illegal paths to reverse the resolution in actual contempt for well-established principles of international law.
” By withdrawing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ has lost any right , ” he quoted Zarif as saying , adding that he subscribes fully to Zarif ’ s words .
With reporting by Reuters and AP

Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations says Moscow will oppose any attempts by the United States to extend the arms embargo on Iran and reimpose UN sanctions against Tehran.
Vassily Nebenzia’s comments on May 12 made clear that the United States will have difficulty extending the embargo past its expiration in October through the UN Security Council, where Russia has veto power.
The United States is seeking to indefinitely extend the UN embargo on conventional arms sales, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States will use all means available to achieve that goal.
A draft UN resolution that has circulated among diplomats would strike the expiration of the arms embargo from the council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between six major powers and Iran, according to U.S. officials and UN diplomats.
Nebenzia said the arms embargo is “a byproduct” of the nuclear deal, which prevents Tehran from developing nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief. In Russia’s view, it’s clear that it expires in October, he said.
Nebenzia spoke with reporters on a videoconference as the United Nations observes social-distancing restrictions implemented to help control the spread of the coronavirus
He called "ridiculous" the U.S. argument that it is still a member of the Iran nuclear deal two years after it left the pact, just so Washington could trigger a so-called snapback that would return all UN sanctions on Tehran.
“To trigger a snapback, you have to be a participant of the JCPOA, and the U.S. proudly announced on May 8, 2018, that they withdrew from the JCPOA and closed the door behind,” Nebenzia said.
Nebenzia also predicted that triggering the snapback would end the JCPOA and inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Iran.
Although President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal, the United States maintains that it retains the right to invoke a sanctions snapback that the deal envisaged in the event of “significant nonperformance” by Iran.
That position rests on a State Department legal argument that although the United States is no longer in the nuclear deal, it remains an original participant under the terms of the Security Council resolution that enshrined it.
That 2015 resolution names the United States as a participant, but numerous diplomats in addition to Russia have said the U.S. argument is specious because the United States has demonstrably withdrawn.
Nebenzia also quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on May 12 saying the United States is “in grave violation” of the 2015 resolution for nonperformance and “is blatantly attempting illegal paths to reverse the resolution in actual contempt for well-established principles of international law.”
By withdrawing from the JCPOA , the United States “has lost any right,” he quoted Zarif as saying, adding that he subscribes fully to Zarif’s words.
With reporting by Reuters and AP


rferl--2020-05-13--Pompeo Says Iran Attempting To 'Foment Terror' During Pandemic

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on May 13 accused Iran of using its resources to `` foment terror '' even as its people suffer through one of the Middle East 's deadliest coronavirus outbreaks .
The top U.S. diplomat arrived in Jerusalem earlier on May 13 for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of Israel ’ s new government on Iran ’ s activities in the Middle East , the conflict in Syria , the COVID-19 pandemic , and other issues .
Before heading into closed-door talks with the Israeli leader , Pompeo , on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid the COVID-19 pandemic , did not address Israeli plans to annex Jewish settlements and other territory in the occupied West Bank , but he did offer a fresh condemnation of Iran .
`` Even during this pandemic , the Iranians are using the ayatollah regime 's resources to foment terror across the world , even when the people of Iran are struggling so mightily , '' Pompeo said ahead of talks with Netanyahu .
`` It tells you a lot about the soul of those people who lead that country , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington have heightened since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January 2017 , especially after he pulled the United States out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic republic .
Pompeo wore a red , white , and blue face mask as he descended from his plane in Tel Aviv .
However , both he and Netanyahu were without masks when they met at the prime minister 's office .
Netanyahu said that Pompeo 's one-day visit was `` a testament to the strength of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington 's continuing pressure on Iran , a country he claimed was persisting with its `` aggressive designs and its aggressive actions against Americans , Israelis , and everyone else in the region . ''
With reporting by Reuters , AFP , and dpa

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--2020-05-12--Ghani Says Afghan Troops To Go On The Offensive After Deadly Attacks

KABUL -- President Ashraf Ghani says Afghanistan 's security forces will go on the offensive against the Taliban and other militant groups , following a violent day in which gunmen stormed a maternity hospital in Kabul and a suicide bomber targeted a funeral in the eastern province of Nangarhar .
The IS claimed responsibility for the attack that targeted the funeral , saying in a statement on the Telegram messaging app quoted by AFP that the bomber exploding a suicide belt , “ killing and wounding 100 nonbelievers.
” The SITE Intelligence Group , which tracks online jihadist activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed by the Islamic State Khorasan , the Afghan affiliate of the IS .
IS made no mention of the attack against the maternity hospital .
The Taliban denied involvement in either attack .
Ghani said in a televised address he was `` ordering Afghan security forces to switch from an active defense mode to an offensive one and to start their operations against the enemies . ''
He said a resumption of operations was necessary `` to defend the country , safeguard our countrymen and infrastructure , and to repel attacks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist groups . ''
The Taliban , which has denied involvement in either attack , reacted to Ghani 's statement by saying on May 13 that it was `` fully prepared '' to repel any military offensive .
Noting that the Taliban denied responsibility for the “ horrific ” attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to cooperate to bring the perpetrators to justice .
`` As long as there is no sustained reduction in violence and insufficient progress towards a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable to terrorism , '' he said in a statement .
The Taliban signed a landmark deal with the United States in Qatar in February meant to pave the way for direct talks between the militant group and the Western-backed government in Kabul after more than 18 years of war .
But the Taliban has ramped up attacks in recent weeks despite a pledge to reduce violence , while IS militants also continued targeting Afghan security forces and civilians .
Earlier in the day in Kabul , three gunmen attacked the state-run hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood of Dasht-e Barchi , setting off an hours-long gunbattle with Afghan security forces .
The Interior Ministry said at least 24 people were killed in the attack , including two newborn babies , and 16 others were wounded .
A witness , Jawad Amiri , told RFE/RL that one of the attackers `` was wearing a military uniform and the other two were dressed as doctors . ''
`` They came to the main entrance and opened fire at people everywhere around .
They killed many innocent people , '' he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital was supported by the Nobel Prize-winning international nongovernmental charity Doctors Without Borders ( MSF ) .
In a message sent to RFE/RL on May 12 , Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied that the militant group was involved in the hospital attack .
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous other attacks against Shi'ite Muslims in the western part of Kabul .
Meanwhile , in the Khewa district of Nangarhar Province , the provincial governor 's spokesman , Attahullah Khogyani , told RFE/RL that 24 people were killed and more than 68 injured by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And in the southeastern province of Khost , a bomb planted in a cart at a market killed a child and wounded 10 people .
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for that attack .
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expressed `` shock and revulsion '' at the attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar , while EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned them as `` acts of evil '' that showed `` an appalling degree of inhumanity . ''
Human Rights Watch said the assault on the Kabul hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is an apparent war crime . ''
The New York-based watchdog said in a statement that attacks on health care in Afghanistan had increased “ sharply ” since 2017 .
IS has claimed responsibility for a spate of violence in Kabul on May 11 that wounded a child and three adult civilians .
Those attacks included three roadside bombs as well as a fourth bomb placed under a garbage can in the northern part of the Afghan capital .
The Interior Ministry said on May 11 that Afghan security forces arrested the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Asia , Abu Omar Khorasani , during an operation on the northern side of the Afghan capital .
With reporting by Reuters , AP , and AFP


rferl--2020-05-13--Pussy Riot Singer Says Latest Songs Challenge Domestic Abuse

ST. PETERSBURG , Russia -- Pussy Riot activist Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has described the latest songs by her Russian feminist protest group as challenges to those who abuse women .
In an interview with RFE/RL on May 13 , Tolokonnikova said the songs -- Ona ( She ) and Nozh ( Knife ) -- were both about women who 've been victimized by domestic violence and psychological abuse .
The release of the songs comes as Russia begins to gradually emerge from coronavirus restrictions under which complaints of domestic violence across the country have more than doubled .
Tolokonnikova told RFE/RL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse of women in Russia is widespread .
She said the abuse is not limited to physical violence but also often includes emotional and psychological abuse by a manipulative partner .
`` I understand that violence damages an individual not only physically but also leaves psychological scars , '' Tolokonnikova told RFE/RL .
`` One can not trust anyone and remain open to others for many years after experiencing a situation of emotional abuse , '' she said .
`` And such cases [ of emotional abuse ] will never reach the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] even laugh at you when you complain about physical abuse . ''
In the song Knife , Tolokonnikova sings from the point of view of an abused woman who fantasizes about retaliation .
Tolokonnikova sings : `` I was sharpening a knife on the balcony for you .
When you feed fish in the fish bowl , I will cut you and I will beat you .
From now on I am alone .
I will cut you and I will beat you .
It 's the saddest dream of mine , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
A video for the song Knife , released on May 13 on YouTube , shows a mock videogame animation of a woman with her face covered by protective face mask that is emblazoned with an Orthodox Christian cross and the words `` Pussy Riot . ''
The woman wears a miniskirt bearing images of Orthodox Christian crosses and a dark shirt with a vulgar form of the word `` vagina '' in Russian .
Weapons appear on the screen for the woman to choose from `` for self-defense and empowerment '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a mix of provocative dance steps and martial-arts moves .
Slogans that appear in English in the video include : `` Kill the rapist , '' `` Girl victory , '' `` Self-defense , '' `` Kill the sexist , '' `` Feminist action , '' `` Riot power , '' `` No shame , '' and `` Girl freedom . ''
Pussy Riot achieved international fame in 2012 when they were arrested in Russia for an unauthorized guerilla-art performance of their song Punk Prayer inside Moscow 's Christ the Savior Cathedral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin , who was campaigning at the time for his return to the presidency .
Tolokonnikova and another member of Pussy Riot , Maria Alyokhina , were both convicted on charges of `` hooliganism motivated by religious hatred '' and sentenced to two years in prison .
They were close to completing their sentences when they were freed in December 2013 under an amnesty they ’ ve dismissed as a Kremlin propaganda stunt to improve Putin ’ s image ahead of the 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia decriminalized first-time abuse offenses .
That move was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church , which claimed that domestic abuse does not exist in Russian society .
In fact , human rights activists have been focusing on domestic violence in Russia for years .
Some Russian lawmakers , including those who have been trying to push for a new domestic-violence law , asked the government last month to take emergency steps to protect women trapped in abusive situations by Russia 's coronavirus lockdown .
Tolokonnikova told RFE/RL on May 13 that her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not changed '' since her arrest in 2012 , `` because the church 's attitude toward women and the LGBT community did not change . ''
`` Everytime I hear that the Russian Orthodox Church defends family values , I would like to ask it , 'What family values exactly are you defending if you are against the criminalization of domestic violence ?
Are you defending murders of women , crippled destinies , psychological damage of children who live in a permanent experience of domestic violence and sometimes become orphans because of @ @ @ @

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Pussy Riot activist Nadezhda Tolokonnikova has described the latest songs by her Russian feminist protest group as challenges to those who abuse women.
In an interview with RFE/RL on May 13, Tolokonnikova said the songs -- Ona (She) and Nozh (Knife) -- were both about women who've been victimized by domestic violence and psychological abuse.
The release of the songs comes as Russia begins to gradually emerge from coronavirus restrictions under which complaints of domestic violence across the country have more than doubled.
Tolokonnikova told RFE/RL many people do not understand that domestic abuse of women in Russia is widespread.
She said the abuse is not limited to physical violence but also often includes emotional and psychological abuse by a manipulative partner.
"I understand that violence damages an individual not only physically but also leaves psychological scars," Tolokonnikova told RFE/RL.
"One cannot trust anyone and remain open to others for many years after experiencing a situation of emotional abuse," she said. "And such cases [of emotional abuse] will never reach the police, because the police [in Russia] even laugh at you when you complain about physical abuse."
In the song Knife, Tolokonnikova sings from the point of view of an abused woman who fantasizes about retaliation.
Tolokonnikova sings: "I was sharpening a knife on the balcony for you. When you feed fish in the fish bowl, I will cut you and I will beat you. From now on I am alone. I will cut you and I will beat you. It's the saddest dream of mine, and my knife is only for you."
A video for the song Knife, released on May 13 on YouTube, shows a mock video game animation of a woman with her face covered by a protective face mask that is emblazoned with an Orthodox Christian cross and the words "Pussy Riot."
The woman wears a miniskirt bearing images of Orthodox Christian crosses and a dark shirt with a vulgar form of the word "vagina" in Russian.
Weapons appear on the screen for the woman to choose from "for self-defense and empowerment" against an abusive partner.
Her choreography is a mix of provocative dance steps and martial-arts moves.
Slogans that appear in English in the video include: "Kill the rapist," "Girl victory," "Self-defense," "Kill the sexist," "Feminist action," "Riot power," "No shame," and "Girl freedom."
Pussy Riot achieved international fame in 2012 when they were arrested in Russia for an unauthorized guerrilla-art performance of their song Punk Prayer inside Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral.
That song was a protest against ties between the Russian Orthodox Church and then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who was campaigning at the time for his return to the presidency.
Tolokonnikova and another member of Pussy Riot, Maria Alyokhina, were both convicted on charges of "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred" and sentenced to two years in prison.
They were close to completing their sentences when they were freed in December 2013 under an amnesty they’ve dismissed as a Kremlin propaganda stunt to improve Putin’s image ahead of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
In 2017, Russia decriminalized first-time abuse offenses. That move was supported by the Russian Orthodox Church, which claimed that domestic abuse does not exist in Russian society.
In fact, human rights activists have been focusing on domestic violence in Russia for years.
Some Russian lawmakers, including those who have been trying to push for a new domestic-violence law, asked the government last month to take emergency steps to protect women trapped in abusive situations by Russia's coronavirus lockdown.
Tolokonnikova told RFE/RL on May 13 that her attitude to the Russian Orthodox Church "has not changed" since her arrest in 2012, "because the church's attitude toward women and the LGBT community did not change."
"Every time I hear that the Russian Orthodox Church defends family values, I would like to ask it, 'What family values exactly are you defending if you are against the criminalization of domestic violence? Are you defending murders of women, crippled destinies, psychological damage of children who live in a permanent experience of domestic violence and sometimes become orphans because of it?'"


rferl--2020-05-13--European Parliament OKs Deals To Improve Mobility Of Belarusian Citizens

BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has given its green light to two agreements that will make it easier and cheaper for Belarusian citizens to enter most EU countries .
A total of 634 European lawmakers on May 13 backed the visa-facilitation agreement between the EU and Belarus , with 48 voting against and four abstaining .
The readmission agreement was supported by 560 deputy , while 117 voted against and 13 abstained .
The votes were held by e-mail due the coronavirus pandemic .
The deals are now heading to the European Council , consisting of the governments of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ratify them in the coming weeks .
The agreements would then enter into force in July at the earliest .
Brussels and Minsk signed the two agreements in January , and Belarus 's National Assembly adopted the deals last month .
Once they enter into force , the visa fee will be reduced from 80 euros ( $ 89 ) to 35 euros ( $ 39 ) and the deadline for consulates to make a decision on a visa application will be shortened .
Several categories of travelers such as journalists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple-entry visas with longer validity .
Visa facilitation is the first step before potentially granting the complete visa-liberalization currently enjoyed by the citizens of Georgia , Moldova , and Ukraine .
It applies to all EU countries apart from Ireland , as well as non-EU states Iceland , Liechtenstein , Norway , and Switzerland .

BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has given its green light to two agreements that will make it easier and cheaper for Belarusian citizens to enter most EU countries.
A total of 634 European lawmakers on May 13 backed the visa-facilitation agreement between the EU and Belarus, with 48 voting against and four abstaining.
The readmission agreement was supported by 560 deputies, while 117 voted against and 13 abstained. The votes were held by e-mail due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The deals are now heading to the European Council, consisting of the governments of all EU member states, which is expected to ratify them in the coming weeks. The agreements would then enter into force in July at the earliest.
Brussels and Minsk signed the two agreements in January, and Belarus's National Assembly adopted the deals last month.
Once they enter into force, the visa fee will be reduced from 80 euros ($89) to 35 euros ($39) and the deadline for consulates to make a decision on a visa application will be shortened.
Several categories of travelers such as journalists and students will also be able to get multiple-entry visas with longer validity.
Visa facilitation is the first step before potentially granting the complete visa-liberalization currently enjoyed by the citizens of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
It applies to all EU countries apart from Ireland, as well as non-EU states Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.


rferl--2020-05-13--Germany Has 'Hard Evidence' Of Russian Cyberattack On Parliament

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says there is `` hard evidence '' of the involvement of `` Russian forces '' in a 2015 cyberattack on the German parliament in which documents from her own parliamentary office were reportedly stolen .
The German daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported last week that federal prosecutors in Germany had issued an arrest warrant for a suspected officer with Russia 's GRU military intelligence agency .
The alleged GRU officer , identified as Dmitriy Badin , is also being sought by U.S. authorities .
On May 8 , the German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the documents targeted in the 2015 hack .
Prosecutors have not confirmed the German media reports .
But when Merkel was asked by lawmakers on May 13 about the theft of data from her office , she said , `` I get the impression that they picked up relatively indiscriminately what they could get . ''
`` I am very glad that the investigations have now led to the federal prosecutor putting a concrete person on the wanted list , '' Merkel told lawmakers , without elaborating .
`` I take these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can say honestly that this pains me , '' she said .
`` On the one hand , I work every day for a better relationship with Russia .
When you see on the other hand that there is such hard evidence that Russian forces are involved in acting this way , this is an area of tension . ''
Russian officials deny any involvement in the 2015 cyberattack on the German parliament .
The Kremlin has also dismissed charges of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and alleged cyberattacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the German investigation had not changed her assessment of Russia 's tactics -- a strategy of `` hybrid warfare , which includes warfare in connection with cyber , disorientation , and factual distortion . ''
She said there were important reasons to try to maintain good relations with Russia , `` but this naturally does n't make it easier . ''
She described the cyberattack as `` outrageous , '' and that Germany reserved `` the right to take measures , including against Russia . ''
With reporting by AP , Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says there is "hard evidence" of the involvement of "Russian forces" in a 2015 cyberattack on the German parliament in which documents from her own parliamentary office were reportedly stolen.
The German daily newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported last week that federal prosecutors in Germany had issued an arrest warrant for a suspected officer with Russia's GRU military intelligence agency.
The alleged GRU officer, identified as Dmitriy Badin, is also being sought by U.S. authorities.
On May 8, the German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that correspondence from Merkel's parliamentary office was among the documents targeted in the 2015 hack.
Prosecutors have not confirmed the German media reports.
But when Merkel was asked by lawmakers on May 13 about the theft of data from her office, she said, "I get the impression that they picked up relatively indiscriminately what they could get."
"I am very glad that the investigations have now led to the federal prosecutor putting a concrete person on the wanted list," Merkel told lawmakers, without elaborating. "I take these things very seriously."
"I can say honestly that this pains me," she said. "On the one hand, I work every day for a better relationship with Russia. When you see on the other hand that there is such hard evidence that Russian forces are involved in acting this way, this is an area of tension."
Russian officials deny any involvement in the 2015 cyberattack on the German parliament.
The Kremlin has also dismissed charges of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and alleged cyberattacks on other countries and institutions.
Merkel indicated that the German investigation had not changed her assessment of Russia's tactics -- a strategy of "hybrid warfare, which includes warfare in connection with cyber, disorientation, and factual distortion."
She said there were important reasons to try to maintain good relations with Russia, "but this naturally doesn't make it easier."
She described the cyberattack as "outrageous," and that Germany reserved "the right to take measures, including against Russia."
With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, dpa, and BBC


rferl--2020-05-13--Rights Groups Demand Justice For Victims Of Andijon, 15 Years After Massacre

Fifteen years after the Andijon massacre in Uzbekistan , rights activists have urged the Central Asian country 's leadership to openly investigate the killings of dozens of mainly peaceful demonstrators by security forces and armed soldiers in the eastern city .
The Sweden-based Civil Rights Defenders group said on May 13 , 15 years to the day of the massacre , that no state or army official was held responsible for `` brutally '' suppressing the civilian protest in the city of Andijon . ''
`` We urge Uzbek authorities to reverse its impunity record ! ''
the group wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbol for the oppression that marked the reign of former Uzbek President Islam Karimov , who had led with an iron fist since before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
On the morning of May 13 , 2005 , a group of armed men -- some of them recently escaped from prison -- stormed into Andijon , killing some government officials and taking others hostage .
A peaceful protest involving hundreds of locals had been going on in Andijon for several days prior to the violence .
Order subsequently broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful protesters , and curious residents of the city all mixed in the streets .
Tensions were already running high as just seven weeks earlier , Central Asian leaders had watched with great concern as Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev had been ousted from power in a popular revolution in late March .
Determined not to allow a similar events to play out in Uzbekistan , Karimov called in the military to restore order and a bloodbath ensued .
According to the government , 187 people were killed , most of them soldiers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 according to the Prosecutor-General 's Office , were attributed to the insurrectionists .
But eyewitness accounts pointed to a civilian casualty figure that was many times higher , with some estimates putting the figure well over 1,000 dead , with reports of mass graves being dug and bodies being flown to Russia .
International calls for an independent investigation were rejected .
`` Uzbekistan should implement the April 2020 [ UN ] Human Rights Committee recommendations and carry out an independent , impartial , thorough , and effective investigation to ensure a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the circumstances surrounding the Andijon events in 2005 , '' Vladislav Lobanov , a senior research assistant with Human Rights Watch focusing on Uzbekistan and Tajikistan , wrote on Twitter on May 13 .
After Karimov 's death in 2016 , current President Shavkat Mirziyoev , who was Karimov 's prime minister at the time of the killings , carried out a series of comparatively liberal reforms and released many dissidents from prison , including journalists , who covered the bloodshed .
Uzbek officials , however , had more or less closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided talking about the violence until Deputy Prosecutor-General Svetlana Artykova gave an interview to the Uzbek news agency Qalampir on February 7 , 2020 .
Artykova , who participated in an investigation of the Andijon violence , said `` innocent '' people were shot in the incident , the first time such an admission had been made by an Uzbek government official .
Still , rights groups say , no new investigations have been launched into the Andijon massacre and many questions about the tragedy remain unanswered .

Fifteen years after the Andijon massacre in Uzbekistan, rights activists have urged the Central Asian country's leadership to openly investigate the killings of dozens of mainly peaceful demonstrators by security forces and armed soldiers in the eastern city.
The Sweden-based Civil Rights Defenders group said on May 13, 15 years to the day of the massacre, that no state or army official was held responsible for "brutally" suppressing the civilian protest in the city of Andijon."
"We urge Uzbek authorities to reverse its impunity record!" the group wrote on Twitter.
Andijon has become a symbol for the oppression that marked the reign of former Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who had led with an iron fist since before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
On the morning of May 13, 2005, a group of armed men -- some of them recently escaped from prison -- stormed into Andijon, killing some government officials and taking others hostage.
A peaceful protest involving hundreds of locals had been going on in Andijon for several days prior to the violence.
Order subsequently broke down and the armed group, the peaceful protesters, and curious residents of the city all mixed in the streets.
Tensions were already running high as just seven weeks earlier, Central Asian leaders had watched with great concern as Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev had been ousted from power in a popular revolution in late March.
Determined not to allow a similar events to play out in Uzbekistan, Karimov called in the military to restore order and a bloodbath ensued.
According to the government, 187 people were killed, most of them soldiers and insurrectionists. Civilian deaths, only about 60 according to the Prosecutor-General's Office, were attributed to the insurrectionists.
But eyewitness accounts pointed to a civilian casualty figure that was many times higher, with some estimates putting the figure well over 1,000 dead, with reports of mass graves being dug and bodies being flown to Russia. International calls for an independent investigation were rejected.
"Uzbekistan should implement the April 2020 [UN] Human Rights Committee recommendations and carry out an independent, impartial, thorough, and effective investigation to ensure a full, transparent, and credible account of the circumstances surrounding the Andijon events in 2005," Vladislav Lobanov, a senior research assistant with Human Rights Watch focusing on Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, wrote on Twitter on May 13.
After Karimov's death in 2016, current President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who was Karimov's prime minister at the time of the killings, carried out a series of comparatively liberal reforms and released many dissidents from prison, including journalists, who covered the bloodshed.
Uzbek officials, however, had more or less closed the book on the incident and had avoided talking about the violence until Deputy Prosecutor-General Svetlana Artykova gave an interview to the Uzbek news agency Qalampir on February 7, 2020.
Artykova, who participated in an investigation of the Andijon violence, said "innocent" people were shot in the incident, the first time such an admission had been made by an Uzbek government official.
Still, rights groups say, no new investigations have been launched into the Andijon massacre and many questions about the tragedy remain unanswered.


rferl--2020-05-13--Russia Requests Czech Police Protection For Alleged Ricin Trafficker

PRAGUE -- The Czech government has confirmed that Russia 's embassy has requested Czech police protection for one of its employees -- a Russian diplomat accused in the Czech media of bringing highly toxic ricin to Prague in an alleged plot to poison three senior municipal officials .
Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek forwarded the Russian Embassy 's request to the police on May 12 .
The request says Andrei Konchakov , deputy director of the embassy 's Russian Center for Science and Culture , has been receiving anonymous threats since he was named on May 10 in the Czech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assassination plot by Russia targeting the Prague officials .
According to the Czech media reports , Konchakov brought ricin from Russia to Prague in mid-March that was meant to be used in a plot to poison Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib and two other senior municipal officials , Ondrej Kolar and Pavel Novotny .
Earlier Czech media reports said Moscow planned to poison the three Czech politicians in retaliation for supporting moves that have irritated Moscow , including the removal from Prague of a controversial statue honoring the Soviet Red Army 's Marshall Ivan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of their families have been under police protection since then .
Russia 's Embassy in Prague on May 11 issued a Facebook statement claiming that Konchakov had been the target of unspecified threats .
It said the embassy was requesting Czech police protection for Konchakov .
Moscow has also been accused of deploying agents from the GRU military intelligence for numerous attempted assassinations of the Kremlin 's opponents in other countries -- including Britain , Bulgaria , and Germany .
There is also a long history of Kremlin involvement in assassinations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government , as well as the online investigative website Bellingcat , have released evidence implicating GRU agents in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury , England using the nerve agent novichok -- a military-grade chemical weapon developed in the Soviet Union .
The Kremlin has denied involvement in all of the attacks and has dismissed reports about the latest alleged poisoning plot in Prague as part of a `` disinformation campaign '' aimed at discrediting Russia .
Moscow has threatened `` serious consequences '' for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Televize , Hospodarske noviny , and Bellingcat

PRAGUE -- The Czech government has confirmed that Russia's embassy has requested Czech police protection for one of its employees -- a Russian diplomat accused in the Czech media of bringing highly toxic ricin to Prague in an alleged plot to poison three senior municipal officials.
Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek forwarded the Russian Embassy's request to the police on May 12.
The request says Andrei Konchakov, deputy director of the embassy's Russian Center for Science and Culture, has been receiving anonymous threats since he was named on May 10 in the Czech media as part of an alleged triple assassination plot by Russia targeting the Prague officials.
According to the Czech media reports, Konchakov brought ricin from Russia to Prague in mid-March that was meant to be used in a plot to poison Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib and two other senior municipal officials, Ondrej Kolar and Pavel Novotny.
Earlier Czech media reports said Moscow planned to poison the three Czech politicians in retaliation for supporting moves that have irritated Moscow, including the removal from Prague of a controversial statue honoring the Soviet Red Army's Marshall Ivan Konev.
The three Czech officials and members of their families have been under police protection since then.
Russia's Embassy in Prague on May 11 issued a Facebook statement claiming that Konchakov had been the target of unspecified threats. It said the embassy was requesting Czech police protection for Konchakov.
Moscow has also been accused of deploying agents from the GRU military intelligence for numerous attempted assassinations of the Kremlin's opponents in other countries -- including Britain, Bulgaria, and Germany.
There is also a long history of Kremlin involvement in assassinations and attempted assassinations using poisons.
The British government, as well as the online investigative website Bellingcat, have released evidence implicating GRU agents in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England using the nerve agent novichok -- a military-grade chemical weapon developed in the Soviet Union.
The Kremlin has denied involvement in all of the attacks and has dismissed reports about the latest alleged poisoning plot in Prague as part of a "disinformation campaign" aimed at discrediting Russia.
Moscow has threatened "serious consequences" for Czech-Russian relations.
With reporting by Ceska Televize, Hospodarske noviny, and Bellingcat


rferl--2020-05-13--Armenian Ex-President Kocharian Again Denied Bail

YEREVAN -- An Armenian court has denied bail to former President Robert Kocharian , who faces charges of overthrowing the constitutional order and bribery .
Kocharian 's lawyers and three former Armenian prime ministers had petitioned the court in Yerevan to release the former president from custody when his high-profile trial resumed last week following a two-month pause .
Speaking during the May 8 hearing , the 65-year-old Kocharian claimed to be at risk of contracting the coronavirus in prison given his age and health problems .
He said that despite being alone in his cell , the conditions did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical distance . ''
Previous petitions submitted by Kocharian 's lawyers calling for their client to be released from detention had been rejected .
Prosecutors oppose such a move , saying the man who ruled Armenia from 1998 to 2008 could flee prosecution or obstruct justice .
On May 12 , the ex-president underwent surgery at a Yerevan hospital for the second time in seven months .
Kocharian 's office did not reveal what medical condition the ex-president had , but said he was now in a `` satisfactory '' state .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on May 13 .
Kocharian is standing trial along with three other former officials on charges stemming from his alleged role in a 2008 postelection crackdown on the opposition , as well as for taking bribes .
He rejects the charges as politically motivated .
The next court hearing is scheduled for May 19 .

YEREVAN -- An Armenian court has denied bail to former President Robert Kocharian, who faces charges of overthrowing the constitutional order and bribery.
Kocharian's lawyers and three former Armenian prime ministers had petitioned the court in Yerevan to release the former president from custody when his high-profile trial resumed last week following a two-month pause.
Speaking during the May 8 hearing, the 65-year-old Kocharian claimed to be at risk of contracting the coronavirus in prison given his age and health problems.
He said that despite being alone in his cell, the conditions did not allow him to "maintain safe physical distance."
Previous petitions submitted by Kocharian's lawyers calling for their client to be released from detention had been rejected.
Prosecutors oppose such a move, saying the man who ruled Armenia from 1998 to 2008 could flee prosecution or obstruct justice.
On May 12, the ex-president underwent surgery at a Yerevan hospital for the second time in seven months.
Kocharian's office did not reveal what medical condition the ex-president had, but said he was now in a "satisfactory" state.
The ex-president was not present in the courtroom on May 13.
Kocharian is standing trial along with three other former officials on charges stemming from his alleged role in a 2008 postelection crackdown on the opposition, as well as for taking bribes. He rejects the charges as politically motivated.
The next court hearing is scheduled for May 19.