rferl--2020-12-23--Fire Breaks Out At Bosnian Migrant Camp

Fire Breaks Out At Bosnian Migrant Camp

A massive fire has broken out at a temporary migrant camp in northwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina that has been the target of criticism by rights watchdogs because it lacks basic amenities .
Officials said on December 23 that former residents started the blaze at the Lipa tent camp near the Croatian border that once accommodated 1,200 migrants .
The Lipa camp was to be closed on December 23 and moved to another location .
However , officials said the move had to be postponed since the camp was almost entirely destroyed in the fire .
The International Organization for Migration ( IOM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lipa camp , located between Bosanski Petrovac and Bihac .
Bosnia has become a bottleneck for thousands of migrants hoping to reach neighboring European Union member Croatia and then head toward other Western EU members .
The bulk of the migrants are stuck in Bosnia 's northwestern Krajina region .
`` As far as we know now , a group of former residents put three tents and containers on fire after most of the migrants had left the camp , '' said the IOM 's chief of mission in Bosnia , Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no casualties to our knowledge at this point but disaster nevertheless , '' Van Der Auweraert said on Twitter .
He later told reporters the fire was under control , but that most of the camp was either destroyed or damaged .
He said most camp residents were still around the area because `` there 's no alternative accommodation available '' in Bosnia for them .
The Lipa camp was set up as a temporary shelter during the summer to cope with the coronavirus pandemic after Bosnian authorities closed another camp on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has warned Bosnia that thousands of migrants face a freezing winter without shelter , and it urged the country 's bickering politicians to set aside their differences and take action .
Thousands of people have been sleeping outdoors in makeshift tent camps or abandoned houses with no facilities in the area , which saw the first snow earlier this month .
With reporting by AP and dpa

A massive fire has broken out at a temporary migrant camp in northwestern Bosnia-Herzegovina that has been the target of criticism by rights watchdogs because it lacks basic amenities.
Officials said on December 23 that former residents started the blaze at the Lipa tent camp near the Croatian border that once accommodated 1,200 migrants.
No injuries were immediately reported.
The Lipa camp was to be closed on December 23 and moved to another location.
However, officials said the move had to be postponed since the camp was almost entirely destroyed in the fire.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) several times extended the closure of the Lipa camp, located between Bosanski Petrovac and Bihac.
Bosnia has become a bottleneck for thousands of migrants hoping to reach neighboring European Union member Croatia and then head toward other Western EU members.
The bulk of the migrants are stuck in Bosnia's northwestern Krajina region.
"As far as we know now, a group of former residents put three tents and containers on fire after most of the migrants had left the camp," said the IOM's chief of mission in Bosnia, Peter Van Der Auweraert.
"Luckily, no casualties to our knowledge at this point but disaster nevertheless," Van Der Auweraert said on Twitter.
He later told reporters the fire was under control, but that most of the camp was either destroyed or damaged. He said most camp residents were still around the area because "there's no alternative accommodation available" in Bosnia for them.
The Lipa camp was set up as a temporary shelter during the summer to cope with the coronavirus pandemic after Bosnian authorities closed another camp on the outskirts of Bihac.
The European Union has warned Bosnia that thousands of migrants face a freezing winter without shelter, and it urged the country's bickering politicians to set aside their differences and take action.
Thousands of people have been sleeping outdoors in makeshift tent camps or abandoned houses with no facilities in the area, which saw the first snow earlier this month.
With reporting by AP and dpa


rferl--2020-12-23--Russian Charged With Shooting  Eight Fellow Soldiers Calls The Incident A 'Tragedy'

CHITA , Russia -- Private Ramil Shamsutdinov , who is accused of murdering eight fellow servicemen last year in what he claims was the result of his brutal hazing in the Russian Army , has called the incident a `` tragedy . ''
Shamsutdinov said during his final statement at the high-profile trial in the Siberian city of Chita , on December 23 that he regretted what happened in October 2019 , when he allegedly went on a shooting spree , killing eight military servicemen , including two high-ranking officers , in the town of Gorny in the Zabaikalye region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led me to the situation that caused the tragedy .
I did not want it .
I did not understand myself how it happened .
I regret what I did .
There is nothing else I can say , '' Shamsutdinov said .
Shamsutdinov , who was charged with murder and attempted murder , went on trial on November 23 .
Two witnesses testified at the trial that Shamsutdinov had endured torture and beatings by other soldiers and officers during his hazing in the service .
Shamsutdinov 's lawyer , Ruslan Nagiyev , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sentence will be pronounced on December 24 .
The case shocked many in Russia and attracted the attention of rights activists after Shamsutdinov claimed that he committed the act while suffering a nervous breakdown caused by the brutal hazing and torture he had endured .
The Defense Ministry accepted at the time that Shamsutdinov `` had a conflict '' with one of the officers he killed .
In March , Private Ruslan Mukhatov was found guilty of bullying Shamsutdinov and was handed a suspended two-year prison term .
Deadly shootings in Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hazing have been a focus of human rights organizations for years .
In November , a soldier at a military air base in the western region of Voronezh shot an officer and two soldiers dead .
In recent years , photos and video footage have been posted online by members of the Russian military that show the severe bullying of young recruits as they are inducted into the army .

CHITA, Russia -- Private Ramil Shamsutdinov, who is accused of murdering eight fellow servicemen last year in what he claims was the result of his brutal hazing in the Russian Army, has called the incident a "tragedy."
Shamsutdinov said during his final statement at the high-profile trial in the Siberian city of Chita, on December 23 that he regretted what happened in October 2019, when he allegedly went on a shooting spree, killing eight military servicemen, including two high-ranking officers, in the town of Gorny in the Zabaikalye region.
"The circumstances I found myself led me to the situation that caused the tragedy. I did not want it. I did not understand myself how it happened. I regret what I did. There is nothing else I can say," Shamsutdinov said.
Shamsutdinov, who was charged with murder and attempted murder, went on trial on November 23.
Two witnesses testified at the trial that Shamsutdinov had endured torture and beatings by other soldiers and officers during his hazing in the service.
Shamsutdinov's lawyer, Ruslan Nagiyev, told RFE/RL that his client's verdict and sentence will be pronounced on December 24.
The case shocked many in Russia and attracted the attention of rights activists after Shamsutdinov claimed that he committed the act while suffering a nervous breakdown caused by the brutal hazing and torture he had endured.
The Defense Ministry accepted at the time that Shamsutdinov "had a conflict" with one of the officers he killed. In March, Private Ruslan Mukhatov was found guilty of bullying Shamsutdinov and was handed a suspended two-year prison term.
Deadly shootings in Russian military units as the result of wide-spread hazing have been a focus of human rights organizations for years.
In November, a soldier at a military air base in the western region of Voronezh shot an officer and two soldiers dead.
In recent years, photos and video footage have been posted online by members of the Russian military that show the severe bullying of young recruits as they are inducted into the army.


rferl--2020-12-23--Moscow Court Hands Two-Year Suspended Sentence To Opposition Politician Galyamina

MOSCOW -- A court in Moscow has handed local opposition politician Yulia Galyamina a two-year suspended sentence for her involvement in anti-Kremlin rallies .
The Tver district court on December 23 found Galyamina , an opposition member of a Moscow district council , guilty of repeatedly violating rules on public gatherings by organizing and staging unsanctioned rallies and protests in Moscow .
Dozens of Galyamina 's supporters gathered in front of the court as the verdict was handed down to support the outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin .
In her final statement during the trial ealier in the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security officials and police that the proceedings proved they see her as a `` real threat . ''
`` I am a teacher , a municipal lawmaker , a politician who calls for nonviolent change , for honest political struggle , for a decent life for people .
I 'm a woman who is a threat to a man , who seems to have all possible powers .
However , that man is just a little man who is scared of a woman 's soft power , '' Galyamina said .
Amnesty International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` appalling and reprehensible , '' saying they were aimed at `` silencing a major dissenting voice and threatening to ban her political activities . ''
Galyamina was involved in a campaign against what she says are `` illegal plans '' by Putin to remain in power beyond his term limits .
Her team organized a peaceful rally in central Moscow in July against constitutional reforms introduced in 2020 that give Putin an option to remain in power for as many as 16 more years if he wins two more elections after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people were detained by the police during the protest .

MOSCOW -- A court in Moscow has handed local opposition politician Yulia Galyamina a two-year suspended sentence for her involvement in anti-Kremlin rallies.
The Tver district court on December 23 found Galyamina, an opposition member of a Moscow district council, guilty of repeatedly violating rules on public gatherings by organizing and staging unsanctioned rallies and protests in Moscow.
Dozens of Galyamina's supporters gathered in front of the court as the verdict was handed down to support the outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin.
In her final statement during the trial ealier in the week, Galyamina told Putin, investigators, security officials and police that the proceedings proved they see her as a "real threat."
"I am a teacher, a municipal lawmaker, a politician who calls for nonviolent change, for honest political struggle, for a decent life for people. I'm a woman who is a threat to a man, who seems to have all possible powers. However, that man is just a little man who is scared of a woman's soft power," Galyamina said.
Amnesty International has condemned the charges against Galyamina as "appalling and reprehensible," saying they were aimed at "silencing a major dissenting voice and threatening to ban her political activities."
Galyamina was involved in a campaign against what she says are "illegal plans" by Putin to remain in power beyond his term limits.
Her team organized a peaceful rally in central Moscow in July against constitutional reforms introduced in 2020 that give Putin an option to remain in power for as many as 16 more years if he wins two more elections after his current term expires in 2024.
Dozens of people were detained by the police during the protest.


rferl--2020-12-23--German Hospital's Final Statement Says Navalny Poisoned With Novichok Nerve Agent

The German hospital that treated Aleksei Navalny has posted its final statement on the case of the Russian dissident 's acute illness , saying he was poisoned with the chemical nerve agent Novichok .
Navalny became violently ill while on a domestic flight in Russia on August 20 and was initially treated at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk for two days before being flown to Germany for emergency treatment .
In an article published in The Lancet medical journal on December 23 , doctors at Berlin 's Charite hospital detailed symptoms observed as Navalny was admitted into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the German armed forces designated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons identified an organophosphorus nerve agent from the Novichok group in blood samples collected immediately after the patient 's admission to Charite , '' the report said .
Navalny , 44 , only narrowly survived the poisoning , the German hospital team said .
`` His good health status before the poisoning probably favored his recovery , '' the report said .
Laboratories from several Western countries have determined that Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The claim has been repeatedly denied by Moscow .
The Lancet publication came just two days after Navalny published a video of what he said was a telephone conversation with an alleged member of Russia 's Federal Security Service ( FSB ) , who says agents placed the poison in his underpants while Navalny was traveling in Siberia .
Navalny said he impersonated an official in the Kremlin 's Security Council to get the FSB agent to admit to the poisoning .
With reporting by dpa and AFP

The German hospital that treated Aleksei Navalny has posted its final statement on the case of the Russian dissident's acute illness, saying he was poisoned with the chemical nerve agent Novichok.
Navalny became violently ill while on a domestic flight in Russia on August 20 and was initially treated at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk for two days before being flown to Germany for emergency treatment.
In an article published in The Lancet medical journal on December 23, doctors at Berlin's Charite hospital detailed symptoms observed as Navalny was admitted into their care.
"A laboratory of the German armed forces designated by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons identified an organophosphorus nerve agent from the Novichok group in blood samples collected immediately after the patient's admission to Charite," the report said.
Navalny, 44, only narrowly survived the poisoning, the German hospital team said.
"His good health status before the poisoning probably favored his recovery," the report said.
Laboratories from several Western countries have determined that Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, which only Russian authorities can administer.
The claim has been repeatedly denied by Moscow.
The Lancet publication came just two days after Navalny published a video of what he said was a telephone conversation with an alleged member of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), who says agents placed the poison in his underpants while Navalny was traveling in Siberia.
Navalny said he impersonated an official in the Kremlin's Security Council to get the FSB agent to admit to the poisoning.
With reporting by dpa and AFP


rferl--2020-12-23--Russian Prosecutor Seeks Six Years For Mathematician On Charges He Denies

The prosecutor in a high-profile trial in Moscow has asked a court to sentence Azat Miftakhov , a mathematician who says he was tortured in custody , to six years in prison on hooliganism charges .
Miftakhov 's lawyer , Svetlana Sidorkina , said on December 23 that the defendant , who has rejected all of the charges and believes he was targeted by police because of his anarchist views , and his lawyers will testify as the process resumes on December 25 .
Miftakhov , 25 , a postgraduate mathematics student at Moscow State University , was arrested on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of helping make an improvised bomb found in January in the city of Balashikha near Moscow .
The Public Monitoring Commission , a human rights group , has said that Miftakhov 's body bore the signs of torture , which the student claimed were the result of investigators unsuccessfully attempting to force him to confess to the bomb-making charge .
Others who were detained along with Miftakhov , but later released , have also claimed to have been beaten by the police .
Miftakhov was released on February 7 , 2019 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he was rearrested immediately and charged with involvement in an arson attack on the ruling United Russia party 's office in Moscow in January 2018 .
A series of demonstrations demanding Miftakhov 's immediate release have been held in Moscow and other cities in Russia since his arrest .
Based on reporting by Novaya gazeta and Meduza

The prosecutor in a high-profile trial in Moscow has asked a court to sentence Azat Miftakhov, a mathematician who says he was tortured in custody, to six years in prison on hooliganism charges.
Miftakhov's lawyer, Svetlana Sidorkina, said on December 23 that the defendant, who has rejected all of the charges and believes he was targeted by police because of his anarchist views, and his lawyers will testify as the process resumes on December 25.
Miftakhov, 25, a postgraduate mathematics student at Moscow State University, was arrested on February 1, 2019, and accused of helping make an improvised bomb found in January in the city of Balashikha near Moscow.
The Public Monitoring Commission, a human rights group, has said that Miftakhov's body bore the signs of torture, which the student claimed were the result of investigators unsuccessfully attempting to force him to confess to the bomb-making charge.
Others who were detained along with Miftakhov, but later released, have also claimed to have been beaten by the police.
Miftakhov was released on February 7, 2019, after the initial charge failed to hold, but he was rearrested immediately and charged with involvement in an arson attack on the ruling United Russia party's office in Moscow in January 2018.
A prominent Russian human rights organization, Memorial, has declared Miftakhov a political prisoner.
A series of demonstrations demanding Miftakhov's immediate release have been held in Moscow and other cities in Russia since his arrest.
Based on reporting by Novaya gazeta and Meduza


rferl--2020-12-23--Georgian Lawmakers Advance Bill To Halt Funding Of Parties Boycotting Parliament

TBILISI -- In an ongoing stand-off between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition parties refusing to take their seats in parliament , Georgian lawmakers have approved the first reading of a bill that withholds state funding for parties boycotting parliament .
Six of the eight opposition parties that gained entrance to parliament in the October 31 elections have requested their mandates be suspended , saying the poll was rigged and new elections must be held .
Georgian Dream initiated the bill , according to which political parties that refuse to take up at least half of their parliamentary seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tsulukiani said after the December 23 vote that the legislation had nothing to do with the opposition parties ' current boycott of parliament .
Deputies also agreed that the second reading of the bill will be debated after it is assessed by the OSCE 's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Venice Commission .
The first session of the newly elected parliament was held without the opposition parties ' representatives since December 11 .
The Central Election Commission announced final results showing Georgian Dream , founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The opposition United National Movement bloc got 27.18 percent and European Georgia was third with 3.79 percent .
Six other smaller opposition parties also crossed the 1 percent threshold to enter parliament .
Four rounds of U.S. and EU-brokered talks between the ruling Georgian Dream and opposition parties to find a compromise on the issue have failed to yield any results so far .

TBILISI -- In an ongoing stand-off between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition parties refusing to take their seats in parliament, Georgian lawmakers have approved the first reading of a bill that withholds state funding for parties boycotting parliament.
Six of the eight opposition parties that gained entrance to parliament in the October 31 elections have requested their mandates be suspended, saying the poll was rigged and new elections must be held.
Georgian Dream initiated the bill, according to which political parties that refuse to take up at least half of their parliamentary seats will lose state funding.
Lawmaker Tea Tsulukiani said after the December 23 vote that the legislation had nothing to do with the opposition parties' current boycott of parliament.
Deputies also agreed that the second reading of the bill will be debated after it is assessed by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Venice Commission.
The first session of the newly elected parliament was held without the opposition parties' representatives since December 11.
The Central Election Commission announced final results showing Georgian Dream, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, took 48.22 percent of the vote. The opposition United National Movement bloc got 27.18 percent and European Georgia was third with 3.79 percent.
Six other smaller opposition parties also crossed the 1 percent threshold to enter parliament.
Four rounds of U.S. and EU-brokered talks between the ruling Georgian Dream and opposition parties to find a compromise on the issue have failed to yield any results so far.


rferl--2020-12-23--Kyrgyz Lawmakers Approve Controversial Economic-Amnesty Bill

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz lawmakers have approved an economic-amnesty bill that allows individuals who obtained financial assets through illegal means to avoid prosecution by turning the assets over to the State Treasury .
Economy Minister Bekbolot Aliev said on December 23 that the amnesty 's main goal was not about filling the government 's coffers but `` to bring the shadow economy to the legal scene . ''
Kyrgyz authorities have said that the bill may affect around 1,300 individuals convicted or suspected of enriching themselves through tax evasion , financial fraud , smuggling , and other economic misdeeds .
Critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed and hastily prepared by lawmakers to avoid a conviction for the former deputy chief of the Customs Service , Raimbek Matraimov , who has been implicated in a high-profile case involving the illegal funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad .
The idea of economic amnesty was announced on October 21 by Sadyr Japarov , then acting Kyrgyz president , just a day after Matraimov was detained and placed under house arrest .
The State Committee for National Security ( UKMK ) said at the time that Matraimov had agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24.7 million ) in damages to the state , and that 80 million soms ( $ 1 million ) had already been transferred to its account .
Matraimov is one of three brothers from what is rumored to be one of the wealthiest and most-powerful families in Kyrgyzstan .
He was a key financial backer for political parties and presidents , including Jeenbekov and the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party , which dominated the October 4 parliamentary elections along with a party called Birimdik , which listed Jeenbekov 's brother among its ranks .
Protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other improprieties during the vote , seized government buildings after the election results were announced , prompting officials to annul the balloting and Jeenbekov to step down .
In the resulting power vacuum , Japarov , a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper who was freed from prison when a mob stormed a Bishkek prison during the protests , was elected prime minister by parliament and then had the presidential powers transferred to him when Jeenbekov left office in mid-October .
Last year , a joint investigation by RFE/RL 's Kyrgyz Service , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop , implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of funds out of the country by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti , who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019 .
Prior to his killing , Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers over the course of several years .
On December 9 , the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Matraimov for his role in a vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his duties as acting president and prime minister in mid-November in order to be eligible to take part in an early presidential election on January 10 .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz lawmakers have approved an economic-amnesty bill that allows individuals who obtained financial assets through illegal means to avoid prosecution by turning the assets over to the State Treasury.
Economy Minister Bekbolot Aliev said on December 23 that the amnesty's main goal was not about filling the government's coffers but "to bring the shadow economy to the legal scene."
Kyrgyz authorities have said that the bill may affect around 1,300 individuals convicted or suspected of enriching themselves through tax evasion, financial fraud, smuggling, and other economic misdeeds.
Critics, however, say the legislation was proposed and hastily prepared by lawmakers to avoid a conviction for the former deputy chief of the Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, who has been implicated in a high-profile case involving the illegal funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad.
The idea of economic amnesty was announced on October 21 by Sadyr Japarov, then acting Kyrgyz president, just a day after Matraimov was detained and placed under house arrest.
The State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said at the time that Matraimov had agreed to pay about 2 billion soms ($24.7 million) in damages to the state, and that 80 million soms ($1 million) had already been transferred to its account.
Matraimov is one of three brothers from what is rumored to be one of the wealthiest and most-powerful families in Kyrgyzstan. He was a key financial backer for political parties and presidents, including Jeenbekov and the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party, which dominated the October 4 parliamentary elections along with a party called Birimdik, which listed Jeenbekov's brother among its ranks.
Protesters, angry at evidence of vote-buying and other improprieties during the vote, seized government buildings after the election results were announced, prompting officials to annul the balloting and Jeenbekov to step down.
In the resulting power vacuum, Japarov, a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper who was freed from prison when a mob stormed a Bishkek prison during the protests, was elected prime minister by parliament and then had the presidential powers transferred to him when Jeenbekov left office in mid-October.
Last year, a joint investigation by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop, implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of funds out of the country by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019.
Prior to his killing, Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers over the course of several years.
On December 9, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Matraimov for his role in a vast corruption and money-laundering scheme.
Japarov suspended his duties as acting president and prime minister in mid-November in order to be eligible to take part in an early presidential election on January 10.


rferl--2020-12-23--Belarusian Press Club Chief, Associates Detained For Alleged Tax Law 'Violations'

MINSK -- The founder of the Belarusian Press Club , Yulia Slutskaya , and four of her associates have been detained in a case that authorities described as tax law `` violations . ''
Slutskaya 's daughter Alyaksandra said on December 23 that along with her mother , police also detained Press Club staff members Syarhey Alsheuski , Syarhey Yakupau , Pyatro Slutski , and Ala Sharko .
Yulia Slutskaya was detained after she arrived in Minsk from abroad on December 22 , while the others were detained hours later after their homes and offices were searched .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whereabouts of the detained journalists and media managers .
Meanwhile , the Committee for State Control said late on December 22 that it launched preliminary investigations into `` facts of violation of the taxation laws of the Republic of Belarus by the staff members of the Press Club Journalistic Workshop cultural-educational organization linked among other things to financial support from abroad . ''
The detainments came just days after the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) listed Belarus as a country where authorities have significantly increased their arrests of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come as mass protests continue across the country over a disputed presidential election in August .
Election officials in Minsk say incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka won a landslide victory .
Opposition supporters say the results were rigged in Lukashenka 's favor .
Since August , at least 373 journalists have been arrested in Belarus .
At least six remain in custody .
In October , the Foreign Ministry revoked the media accreditation of several foreign media organizations in a move widely criticized as an attempt to stifle reporting about ongoing antigovernment demonstrations .
Founded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls itself `` a platform for professional development of independent media and journalists . ''

MINSK -- The founder of the Belarusian Press Club, Yulia Slutskaya, and four of her associates have been detained in a case that authorities described as tax law "violations."
Slutskaya's daughter Alyaksandra said on December 23 that along with her mother, police also detained Press Club staff members Syarhey Alsheuski, Syarhey Yakupau, Pyatro Slutski, and Ala Sharko.
Yulia Slutskaya was detained after she arrived in Minsk from abroad on December 22, while the others were detained hours later after their homes and offices were searched.
According to Alyaksandra Slutskaya, relatives do not know the whereabouts of the detained journalists and media managers.
Meanwhile, the Committee for State Control said late on December 22 that it launched preliminary investigations into "facts of violation of the taxation laws of the Republic of Belarus by the staff members of the Press Club Journalistic Workshop cultural-educational organization linked among other things to financial support from abroad."
The detainments came just days after the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) listed Belarus as a country where authorities have significantly increased their arrests of journalists in recent months.
The arrests come as mass protests continue across the country over a disputed presidential election in August.
Election officials in Minsk say incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka won a landslide victory. Opposition supporters say the results were rigged in Lukashenka's favor.
Since August, at least 373 journalists have been arrested in Belarus. At least six remain in custody.
In October, the Foreign Ministry revoked the media accreditation of several foreign media organizations in a move widely criticized as an attempt to stifle reporting about ongoing antigovernment demonstrations.
Founded in 2011, the Belarusian Press Club calls itself "a platform for professional development of independent media and journalists."
With reporting by BelTA


rferl--2020-12-24--Russian Couple Jailed For Wedding Photo Treason

A Russian court has sentenced a married couple in Kaliningrad to lengthy jail terms after finding them guilty of spying for Latvia and state treason .
The wife , Antonina Zimina , received 13 years in a penal colony while her husband , Konstantin Antonets , was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in a maximum-security prison .
The prosecutors had requested 14 years for Zimina and 13 years for Antonets .
The couple denied any wrongdoing and will appeal the verdict , their lawyer , Mikhail Bayev , said .
Antonets and Zimina were detained in July 2018 in Kaliningrad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May .
They were charged with treason after state prosecutors accused them of sharing a photograph with Latvia of a counterintelligence officer from Russia ’ s Federal Security Service ( FSB ) who had attended their wedding .
The daily Kommersant reported in February that some videos and photographs from the couple ’ s wedding were later published on social media and were eventually included in an unspecified Baltic television program , prompting the FSB to open a criminal investigation .
In recent years , the number of cases of alleged high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the latest high-profile high treason cases involves Ivan Safronov , a journalist and an aide to the Russian Roskosmos space agency chief , Dmitry Rogozin .
Safronov was arrested on July 7 and later charged with passing classified materials to the Czech Republic .
With reporting by Reuters , Interfax , and The Moscow Times

A Russian court has sentenced a married couple in Kaliningrad to lengthy jail terms after finding them guilty of spying for Latvia and state treason.
The wife, Antonina Zimina, received 13 years in a penal colony while her husband, Konstantin Antonets, was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in a maximum-security prison.
The prosecutors had requested 14 years for Zimina and 13 years for Antonets.
The couple denied any wrongdoing and will appeal the verdict, their lawyer, Mikhail Bayev, said.
Antonets and Zimina were detained in July 2018 in Kaliningrad and went on trial behind closed doors in May.
They were charged with treason after state prosecutors accused them of sharing a photograph with Latvia of a counterintelligence officer from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) who had attended their wedding.
The daily Kommersant reported in February that some videos and photographs from the couple’s wedding were later published on social media and were eventually included in an unspecified Baltic television program, prompting the FSB to open a criminal investigation.
In recent years, the number of cases of alleged high treason has increased dramatically in Russia.
One of the latest high-profile high treason cases involves Ivan Safronov, a journalist and an aide to the Russian Roskosmos space agency chief, Dmitry Rogozin.
Safronov was arrested on July 7 and later charged with passing classified materials to the Czech Republic.
With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and The Moscow Times


rferl--2020-12-24--Moldova's Pro-EU President Sandu Sworn In

Maia Sandu has been sworn in as the new president of Moldova after taking the oath of office on December @ @ @ @ @ Chisinau .
Sandu , a former World Bank economist who favors closer ties to the @ @ @ @ @ last month after defeating Russia-backed Igor Dodon in a tight race .
During her inauguration @ @ @ @ @ , promised to be a “ uniting ” president .
She cited the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ economic crisis as her priorities while promising to appoint a team of experts to tackle @ @ @ @ @ presented closer integration with the EU as a way out of the economic crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ minister for several months during Dodon 's term before being ousted in a vote of @ @ @ @ @ She promised during her presidential campaign to battle endemic corruption in Moldova , one of @ @ @ @ @ .
Moldova has been faced with mass protests in recent weeks calling for early general @ @

Maia Sandu has been sworn in as the new president of Moldova after taking the oath of office on December 24 at a ceremony in Chisinau.
Sandu, a Harvard-educated former World Bank economist who favors closer ties to the European Union and the United States, was elected last month after a clear runoff victory against Russia-backed Igor Dodon.
During her inauguration ceremony, Sandu, 48, promised to be a “uniting” president.
She cited the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s economic crisis as her priorities while promising to appoint a team of experts to tackle the issues. Sandu has presented closer integration with the EU as a way out of the economic crisis.
She previously served as prime minister for several months during Dodon's term before being ousted in a vote of no confidence last year.
She promised during her presidential campaign to battle endemic corruption in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries.
On December 23, Prime Minister Ion Chicu and his government resigned in a move to help push the country toward early elections.
In her inauguration speech on December 24, Sandu said that snap legislative elections are the "only way to cleanse parliament and restore justice in our country."
Earlier this month around 20,000 protesters took to the streets in Chisinau to demand early elections after lawmakers passed a bill transferring control of the country's intelligence agency from the president to parliament.
The move was seen as a way to boost the power of parliament, where pro-Moscow Socialists aligned with Dodon hold a razor-thin one-seat majority in the 101-seat legislature.
The November presidential election was seen as a referendum on two divergent visions for the future of the Eastern European country of 3.5 million people that is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.
Since the election Sandu has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova's Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester, prompting the Kremlin to warn it could lead to "serious destabilization.”
Sandu is expected to nominate a new prime minister after consulting with the outgoing parliament.
Since the prime minister has resigned, she can dissolve parliament if there are two failed attempts to find a successor.
With reporting by AFP


rferl--2020-12-24--Serbia Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign

Serbia launched on December 24 its coronavirus vaccination program using the Pfizer-BioNTech shot .
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and a member of the epidemic crisis management group , Darija Kisic-Tepavcevic , were the first to receive the jab in order to foster public confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine .
`` I want to personally demonstrate that the vaccine is safe , '' Kisic-Tepavcevic said in an interview with the state broadcaster RTS .
Serbia received a first batch of nearly 5,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 22 .
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in retirement homes .
`` It is important to protect these people ... .
More than 80 percent of the people who have died from this terrible virus are the elderly and they are most at risk , '' he said .
Mirsad Djerlek , state secretary in the Health Ministry , told RFE/RL that as more vaccines arrive in the coming weeks health-care workers will also get the vaccine .
He said about 80,000 doses should be delivered each month , or enough for about 40,000 people because it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t approved their use yet , it plans to add the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine and a jab produced by China 's Sinopharm to ensure a greater quantity of vaccine for its 7 million people .
“ We expect that these two vaccines will arrive in Serbia very soon , ” Djerlek said .
The Pfizer-BioNTech shot is already in use in the United States , Britain , Canada , and Israel .
Meanwhile , rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech will begin across the EU on December 27 .
Serbia has suffered 2,800 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Balkan Service and AFP

Serbia launched on December 24 its coronavirus vaccination program using the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and a member of the epidemic crisis management group, Darija Kisic-Tepavcevic, were the first to receive the jab in order to foster public confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
"I want to personally demonstrate that the vaccine is safe," Kisic-Tepavcevic said in an interview with the state broadcaster RTS.
Serbia received a first batch of nearly 5,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 22.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the first shots will go to the elderly in retirement homes.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
"It is important to protect these people.... More than 80 percent of the people who have died from this terrible virus are the elderly and they are most at risk," he said.
Mirsad Djerlek, state secretary in the Health Ministry, told RFE/RL that as more vaccines arrive in the coming weeks health-care workers will also get the vaccine.
He said about 80,000 doses should be delivered each month, or enough for about 40,000 people because it’s a two-dose regimen.
While Serbia hasn’t approved their use yet, it plans to add the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine and a jab produced by China's Sinopharm to ensure a greater quantity of vaccine for its 7 million people.
“We expect that these two vaccines will arrive in Serbia very soon,” Djerlek said.
The Pfizer-BioNTech shot is already in use in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Israel.
Meanwhile, rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech will begin across the EU on December 27.
Serbia has suffered 2,800 deaths to the coronavirus while more than 300,000 have been infected.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service and AFP


rferl--2020-12-24--Russia Criticizes Threatened U.S. Sanctions Against Nord Stream 2

The Kremlin has said it does not rule out delays to the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in light of the threat of new U.S. sanctions .
Sanctions are aimed at hampering the project and can fulfill their goal , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference on December 24 .
`` Of course , this can complicate [ the implementation of the project ] , but at the same time , our European partners and we are interested in the project 's implementation so that it is finalized in the interests of European consumers and Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commenting on whether the Trump administration will have time to stop the project , Peskov said : `` We are not inclined to read coffee grounds here .
We have our own issues to work out , and we 're working on them . ''
`` However , our European partners and we are interested in this project being implemented , '' he said .
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is to carry Russian-sourced gas directly to Germany , the European Union 's largest economy , via a route under the Baltic Sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The United States has condemned the pipeline as threatening the security of NATO allies in the EU by increasing dependence on Russia .
Washington in December 2019 passed a bill that imposed sanctions on vessels laying the Nord Stream 2 pipeline , forcing Swiss-based Allseas to stop work on the project shortly before its completion .
Russia is now seeking to retrofit its own vessels to finish the pipeline to complete the project .
The National Defense Authorization Act , an annual bill that mainly sets the policy for the U.S. Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington 's sanctions against the pipeline .
However , outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on December 23 vetoed the bill .
Peskov would not comment on whether Trump could still stop completion of the pipeline .
Washington does want to make it as difficult as possible to implement the project , he added .
The pipeline is currently reported to be 93 percent completed .
With reporting by dpa and TASS

The Kremlin has said it does not rule out delays to the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline in light of the threat of new U.S. sanctions.
Sanctions are aimed at hampering the project and can fulfill their goal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a news conference on December 24.
"Of course, this can complicate [the implementation of the project], but at the same time, our European partners and we are interested in the project's implementation so that it is finalized in the interests of European consumers and Russian gas suppliers," Peskov said.
Commenting on whether the Trump administration will have time to stop the project, Peskov said: "We are not inclined to read coffee grounds here. We have our own issues to work out, and we're working on them."
"However, our European partners and we are interested in this project being implemented," he said.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is to carry Russian-sourced gas directly to Germany, the European Union's largest economy, via a route under the Baltic Sea similar to the existing Nord Stream line.
The United States has condemned the pipeline as threatening the security of NATO allies in the EU by increasing dependence on Russia.
Washington in December 2019 passed a bill that imposed sanctions on vessels laying the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, forcing Swiss-based Allseas to stop work on the project shortly before its completion.
Russia is now seeking to retrofit its own vessels to finish the pipeline to complete the project.
The National Defense Authorization Act, an annual bill that mainly sets the policy for the U.S. Department of Defense, includes an extension of Washington's sanctions against the pipeline. However, outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on December 23 vetoed the bill.
Peskov would not comment on whether Trump could still stop completion of the pipeline. Washington does want to make it as difficult as possible to implement the project, he added.
The pipeline is currently reported to be 93 percent completed.
With reporting by dpa and TASS


rferl--2020-12-25--At Least Six Fighters Reported Killed In Israeli Strikes In Syria

A British-based group monitoring the Syrian conflict says least six Iran-backed fighters have been killed in an Israeli rocket attack in central Syria .
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on December 25 that the Israeli attack launched in the province of Hama also destroyed depots and rocket-manufacturing facilities belonging to pro-Iranian militias .
Earlier , the official Syrian news agency SANA reported that Israeli rockets had targeted the area of Masyaf in rural Hama .
The agency , citing a military source , added that Syrian air defenses had intercepted the `` hostile '' rockets and destroyed most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any casualties nor damage resulting from the reported attack .
State television aired footage purporting to show air defenses responding to the attack .
There has been no comment from Israel , which rarely confirms details of its operations in Syria .
Along with Russia , Iran has provided crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian conflict , which began with a crackdown on anti-government protesters in March 2011 .
Israel accuses Iran of building up its military presence in Syria and has repeatedly struck Iran-linked facilities , positions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Hizballah fighters in the war-torn country .
Israel has carried out more than 30 air strikes on targets across Syria so far in the present year , according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights .
Based on reporting by AFP and dpa

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


rferl--2020-12-25--Microsoft Reseller Compromised In Newly Revealed Attempted Intrusion Blamed On Russian Hackers

Suspected Russian hackers have compromised a customer of software giant Microsoft through a reseller of Microsoft products , according to news reports on December 24 , raising more questions about a massive cyberattack on U.S. government computer networks that came to light earlier this month .
The Microsoft customer is security company CrowdStrike Holdings , which said the hackers had gained access to the reseller that sold it licenses to Microsoft Office software .
CrowdStrike did not identify the hackers as the same ones that compromised SolarWinds , the company whose software was previously the only known point of entry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be behind the intrusion that had been reported earlier .
But two people familiar with CrowdStrike 's investigation told Reuters that the same hackers were to blame .
Russia denied any responsibility for the hack into the SolarWinds network management software that was used to allegedly gain access to multiple U.S. government agencies .
The U.S. government 's top cybersecurity agency last week issued an urgent warning about the cyberattack , saying it posed a `` grave risk '' to computer networks maintained by governments , utilities , and the private sector and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purge .
Until now , SolarWinds was the only publicly confirmed channel involved in the cyberattack , but officials had warned that they believed hackers had other ways in .
CrowdStrike said it had found no impact from the intrusion attempt and declined to name the reseller .
CrowdStrike uses Office programs for word processing but not e-mail .
The hackers “ got in through the reseller 's access and tried to enable mail 'read ' privileges , '' an unidentified person familiar with the investigation told Reuters .
The intrusion would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using Office for e-mail , the person said .
Many Microsoft software licenses are sold through third parties , and the company has said those customers need to be vigilant .
`` Our investigation of recent attacks has found incidents involving abuse of credentials to gain access , which can come in several forms , '' said Microsoft senior director Jeff Jones in a statement quoted by Reuters and The Washington Post .
`` We have not identified any vulnerabilities or compromise of Microsoft product or cloud services , ” Jones added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Microsoft had detected unusual behavior in CrowdStrike ’ s Azure cloud platform account and that “ there was an attempt to read email , which failed.
” Representative Jim Langevin ( Democrat-Rhode Island ) said he was angry about the original intrusion linked to SolarWinds but added that the reality is `` the Russians pulled off a highly targeted , complex and probably expensive cyberintrusion that was a sophisticated espionage operation . ''
The U.S. government 's response could involve expelling diplomats or suspected spies , or imposing sanctions , Langevin said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SolarWinds on December 24 released an update to fix the vulnerabilities in its network management software following the discovery of a second set of hackers that had targeted the company .
The identity of the second set of hackers , or the degree to which they may have broken in remains unclear .
With reporting by Reuters and The Washington Post

Suspected Russian hackers have compromised a customer of software giant Microsoft through a reseller of Microsoft products, according to news reports on December 24, raising more questions about a massive cyberattack on U.S. government computer networks that came to light earlier this month.
The Microsoft customer is security company CrowdStrike Holdings, which said the hackers had gained access to the reseller that sold it licenses to Microsoft Office software.
CrowdStrike did not identify the hackers as the same ones that compromised SolarWinds, the company whose software was previously the only known point of entry for the suspected Russian hackers believed to be behind the intrusion that had been reported earlier.
But two people familiar with CrowdStrike's investigation told Reuters that the same hackers were to blame.
Russia denied any responsibility for the hack into the SolarWinds network management software that was used to allegedly gain access to multiple U.S. government agencies.
The U.S. government's top cybersecurity agency last week issued an urgent warning about the cyberattack, saying it posed a "grave risk" to computer networks maintained by governments, utilities, and the private sector and was ongoing and could be difficult to purge.
Until now, SolarWinds was the only publicly confirmed channel involved in the cyberattack, but officials had warned that they believed hackers had other ways in.
CrowdStrike said it had found no impact from the intrusion attempt and declined to name the reseller. CrowdStrike uses Office programs for word processing but not e-mail.
The hackers “got in through the reseller's access and tried to enable mail 'read' privileges," an unidentified person familiar with the investigation told Reuters. The intrusion would have been more serious if CrowdStrike had been using Office for e-mail, the person said.
Many Microsoft software licenses are sold through third parties, and the company has said those customers need to be vigilant.
"Our investigation of recent attacks has found incidents involving abuse of credentials to gain access, which can come in several forms," said Microsoft senior director Jeff Jones in a statement quoted by Reuters and The Washington Post. "We have not identified any vulnerabilities or compromise of Microsoft product or cloud services,” Jones added.
In its post, CrowdStrike alerted customers that Microsoft had detected unusual behavior in CrowdStrike’s Azure cloud platform account and that “there was an attempt to read email, which failed.”
Representative Jim Langevin (Democrat-Rhode Island) said he was angry about the original intrusion linked to SolarWinds but added that the reality is "the Russians pulled off a highly targeted, complex and probably expensive cyberintrusion that was a sophisticated espionage operation."
The U.S. government's response could involve expelling diplomats or suspected spies, or imposing sanctions, Langevin said, according to The Washington Post.
SolarWinds on December 24 released an update to fix the vulnerabilities in its network management software following the discovery of a second set of hackers that had targeted the company.
The identity of the second set of hackers, or the degree to which they may have broken in remains unclear.
With reporting by Reuters and The Washington Post


rferl--2020-12-25--Russia Opens Criminal Probe Into Navalny Lawyer Who Tried To Meet With FSB Agent

Russian law enforcement agencies have opened a criminal case against Lyubov Sobol , a lawyer for the outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny ’ s Anti-Corruption Foundation ( FBK ) and took her in for questioning , the head of the foundation said on December 25 .
FBK Director Ivan Zhdanov said on Twitter that investigators launched a probe into Sobol for trespassing `` with the use of violence or a threat to use it '' after she rang the doorbell of an agent who has implicated the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) in the poisoning of the 44-year-old Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the AFP news agency that the opposition lawyer was currently a witness in the probe but added that he expected Sobol to be charged later on December 25 .
There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities .
Earlier on December 25 , police raided Sobol ’ s apartment and took away her computers and phones , Navalny ’ s supporters said .
`` Lyubov Sobol was taken for questioning to the Investigative Committee .
The apartment is being searched , '' the foundation said on Twitter on December 25 .
Sobol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her apartment before going incommunicado .
In the video , her seven-year-old daughter can be heard crying as someone pounds on the front door , demanding it be opened .
`` They knock on the door and say the police are here .
Apparently , the search will be at my home .
I 've never had a personal search before .
Well , everything happens for the first time .
Apparently , because I recently went to Navalny 's poisoner , `` Sobol says in the video .
Sobol was among journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Konstantin Kudryavtsev late in the evening on December 21 , the day Navalny published an audio-recording of what appears to be a conversation with Kudryavtsev over the FSB 's role in the poisoning .
She was briefly detained at a police station .
Sobol 's lawyer said the probe had been launched following a complaint from Kudryavtsev 's mother-in-law .
Navalny said the Russian authorities ' `` hysterical reaction '' only proved their guilt .
`` You call a killer 's doorbell -- they break down your door and take you in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his blog on December 25 .
Laboratory tests in three separate European countries , confirmed by the global chemical weapons watchdog , established that Navalny was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent .
Russia has rejected calls for an investigation into the poisoning , and denies the involvement of state agents in the case , saying it has yet to be shown any evidence .
Navalny is currently in Germany where he is recovering from the poisoning .
He has said he plans to return home an undisclosed date .
The European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and travel bans against six senior Russian officials believed to be responsible for the Navalny poisoning , as well as one entity involved in the program that has produced a group of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok .
With reporting by Current Time , Reuters and AFP

Russian law enforcement agencies have opened a criminal case against Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer for the outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and took her in for questioning, the head of the foundation said on December 25.
FBK Director Ivan Zhdanov said on Twitter that investigators launched a probe into Sobol for trespassing "with the use of violence or a threat to use it" after she rang the doorbell of an agent who has implicated the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the poisoning of the 44-year-old Kremlin critic.
Sobol's lawyer Vladimir Voronin told the AFP news agency that the opposition lawyer was currently a witness in the probe but added that he expected Sobol to be charged later on December 25.
There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities.
Earlier on December 25, police raided Sobol’s apartment and took away her computers and phones, Navalny’s supporters said.
"Lyubov Sobol was taken for questioning to the Investigative Committee. The apartment is being searched," the foundation said on Twitter on December 25.
Sobol posted a video on Twitter from inside her apartment before going incommunicado. In the video, her seven-year-old daughter can be heard crying as someone pounds on the front door, demanding it be opened.
"They knock on the door and say the police are here. Apparently, the search will be at my home. I've never had a personal search before. Well, everything happens for the first time. Apparently, because I recently went to Navalny's poisoner, " Sobol says in the video.
Separate CCTV image released by Navalny's allies shows masked men in black uniforms inside Sobol's Moscow residential building.
Sobol was among journalists and political activists who tried to meet with Konstantin Kudryavtsev late in the evening on December 21, the day Navalny published an audio-recording of what appears to be a conversation with Kudryavtsev over the FSB's role in the poisoning.
She was briefly detained at a police station.
Sobol's lawyer said the probe had been launched following a complaint from Kudryavtsev's mother-in-law.
Navalny said the Russian authorities' "hysterical reaction" only proved their guilt.
"You call a killer's doorbell -- they break down your door and take you in for questioning," Navalny wrote on his blog on December 25.
Laboratory tests in three separate European countries, confirmed by the global chemical weapons watchdog, established that Navalny was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent.
Russia has rejected calls for an investigation into the poisoning, and denies the involvement of state agents in the case, saying it has yet to be shown any evidence.
Navalny is currently in Germany where he is recovering from the poisoning. He has said he plans to return home an undisclosed date.
The European Union and Britain have imposed asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials believed to be responsible for the Navalny poisoning, as well as one entity involved in the program that has produced a group of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok.
With reporting by Current Time, Reuters and AFP


rferl--2020-12-25--Iran Says It Won Approval From U.S. To Transfer Money To Buy COVID Vaccines

Iran has won approval from the United States to use foreign currency reserves it holds abroad to buy coronavirus vaccines despite U.S. sanctions on Iranian banks , the central bank chief said on December 24 .
Abdolnaser Hemmati said the U.S. Treasury Department 's Office of Foreign Assets Control approved the transfer to a Swiss bank .
Hemmati said Iran would pay around $ 244 million for initial imports of 16.8 million doses of vaccines from COVAX , a global COVID-19 vaccine allocation plan led by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) .
Iranian officials have said that U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVAX .
`` They ( Americans ) have put sanctions on all our banks .
They accepted this one case under the pressure of world public opinion , '' Hemmati told Iranian state TV .
Earlier on December 24 , Hemmati described the approval of the transfer in an Instagram post that did not give further details of the payment mechanism or the vaccine supplier .
There was no confirmation from the U.S. Treasury Department .
Iran ’ s death toll from COVID-19 is more than 54,000 and it is the worst-affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari told state TV earlier that 152 people had died of COVID-19 in Iran in the previous 24 hours .
While that is the lowest number since September 18 , officials have cautioned that there is a danger of a resurgence in infections .
Based on reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg

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--2020-12-25--Moldova's New Pro-EU President Pledges To Be 'Honest And Transparent'

Maia Sandu has been sworn in as the new president of Moldova , pledging in her inauguration speech on December 24 to be an “ honest and transparent ” president of “ all Moldovans.
” Sandu , a Harvard-educated former World Bank economist who favors closer ties to the European Union and the United States , was elected last month after a clear runoff victory against Russia-backed Igor Dodon .
She promised during her presidential campaign to battle endemic corruption in Moldova , one of Europe 's poorest countries .
During the inauguration ceremony , Sandu , 48 , cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s economic crisis as her priorities and promised to appoint a team of experts to tackle the issues .
Sandu has presented closer integration with the EU as a way out of the economic crisis .
`` We need to get the vaccine as soon as possible , '' said Sandu , referring to the COVID-19 vaccines that are already being deployed in some countries .
She also spoke about the modernization of the health system , which she said showed its limitations during the pandemic , and pledged to pursue a pro-European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy.
” U.S. State Department spokesman Cale Brown congratulated Sandu , the first female president of Moldova , on her “ historic ” inauguration on Twitter .
“ We look forward to working with you to strengthen Moldova ’ s sovereignty and territorial integrity , advance the rule of law , democratic reform , and greater economic prosperity , ” Brown said .
Thousands of Sandu 's supporters greeted her outside the Palace of the Republic in the capital , Chisinau , after the ceremony , chanting `` Maia Sandu and the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ! ''
She previously served as prime minister for several months during Dodon 's term before being ousted in a vote of no confidence last year .
On December 23 , Prime Minister Ion Chicu and his government resigned in a move to help push the country toward early elections .
In her inauguration speech , Sandu said that snap legislative elections are the `` only way to cleanse parliament and restore justice in our country . ''
Earlier this month around 20,000 protesters took to the streets in Chisinau to demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferring control of the country 's intelligence agency from the president to parliament .
The move was seen as a way to boost the power of parliament , where pro-Moscow Socialists aligned with Dodon hold a razor-thin one-seat majority in the 101-seat legislature .
The November presidential election was seen as a referendum on two divergent visions for the future of the Eastern European country of 3.5 million people that is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania .
Since the election Sandu has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova 's Moscow-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin to warn it could lead to `` serious destabilization.
” Sandu is expected to nominate a new prime minister after consulting with the outgoing parliament .
Since the prime minister has resigned , she can dissolve parliament if there are two failed attempts to find a successor .

Maia Sandu has been sworn in as the new president of Moldova, pledging in her inauguration speech on December 24 to be an “honest and transparent” president of “all Moldovans.”
Sandu, a Harvard-educated former World Bank economist who favors closer ties to the European Union and the United States, was elected last month after a clear runoff victory against Russia-backed Igor Dodon.
She promised during her presidential campaign to battle endemic corruption in Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries.
During the inauguration ceremony, Sandu, 48, cited the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s economic crisis as her priorities and promised to appoint a team of experts to tackle the issues. Sandu has presented closer integration with the EU as a way out of the economic crisis.
"We need to get the vaccine as soon as possible," said Sandu, referring to the COVID-19 vaccines that are already being deployed in some countries.
She also spoke about the modernization of the health system, which she said showed its limitations during the pandemic, and pledged to pursue a pro-European foreign policy “that would support domestic policy.”
U.S. State Department spokesman Cale Brown congratulated Sandu, the first female president of Moldova, on her “historic” inauguration on Twitter.
“We look forward to working with you to strengthen Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, advance the rule of law, democratic reform, and greater economic prosperity,” Brown said.
Thousands of Sandu's supporters greeted her outside the Palace of the Republic in the capital, Chisinau, after the ceremony, chanting "Maia Sandu and the people!" and "The people love you!"
She previously served as prime minister for several months during Dodon's term before being ousted in a vote of no confidence last year.
On December 23, Prime Minister Ion Chicu and his government resigned in a move to help push the country toward early elections.
In her inauguration speech, Sandu said that snap legislative elections are the "only way to cleanse parliament and restore justice in our country."
Earlier this month around 20,000 protesters took to the streets in Chisinau to demand early elections after lawmakers passed a bill transferring control of the country's intelligence agency from the president to parliament.
The move was seen as a way to boost the power of parliament, where pro-Moscow Socialists aligned with Dodon hold a razor-thin one-seat majority in the 101-seat legislature.
The November presidential election was seen as a referendum on two divergent visions for the future of the Eastern European country of 3.5 million people that is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.
Since the election Sandu has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova's Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester, prompting the Kremlin to warn it could lead to "serious destabilization.”
Sandu is expected to nominate a new prime minister after consulting with the outgoing parliament.
Since the prime minister has resigned, she can dissolve parliament if there are two failed attempts to find a successor.
With reporting by AFP


rferl--2020-12-25--Armenia's Embattled PM Broaches Snap Elections

Armenia ’ s beleaguered prime minister has for the first time signaled a willingness to hold early parliamentary elections as opposition groups mount pressure for his resignation over the handling of a six-week war with Azerbaijan .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on December 25 again rejected calls to step down but offered to negotiate with Armenia ’ s leading political groups about holding snap elections sometime in 2021 .
`` I invite the parliamentary and interested nonparliamentary forces to take part in consultations on 2021 snap parliamentary elections , '' the prime minister wrote on Facebook .
`` I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only if the people decide so , '' he said .
`` Should the people reaffirm their trust I am also ready to continue leading the Republic of Armenia in these difficult times .
There is only one way to answer these questions : by holding pre-term parliamentary elections . ''
Pashinian , who swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018 , has come under fire since agreeing to a Moscow-brokered deal with Azerbaijan that took effect on November 10 , ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces suffer battlefield defeat .
A coalition uniting 16 opposition parties has been holding anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and other parts of the country in a bid to force Pashinian to hand over power to an interim government .
Opposition forces want their joint candidate , Vazgen Manukian , to become transitional prime minister to oversee fresh elections .
In showing a willingness to hold early elections , Pashinian is trying to ease political tensions while ensuring he would be the one overseeing the electoral process , something the opposition rejects out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite facing a united opposition front , Pashinian ’ s My Step bloc maintains an overwhelming majority in parliament .
In his message , Pashinian said the opposition campaign has failed to win popular support and that it is fizzling out on the streets .
The prime minister has for weeks dismissed the protests as a revolt by the country ’ s traditional `` elites '' who lost their `` privileges '' after he swept to power in 2018 .
Under the Moscow-brokered cease-fire , a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration after almost 30 years of control by Armenians .
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region 's population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They had been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region and seven adjacent districts in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .

Armenia’s beleaguered prime minister has for the first time signaled a willingness to hold early parliamentary elections as opposition groups mount pressure for his resignation over the handling of a six-week war with Azerbaijan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on December 25 again rejected calls to step down but offered to negotiate with Armenia’s leading political groups about holding snap elections sometime in 2021.
"I invite the parliamentary and interested nonparliamentary forces to take part in consultations on 2021 snap parliamentary elections," the prime minister wrote on Facebook.
"I can give up the post of prime minister only if the people decide so," he said. "Should the people reaffirm their trust I am also ready to continue leading the Republic of Armenia in these difficult times. There is only one way to answer these questions: by holding pre-term parliamentary elections."
Pashinian, who swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018, has come under fire since agreeing to a Moscow-brokered deal with Azerbaijan that took effect on November 10, ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh that saw ethnic Armenian forces suffer battlefield defeat.
A coalition uniting 16 opposition parties has been holding anti-government demonstrations in Yerevan and other parts of the country in a bid to force Pashinian to hand over power to an interim government.
Opposition forces want their joint candidate, Vazgen Manukian, to become transitional prime minister to oversee fresh elections.
In showing a willingness to hold early elections, Pashinian is trying to ease political tensions while ensuring he would be the one overseeing the electoral process, something the opposition rejects out of concern that a vote may be unfair.
Despite facing a united opposition front, Pashinian’s My Step bloc maintains an overwhelming majority in parliament.
In his message, Pashinian said the opposition campaign has failed to win popular support and that it is fizzling out on the streets.
The prime minister has for weeks dismissed the protests as a revolt by the country’s traditional "elites" who lost their "privileges" after he swept to power in 2018.
Under the Moscow-brokered cease-fire, a chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by Armenians.
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population reject Azerbaijani rule.
They had been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region and seven adjacent districts in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.


rferl--2020-12-25--Several Detained At Trial Of Russian Mathematician Who Claims He Was Tortured

A mathematician at the center of a high-profile trial in Russia gave a final statement to a Moscow court on December 25 as police detained journalists and activists gathered outside .
Azat Miftakhov , a self-declared anarchist who says he was tortured in custody , thanked those who have supported him through the ordeal as he faces up to six years in prison on hooliganism charges when a verdict is announced on January 11 .
Outside the court , police detained almost 20 people who had come out to support the 25-year-old postgraduate mathematics student at Moscow State University .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a correspondent from RFE/RL 's Tatar-Bashkir service who had media accreditation to cover the trial .
After being released from detention , the RFE/RL journalist was changed with `` participating in a gathering not authorized by authorities . ''
Miftakhov ’ s case has garnered interest in Russia and abroad since he was arrested in February 2019 and accused of helping to make an improvised bomb found in the city of Balashikha near Moscow .
The Public Monitoring Commission , a human rights group , has said that Miftakhov 's body bore the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed were the result of investigators unsuccessfully attempting to force him to confess to the bomb-making charge .
Others who were detained along with Miftakhov , but later released , have also claimed to have been beaten by the police .
Miftakhov was released shortly after the initial charge failed to hold , but he was rearrested immediately and charged with involvement in an arson attack on the ruling United Russia party 's office in Moscow in January 2018 .
A prominent Russian human rights organization , Memorial , has declared Miftakhov a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding Miftakhov 's immediate release have been held in Moscow and other cities in Russia since his arrest .
To protest the treatment of Miftakhov and the overall human rights situation in Russia , a group of mathematicians this week called for a boycott of the International Congress of Mathematicians to be hosted in 2022 in Saint Petersburg .

A mathematician at the center of a high-profile trial in Russia gave a final statement to a Moscow court on December 25 as police detained journalists and activists gathered outside.
Azat Miftakhov, a self-declared anarchist who says he was tortured in custody, thanked those who have supported him through the ordeal as he faces up to six years in prison on hooliganism charges when a verdict is announced on January 11.
Outside the court, police detained almost 20 people who had come out to support the 25-year-old postgraduate mathematics student at Moscow State University.
Among those detained were journalists, including a correspondent from RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir service who had media accreditation to cover the trial.
After being released from detention, the RFE/RL journalist was charged with "participating in a gathering not authorized by authorities."
Miftakhov’s case has garnered interest in Russia and abroad since he was arrested in February 2019 and accused of helping to make an improvised bomb found in the city of Balashikha near Moscow.
The Public Monitoring Commission, a human rights group, has said that Miftakhov's body bore the signs of torture, which the student claimed were the result of investigators unsuccessfully attempting to force him to confess to the bomb-making charge. Others who were detained along with Miftakhov, but later released, have also claimed to have been beaten by the police.
Miftakhov was released shortly after the initial charge failed to hold, but he was rearrested immediately and charged with involvement in an arson attack on the ruling United Russia party's office in Moscow in January 2018.
A prominent Russian human rights organization, Memorial, has declared Miftakhov a political prisoner.
A series of demonstrations demanding Miftakhov's immediate release have been held in Moscow and other cities in Russia since his arrest.
To protest the treatment of Miftakhov and the overall human rights situation in Russia, a group of mathematicians this week called for a boycott of the International Congress of Mathematicians to be hosted in 2022 in Saint Petersburg.


rferl--2020-12-25--Top Belarus Diplomat, New Ambassador To U.S. Dies

A top Belarusian diplomat who had been appointed the first ambassador to the United States in nearly 12 years has died .
Deputy Foreign Minister Aleh Krauchanka died suddenly on December 25 , Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatol Hlaz told journalists .
He did not provide a cause of death for the 49-year-old .
Krauchanka had not yet taken up his post in Washington and was still in Belarus when he died , he said .
The career diplomat was one of the top officials dealing with relations with the United States , having served as charge d ’ affaires to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Americas department for nearly a decade before being appointed as deputy foreign minister in 2017 .
Krauchanka was appointed ambassador to the United States in July amid signs of a rapprochement between Minsk and Washington .
But that nascent warming of relations has since cooled due to a brutal crackdown on protesters in the wake of the contested August reelection of Belarus strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
The United States , the European Union , and several other countries have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the vote and imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing election irregularities and the police crackdown .
The United States recalled its ambassador to Minsk in 2008 when Lukashenka ordered a reduction of U.S. diplomatic staff in the country after Washington imposed sanctions in response to human rights abuses and a political crackdown around the 2006 Belarusian presidential election .
Both countries ' embassies have been represented at the charges d'affaires level , but the two sides in 2019 agreed to exchange ambassadors for the first time since 2008 .
Earlier this month , the U.S. Senate approved Julie Fisher , deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Union , as the new U.S. ambassador to Belarus .

A top Belarusian diplomat who had been appointed the first ambassador to the United States in nearly 12 years has died.
Deputy Foreign Minister Aleh Krauchanka died suddenly on December 25, Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatol Hlaz told journalists. He did not provide a cause of death for the 49-year-old.
Krauchanka had not yet taken up his post in Washington and was still in Belarus when he died, he said.
The career diplomat was one of the top officials dealing with relations with the United States, having served as charge d’affaires to Washington and head of the Foreign Ministry’s Americas department for nearly a decade before being appointed as deputy foreign minister in 2017.
Krauchanka was appointed ambassador to the United States in July amid signs of a rapprochement between Minsk and Washington.
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
But that nascent warming of relations has since cooled due to a brutal crackdown on protesters in the wake of the contested August reelection of Belarus strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The United States, the European Union, and several other countries have refused to acknowledge Lukashenka as the winner of the vote and imposed sanctions on Lukashenka and his allies, citing election irregularities and the police crackdown.
The United States recalled its ambassador to Minsk in 2008 when Lukashenka ordered a reduction of U.S. diplomatic staff in the country after Washington imposed sanctions in response to human rights abuses and a political crackdown around the 2006 Belarusian presidential election.
Both countries' embassies have been represented at the charges d'affaires level, but the two sides in 2019 agreed to exchange ambassadors for the first time since 2008.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate approved Julie Fisher, deputy assistant secretary for Western Europe and the European Union, as the new U.S. ambassador to Belarus.


rferl--2020-12-25--Contractors Face Court For Uzbekistan Dam Disaster

The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan on December 25 began to consider a criminal case against eight people accused of negligence and safety violations in a major dam burst earlier this year .
The earth-filled dam at Sardoba Reservoir in eastern Uzbekistan collapsed in May , causing flooding in both Uzbekistan and neighboring Kazakhstan that killed six people and forced the evacuation of 70,000 residents .
The Sardoba Reservoir was completed in 2017 , after seven years of construction work that began under the supervision of current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev , who was prime minister at the time .
The case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the head of the Tupalang canals , Bakhshullo Asadov .
He and contractors from Uzbekistan ’ s national rail company are accused of forgery , negligence , and violating construction laws .
RFE/RL ’ s Uzbek Service reported that for unclear reasons the trial is being held behind closed doors .
Under the law , all criminal proceedings must be open to the public unless the case involves state secrets or a sexual crime .
The trial against the contractors , which began on December 21 , was separated from another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October , the head of the Anti-Corruption Agency said that 17 people are accused of crimes related to the dam burst .

The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan on December 25 began to consider a criminal case against eight people accused of negligence and safety violations in a major dam burst earlier this year.
The earth-filled dam at Sardoba Reservoir in eastern Uzbekistan collapsed in May, causing flooding in both Uzbekistan and neighboring Kazakhstan that killed six people and forced the evacuation of 70,000 residents.
The Sardoba Reservoir was completed in 2017, after seven years of construction work that began under the supervision of current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was prime minister at the time.
The case before the Supreme Court involves eight contractors, including the head of the Tupalang canals, Bakhshullo Asadov. He and contractors from Uzbekistan’s national rail company are accused of forgery, negligence, and violating construction laws.
RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported that for unclear reasons the trial is being held behind closed doors. Under the law, all criminal proceedings must be open to the public unless the case involves state secrets or a sexual crime.
The trial against the contractors, which began on December 21, was separated from another part of the criminal procedure.
In October, the head of the Anti-Corruption Agency said that 17 people are accused of crimes related to the dam burst.