rferl--2020-11-09--Kazakh President Orders Ministers To Work On Latin-Based Alphabet

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has ordered a new variation of the Kazakh-language alphabet based on Latin letters that would replace the current alphabet based on Cyrillic by 2025 .
According to the Kazakh presidential press service , Toqaev asked Culture Minister Aqtoty Raiymqulova and Education Minister Askhat Aimaghambetov to work with experts on the alphabet and present their work to a national commission working on the issue .
In April 2017 , then President Nursultan Nazarbaev announced that all publications , documents , and street signs in Kazakhstan will switch from a Cyrillic-based alphabet to a Latin-based alphabet by 2025 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in October 2017 .
The move has been seen as an effort to emphasize Kazakh culture and distance the country from Russia and the Soviet era .
At least two variants of the new Latin-based alphabets have been proposed by experts , but neither has been approved so far .
Since becoming president after Nazarbaev 's resignation in March last year , Toqaev has said that more work was needed to develop an appropriate Latin-based alphabet for Kazakh , which belongs to the Turkic linguistic stem .
In 1929 , Soviet authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities in the Soviet Union with Latin-based national alphabets .
In 1940 , the Latin alphabet was replaced with Cyrillic , the alphabet used in Russian .

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has ordered a new variation of the Kazakh-language alphabet based on Latin letters that would replace the current alphabet based on Cyrillic by 2025.
According to the Kazakh presidential press service, Toqaev asked Culture Minister Aqtoty Raiymqulova and Education Minister Askhat Aimaghambetov to work with experts on the alphabet and present their work to a national commission working on the issue.
In April 2017, then President Nursultan Nazarbaev announced that all publications, documents, and street signs in Kazakhstan will switch from a Cyrillic-based alphabet to a Latin-based alphabet by 2025.
Nazarbaev signed a decree on the change in October 2017.
The move has been seen as an effort to emphasize Kazakh culture and distance the country from Russia and the Soviet era.
At least two variants of the new Latin-based alphabets have been proposed by experts, but neither has been approved so far.
Since becoming president after Nazarbaev's resignation in March last year, Toqaev has said that more work was needed to develop an appropriate Latin-based alphabet for Kazakh, which belongs to the Turkic linguistic stem.
In 1929, Soviet authorities replaced traditional Arabic-based alphabets used by Muslim minorities in the Soviet Union with Latin-based national alphabets.
In 1940, the Latin alphabet was replaced with Cyrillic, the alphabet used in Russian.


rferl--2020-11-09--Ukraine's President, Chief Of President's Office Contract Coronavirus

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has tested positive for coronavirus , the presidential office said on November 9 .
`` Unfortunately , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has tested positive for the coronavirus infection , '' his office said in a statement on Facebook .
`` The head of state is feeling well and will continue to perform his duties remotely in self-isolation , '' the statement said .
Minutes later , the head of the Ukrainian presidential office , Andriy Yermak , also announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus .
`` I have a positive test for coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on Facebook .
Earlier in the day , Zelenskiy had said Ukraine may introduce a lockdown at weekends in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus and such a move would not have a serious negative impact on the economy .
`` A temporary lockdown at weekends , for about a few weeks , can help us to avoid a harder lockdown , '' presidential press service quoted Zelenskiy as saying .
Ukraine recorded 8,687 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours , the country ’ s Health Minister Maksym Stepanov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine has a total of 460,331 confirmed cases and 8,450 fatalities .
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has tested positive for coronavirus, the presidential office said on November 9.
"Unfortunately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has tested positive for the coronavirus infection," his office said in a statement on Facebook.
"The head of state is feeling well and will continue to perform his duties remotely in self-isolation," the statement said.
Minutes later, the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, also announced that he has tested positive for coronavirus.
"I have a positive test for coronavirus, but I feel fine," Yermak said on Facebook.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskiy had said Ukraine may introduce a lockdown at weekends in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus and such a move would not have a serious negative impact on the economy.
"A temporary lockdown at weekends, for about a few weeks, can help us to avoid a harder lockdown," presidential press service quoted Zelenskiy as saying.
Ukraine recorded 8,687 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the country’s Health Minister Maksym Stepanov wrote on Facebook on November 9.
Ukraine has a total of 460,331 confirmed cases and 8,450 fatalities.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP


rferl--2020-11-09--Hungary Tightens Coronavirus Curbs Amid Jump In Infections

BUDAPEST -- The Hungarian government has announced the country 's strictest anti-coronavirus measures to date after the authorities reported record-breaking hospitalizations and deaths cause by COVID-19 .
In a video posted on Facebook on November 9 , Prime Minister Viktor Orban said a general curfew would be imposed nationwide between 8 p.m and 5 a.m. and apply to everyone except those going to work .
Staring midnight on November 10 , businesses will also have to close at 7 p.m. , while restaurants will be limited to takeaway and home delivery , sporting events will be held without fans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be limited to 10 people , Orban said .
Preschools , kindergartens , and classes for children up to 14 years old will remain open , but universities and high schools will move to distance learning .
The new restrictions are to remain in place for at least 30 days .
Health authorities reported 5,162 new cases and 55 deaths on November 9 , bringing the country 's total to more than 114,000 infections and nearly 3,000 fatalities .
`` If coronavirus infections rise at the current pace ... Hungarian hospitals will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burden , '' Orban said in his video address .
With reporting by AP , Reuters , and dpa

BUDAPEST -- The Hungarian government has announced the country's strictest anti-coronavirus measures to date after the authorities reported record-breaking hospitalizations and deaths cause by COVID-19.
In a video posted on Facebook on November 9, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said a general curfew would be imposed nationwide between 8 p.m and 5 a.m. and apply to everyone except those going to work.
Staring midnight on November 10, businesses will also have to close at 7 p.m., while restaurants will be limited to takeaway and home delivery, sporting events will be held without fans, and family gatherings and other private events will be limited to 10 people, Orban said.
Preschools, kindergartens, and classes for children up to 14 years old will remain open, but universities and high schools will move to distance learning.
The new restrictions are to remain in place for at least 30 days.
Health authorities reported 5,162 new cases and 55 deaths on November 9, bringing the country's total to more than 114,000 infections and nearly 3,000 fatalities.
"If coronavirus infections rise at the current pace...Hungarian hospitals will not be able to cope with the burden," Orban said in his video address.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa


rferl--2020-11-09--Stuck Tajik Foreign University Students Complain They're Unable To Study Online

DUSHANBE -- Tajik students of foreign universities who have been prevented from leaving the Central Asian country due to travel @ @ @ @ @ spread of the coronavirus are pleading the authorities for help .
Some 20 students gathered @ @ @ @ @ Ministry in Dushanbe on November 9 urging the authorities to find a way for them @ @ @ @ @ other countries for their studies .
Ministry officials met with the students and told them @ @ @ @ @ with the authorities of the countries where their universities are located .
The students told @ @ @ @ @ to study online properly because Internet connections in Tajikistan are too slow and too expensive @ @ @ @ @ electricity outages .
Tens of thousands of Tajiks are studying at foreign university every year @ @ @ @ @ them are enrolled at universities of Russia , China , Belarus , Kazakhstan , and @ @

DUSHANBE -- Tajik students of foreign universities who have been prevented from leaving the Central Asian country due to travel restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the coronavirus are pleading the authorities for help.
Some 20 students gathered in front of the Foreign Ministry in Dushanbe on November 9 urging the authorities to find a way for them to travel to Russia and other countries for their studies.
Ministry officials met with the students and told them the matter was being discussed with the authorities of the countries where their universities are located.
The students told RFE/RL that they were unable to study online properly because Internet connections in Tajikistan are too slow and too expensive.
They also cited frequent electricity outages.
Tens of thousands of Tajiks are studying at foreign university every year. The vast majority of them are enrolled at universities of Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.


rferl--2020-11-09--Azerbaijani Military Takes Over Key Town In Nagorno-Karabakh

BAKU/YEREVAN -- Officials from the de facto government in the breakaway area of Nagorno-Karabakh have confirmed that Azerbaijani forces have taken control of the strategic town of Shushi amid heavy fighting and reports forces are approaching the region ’ s capital , Stepanakert .
`` Today , unfortunately , we have to accept that a chain of unlucky events has followed us for days and the city of Shushi is completely out of our control , '' Vahram Poghosian , a spokesman for the leader of the unrecognized republic 's de facto government , said on November 9 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aliyev on November 8 that his country ’ s forces had taken Shushi , the second-largest settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh .
That announcement had sent many people into the streets of Baku , Azerbaijan 's capital , to celebrate .
However , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian , in a message on Facebook , later said that `` the fighting for Shushi continues , '' without elaborating .
Surrounded by sheer cliffs , Shushi ( known as Susa in Azeri ) is seen as a strategic point for Azerbaijani forces to launch attacks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC that Yerevan 's `` opportunities to compromise are shrinking '' and said he saw no possibility of peace talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
Shushi 's population was mainly Azerbaijani before the 1991-94 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant to both sides .
Several thousand people are feared killed in the latest flare-up of the conflict over territory .
Three cease-fires have failed in the past six weeks and Azerbaijan 's superior weaponry and battlefield gains have reduced its incentive to seek a lasting peace deal .
Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s de facto Defense Ministry said it had recorded another 44 casualties among its forces , pushing its military death toll to 1,221 since fighting with the Azerbaijani military erupted on September 27 .
Azerbaijan has not released any military casualty figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia , France , and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992 .
Diplomats appeared to ramp up efforts over the weekend , with Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking separately on November 7 to his Turkish and French counterparts , Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emmanuel Macron , respectively .
CNN Turk quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Erdogan proposed that Putin create a new working group to try settle the conflict .
On November 9 , Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh has raised fears of a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey , which is an ally of Azerbaijan , and Russia , which has a military pact with Armenia .
With reporting by CNN Turk , the BBC , and Interfax

BAKU/YEREVAN -- Officials from the de facto government in the breakaway area of Nagorno-Karabakh have confirmed that Azerbaijani forces have taken control of the strategic town of Shushi amid heavy fighting and reports forces are approaching the region’s capital, Stepanakert.
"Today, unfortunately, we have to accept that a chain of unlucky events has followed us for days and the city of Shushi is completely out of our control," Vahram Poghosian, a spokesman for the leader of the unrecognized republic's de facto government, said on November 9.
The statement confirms comments by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on November 8 that his country’s forces had taken Shushi, the second-largest settlement in Nagorno-Karabakh. That announcement had sent many people into the streets of Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, to celebrate.
However, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, in a message on Facebook, later said that "the fighting for Shushi continues," without elaborating.
Surrounded by sheer cliffs, Shushi (known as Susa in Azeri) is seen as a strategic point for Azerbaijani forces to launch attacks on Stepanakert.
Earlier, Aliyev told the BBC that Yerevan's "opportunities to compromise are shrinking" and said he saw no possibility of peace talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
Shushi's population was mainly Azerbaijani before the 1991-94 war, but the town is culturally significant to both sides.
Several thousand people are feared killed in the latest flare-up of the conflict over territory. Three cease-fires have failed in the past six weeks and Azerbaijan's superior weaponry and battlefield gains have reduced its incentive to seek a lasting peace deal.
Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto Defense Ministry said it had recorded another 44 casualties among its forces, pushing its military death toll to 1,221 since fighting with the Azerbaijani military erupted on September 27.
Azerbaijan has not released any military casualty figures.
Efforts to resolve the conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992.
Diplomats appeared to ramp up efforts over the weekend, with Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking separately on November 7 to his Turkish and French counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emmanuel Macron, respectively.
CNN Turk quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Erdogan proposed that Putin create a new working group to try settle the conflict.
On November 9, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the report.
The fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh has raised fears of a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey, which is an ally of Azerbaijan, and Russia, which has a military pact with Armenia.
With reporting by CNN Turk, the BBC, and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-09--Former Kosovar President Thaci Enters Plea Of 'Not Guilty' At War Crimes Court

Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has appeared for the first time before a war crimes court in The Hague to face charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from Kosovo ’ s war of independence more than 20 years ago .
A commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UCK ) during the 1998-1999 war , Thaci resigned as president on November 5 after learning the Kosovo Specialist Chambers ( KSC ) had confirmed an indictment against him .
Wearing a gray suit and red tie , Thaci , 52 , entered a plea of `` not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court , `` I do not agree '' with the war crime charges .
Thaci and two other former UCK members were transferred to the detention facilities of The Hague-based KSC later that day .
The former president , who has claimed innocence , has pledged to cooperate with the tribunal .
The KSC has said the initial appearance will be a public hearing .
“ During an initial appearance , the pretrial judge makes sure that the rights of the accused , including the right to legal representation , are respected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges against him or her , ” the court said in a statement .
The KSC and Specialist Prosecutor 's Office ( SPO ) is a court of Kosovo , located in The Hague , hosting four Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor 's Office .
The SPO in June accused Thaci and other suspects of being `` criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders , '' as well as the `` enforced disappearance of persons , persecution , and torture . ''
The alleged crimes involved `` hundreds of known victims of Kosovo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other ethnicities and include political opponents , '' according to the SPO .
The KSC is mandated to look into allegations that members of the UCK committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war to gain independence from Serbia .
It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation .
Kosovo 's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead .
Most of them were ethnic Albanians from Kosovo .
More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for .
The fighting ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serbia .
Kosovo , which has a largely ethnic Albanian population , declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China .
Two other former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UCK ) were transferred to the detention facilities of the KSC on November 5 .
They are Kadri Veseli , a former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and Rexhep Selimi , a Kosovar lawmaker and former UCK member .
Jakup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former guerrilla commander , was taken into custody on November 4 and taken to The Hague .
Krasniqi pleaded not guilty to the charges when he made his first appearance at the court on November 9 .
`` I do not feel guilty or responsible for any count stated in the indictment and for anything else stated in the indictment , '' he told the pretrial judge .
Information about the date of the appearances of Veseli and Selimi is to be announced later .
Salih Mustafa , one of the founders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferred to The Hague to face similar charges .
Two more suspects , Nesim Haradinaj and Hysen Gucati , are also in detention in the Dutch city , but their indictments have yet to be confirmed .

Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has appeared for the first time before a war crimes court in The Hague to face charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from Kosovo’s war of independence more than 20 years ago.
A commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) during the 1998-1999 war, Thaci resigned as president on November 5 after learning the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) had confirmed an indictment against him.
Wearing a gray suit and red tie, Thaci, 52, entered a plea of "not guilty" on November 9 and told the court, "I do not agree" with the war crime charges.
Thaci and two other former UCK members were transferred to the detention facilities of The Hague-based KSC later that day.
The former president, who has claimed innocence, has pledged to cooperate with the tribunal.
The KSC has said the initial appearance will be a public hearing.
“During an initial appearance, the pretrial judge makes sure that the rights of the accused, including the right to legal representation, are respected, and that the accused understands the charges against him or her,” the court said in a statement.
The KSC and Specialist Prosecutor's Office (SPO) is a court of Kosovo, located in The Hague, hosting four Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office.
The SPO in June accused Thaci and other suspects of being "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders," as well as the "enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture."
The alleged crimes involved "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents," according to the SPO.
The KSC is mandated to look into allegations that members of the UCK committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the war to gain independence from Serbia.
It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation.
Kosovo's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead. Most of them were ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for. The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbia.
Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China.
Two other former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) were transferred to the detention facilities of the KSC on November 5.
They are Kadri Veseli, a former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and Rexhep Selimi, a Kosovar lawmaker and former UCK member.
Jakup Krasniqi, also an ex-speaker of parliament and former guerrilla commander, was taken into custody on November 4 and taken to The Hague.
Krasniqi pleaded not guilty to the charges when he made his first appearance at the court on November 9.
"I do not feel guilty or responsible for any count stated in the indictment and for anything else stated in the indictment," he told the pretrial judge.
Information about the date of the appearances of Veseli and Selimi is to be announced later.
Salih Mustafa, one of the founders of the UCK, had already been transferred to The Hague to face similar charges.
Two more suspects, Nesim Haradinaj and Hysen Gucati, are also in detention in the Dutch city, but their indictments have yet to be confirmed.
With reporting by RFE/RL’s Balkan Service


rferl--2020-11-10--Belarusian Nuclear Plant Stops Electricity Output Three Days After Opening Ceremony

MINSK -- Belarus 's only nuclear plant , near the Lithuanian border , has suspended electricity production just three days after authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka officially opened it , boasting that his country `` will become a nuclear power . ''
An official from the nuclear plant said on November 10 that the facility 's output had been stopped after the Energy Ministry said a day earlier that unspecified equipment must be replaced before any resumption of electricity production .
The Tut.by online outlet quoted a source close to energy officials as saying that operations at the nuclear plant were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to the source , the situation is under control , there were no casualties , and no radiation abnormalities were registered at the plant .
On November 7 , when opening the nuclear plant near the western city of Astravets , Lukashenka called the facility `` a new step into the future , toward ensuring the energy security of the state . ''
Built by Russian state-owned firm Rosatom and financed by Moscow with a $ 10 billion loan , the construction of the power plant in the Hrodna region was opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is just 50 kilometers away .
Astravets draws water for its cooling reactors from the Nevis River , which is also a source of drinking water in Lithuania .
Belarus began operating the plant last week , prompting Lithuania to halt electricity imports from its neighbor .
The plant 's construction has also been divisive among Belarusians , who suffered greatly as a result of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster .
Belarus saw a quarter of its territory contaminated in the world 's worst civilian nuclear accident .
With reporting by Interfax @ @

MINSK -- Belarus's only nuclear plant, near the Lithuanian border, has suspended electricity production just three days after authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka officially opened it, boasting that his country "will become a nuclear power."
An official from the nuclear plant said on November 10 that the facility's output had been stopped after the Energy Ministry said a day earlier that unspecified equipment must be replaced before any resumption of electricity production.
The Tut.by online outlet quoted a source close to energy officials as saying that operations at the nuclear plant were suspended after several voltage transformers exploded.
According to the source, the situation is under control, there were no casualties, and no radiation abnormalities were registered at the plant.
On November 7, when opening the nuclear plant near the western city of Astravets, Lukashenka called the facility "a new step into the future, toward ensuring the energy security of the state."
Built by Russian state-owned firm Rosatom and financed by Moscow with a $10 billion loan, the construction of the power plant in the Hrodna region was opposed by Lithuania, whose capital, Vilnius, is just 50 kilometers away.
Astravets draws water for its cooling reactors from the Nevis River, which is also a source of drinking water in Lithuania.
Belarus began operating the plant last week, prompting Lithuania to halt electricity imports from its neighbor.
The plant's construction has also been divisive among Belarusians, who suffered greatly as a result of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Belarus saw a quarter of its territory contaminated in the world's worst civilian nuclear accident.
With reporting by Interfax and tut.by


rferl--2020-11-10--Exclusive: Slain Money Launderer Feared Retribution From Ex-Kyrgyz Official Before Murder, Leaked Po

Exclusive: Slain Money Launderer Feared Retribution From Ex-Kyrgyz Official Before Murder, Leaked Police Records Show

A former Kyrgyz-based money launderer said before his murder in Istanbul last year that a senior Kyrgyz ex-official and a secretive tycoon would be responsible if anything happened to him , according to a new RFE/RL investigation .
The report by RFE/RL and partners was published on November 10 , the one-year anniversary of the murder of Aierken Saimaiti , an Uyghur businessman who funneled hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan .
Prior to his killing , Saimaiti gave reporters a trove of records showing how he laundered money for the benefit of Khabibula Abdukadyr , a Chinese-born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a sprawling business empire across Central Asia and beyond .
'His Murder Is Necessary ' : Man Who Exposed Kyrgyz Smuggling Scheme Was Hunted By Contract Killers The subsequent investigation by RFE/RL , the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project ( OCCRP ) , and Kloop , published less than two weeks after Saimaiti 's killing , revealed former Kyrgyz deputy customs chief Raimbek Matraimov as a central figure in a smuggling scheme involving Abudkadyr 's firms .
Now , records leaked from the Turkish investigation into Saimaiti ’ s killing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saimaiti told his wife shortly before the crime that Matraimov and Abdukadyr would be responsible should something happen to him .
`` He told me if something happens to him , I should tell all these events to the police , and that he would be killed by these people , '' Saimaiti ’ s widow , Wufuli Bumailiyamu , testified to Turkish police the day after his murder .
Matraimov , a wealthy and influential political player , was placed under house arrest on corruption charges under Kyrgyzstan ’ s new leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government amid disputed elections .
Istanbul police did not respond to a request for comment on whether they sought to question Matraimov or Abdukadyr .
In an e-mail to the investigative group , Matraimov denied he had any connection to Saimaiti or his killing .
Matraimov also claimed that while he has been in Istanbul since Saimaiti ’ s murder , he was never questioned by Turkish police .
Abdukadyr did not respond to a request for comment .
Turkish police have kept the murder investigation under tight wraps .
So far four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been arrested and charged in connection with Saimaiti ’ s killing .
The leaked records obtained by RFE/RL and partners include testimony from the alleged gunman , Abdullah Enver , who told police he was born in Kyrgyzstan .
During his interrogation , Enver told police that , while living with other Central Asians at a militant Islamist camp in Syria , a senior figure there promised him and an accomplice $ 100,000 in total to kill Saimaiti because he was an `` infidel . ''
A Turkish police official put forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing .
But Enver told police he did not know Saimaiti and carried out the crime for the money , the leaked record of his interrogation shows .
In June , a Kyrgyz parliamentary commission tasked with examining the circumstances of Saimaiti ’ s murder finalized a report that did not indicate a possible motive for the crime , or who might have ordered it .
Critics have accused the commission of failing to tackle the evidence of corruption revealed in the investigation by RFE/RL , OCCRP , and Kloop based on evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on independent reporting by the news organizations .

A former Kyrgyz-based money launderer said before his murder in Istanbul last year that a senior Kyrgyz ex-official and a secretive tycoon would be responsible if anything happened to him, according to a new RFE/RL investigation.
The report by RFE/RL and partners was published on November 10, the one-year anniversary of the murder of Aierken Saimaiti, an Uyghur businessman who funneled hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan.
Prior to his killing, Saimaiti gave reporters a trove of records showing how he laundered money for the benefit of Khabibula Abdukadyr, a Chinese-born Uyghur cargo magnate with a Kazakh passport and a sprawling business empire across Central Asia and beyond.
'His Murder Is Necessary': Man Who Exposed Kyrgyz Smuggling Scheme Was Hunted By Contract Killers
The subsequent investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and Kloop, published less than two weeks after Saimaiti's killing, revealed former Kyrgyz deputy customs chief Raimbek Matraimov as a central figure in a smuggling scheme involving Abudkadyr's firms.
Now, records leaked from the Turkish investigation into Saimaiti’s killing and obtained by the media partners show that Saimaiti told his wife shortly before the crime that Matraimov and Abdukadyr would be responsible should something happen to him.
"He told me if something happens to him, I should tell all these events to the police, and that he would be killed by these people," Saimaiti’s widow, Wufuli Bumailiyamu, testified to Turkish police the day after his murder.
Matraimov, a wealthy and influential political player, was placed under house arrest on corruption charges under Kyrgyzstan’s new leadership last month following the collapse of the government amid disputed elections.
Istanbul police did not respond to a request for comment on whether they sought to question Matraimov or Abdukadyr.
In an e-mail to the investigative group, Matraimov denied he had any connection to Saimaiti or his killing. Matraimov also claimed that while he has been in Istanbul since Saimaiti’s murder, he was never questioned by Turkish police.
Abdukadyr did not respond to a request for comment.
Turkish police have kept the murder investigation under tight wraps. So far four men, including the accused shooter, have been arrested and charged in connection with Saimaiti’s killing.
The leaked records obtained by RFE/RL and partners include testimony from the alleged gunman, Abdullah Enver, who told police he was born in Kyrgyzstan.
During his interrogation, Enver told police that, while living with other Central Asians at a militant Islamist camp in Syria, a senior figure there promised him and an accomplice $100,000 in total to kill Saimaiti because he was an "infidel."
A Turkish police official put forward this purported motive shortly after Saimaiti's killing. But Enver told police he did not know Saimaiti and carried out the crime for the money, the leaked record of his interrogation shows.
In June, a Kyrgyz parliamentary commission tasked with examining the circumstances of Saimaiti’s murder finalized a report that did not indicate a possible motive for the crime, or who might have ordered it.
Critics have accused the commission of failing to tackle the evidence of corruption revealed in the investigation by RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop based on evidence provided by Saimaiti, as well as on independent reporting by the news organizations.


rferl--2020-11-10--Well-Known Tajik Writer Bahmanyor Amini Dies At 66

DUSHANBE -- Well-known Tajik writer Bahmanyor Amini has died in Dushanbe at the age of 66 .
The Union of @ @ @ @ @ died in his apartment early in the morning on November 10 .
The cause of @ @ @ @ @ but the union 's Deputy Chairman Ato Mirkhoja said the writer had been dealing with @ @ @ @ @ .
Amini worked as a journalist for leading newspapers in Tajikistan in the 1970-80s .
@ @ @ @ @ served as a translator for Soviet officials in Libya in 1983-85 .
Amini was one @ @ @ @ @ whose novels did not correspond to the norms imposed by Soviet officials and his books @ @ @ @ @ early-1990s immediately made him popular .
His most popular novels , Hunter 's Love , @ @ @ @ @ Of Sorrow focused on the inner lives and emotional upheavals of his heroes , most @ @ @ @ @ the fictitious Sarmad Valley .
Amini is survived by his two daughters and two sons @

DUSHANBE -- Well-known Tajik writer Bahmanyor Amini has died in Dushanbe at the age of 66.
The Union of Writers of Tajikistan said Amini died in his apartment early in the morning on November 10.
The cause of death was not given, but the union's Deputy Chairman Ato Mirkhoja said the writer had been dealing with stomach problems in recent months.
Amini worked as a journalist for leading newspapers in Tajikistan in the 1970-80s. Fluent in Arabic, he served as a translator for Soviet officials in Libya in 1983-85.
Amini was one of the first Tajik writers whose novels did not correspond to the norms imposed by Soviet officials and his books published in the late-1980s and early-1990s immediately made him popular.
His most popular novels, Hunter's Love, Water Horse, and Smoke Of Sorrow focused on the inner lives and emotional upheavals of his heroes, most of whom were residents of the fictitious Sarmad Valley.
Amini is survived by his two daughters and two sons.


rferl--2020-11-10--Russian Peacekeepers Deploying To Nagorno-Karabakh After Truce As Political Crisis Hits Armenia

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Russian peacekeepers are on their way to Nagorno-Karabakh to be deployed as part of an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to halt six weeks of military conflict over the breakaway region .
The November 10 announcement of a Russia-brokered truce to end fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians in the enclave triggered celebrations in Azerbaijan but a political crisis in Armenia where angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament .
The move came after Azerbaijani forces made major battlefield gains , including reports that they were approaching Nagorno-Karabakh 's main city , Stepanakert , after taking the nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
Efforts to resolve the conflict by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) -- co-chaired by Russia , France , and the United States -- have not brought any results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since fighting broke out again on September 27 have failed to hold .
Pashinian first announced the trilateral agreement in a Facebook post , saying he had signed a statement with the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on the `` termination '' of the war as of 1 p.m. local time .
Pashinian said the deal , which includes the long-term deployment of Russian troops to the region , was `` the best possible solution for the current situation . ''
`` I made this decision as a result of an in-depth analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the people who know it best , '' Pashinian wrote .
Later in the day , Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said military actions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh had ceased completely .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believed the agreement `` will create [ the ] necessary conditions for a long-term and full-fledged settlement of the crisis around Nagorno-Karabakh on a fair basis and in the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people . ''
According to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev , the agreement amounted to a `` capitulation '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced him to sign this document , '' he said , referring to Pashinian .
Nagorno-Karabakh 's de facto ethnic-Armenian leader , Arayik Harutiunian , said he had agreed with Pashinian to end hostilities `` given the current dire situation '' and to avoid completely losing the separatist enclave .
Under the deal , Azerbaijan will keep territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas captured during the conflict .
It also calls for Armenian forces to hand over some areas it held outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh , including the eastern district of Agdam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenians will also forfeit the Lachin region , where a crucial road connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia .
The agreement calls for a 5-kilometer wide area in the so-called Lachin Corridor to remain open and be protected by a Russian force of 1,960 peacekeepers under a five-year mandate .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry said that Russian military transport planes carrying military personnel and equipment had already departed for the region .
The agreement also calls for Russian border services to monitor a new transport corridor through Armenia connecting Azerbaijan to its western exclave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia , Iran , and Turkey .
Aliyev said that Turkey , a close ally of Baku , would take part in the peacekeeping center to monitor the cease-fire .
Since fighting erupted in late September , several thousand people are believed to have been killed on both sides .
Azerbaijan ’ s forces scored a major victory on November 8 , taking the key town of Shushi ( known as Susa in Azeri ) , offering strategic heights over Stepanakert , just 10 kilometers away .
Shushi also lies along the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people have fled Nagorno-Karabakh in recent days to Armenia , with lines of vehicles clogging the main road connecting the enclave to Armenia .
Azerbaijan 's forces in recent weeks have also retaken several regions outside Nagorno-Karabakh that had been occupied by ethnic Armenian forces .
In Azerbaijan 's capital , Baku , joyful crowds took to the streets on November 10 chanting `` Karabakh !
Karabakh ! ''
and waving Azerbaijani and Turkish flags .
Unhappy with the situation , several thousand angry protesters gathered in the Armenian capital , Yerevan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced he had signed the cease-fire agreement , with mobs storming the government headquarters and parliament , ransacking offices and smashing windows in an outburst of anger .
Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob attack and hospitalized , drawing a sharp rebuke from the government .
Dozens of men also tried to break into RFE/RL 's bureau in Yerevan , calling the Armenian Service `` traitors . ''
The Union of Journalist of Armenia strongly condemned the attacks and any threats against media .
President Armen Sarkisian 's office said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build national unity and `` coordinate…solutions arising from our agenda of protecting national interests . ''
Sarkisian said in a statement he had learnt about the agreement to end the fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh from the media .
`` Unfortunately , there were no consultations or discussions with me , as the President of the Republic , regarding this document , and I did not participate in any negotiations , '' he said , insisting that the signing of such an important document involving Armenia ’ s `` vital security interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' should have been subjected to `` comprehensive consultations and discussions . ''
The previous day , 17 opposition parties issued a joint statement calling for Pashinian ’ s resignation amid a series of military defeats suffered by Armenia-backed ethnic Armenian forces in the enclave fighting against Azerbaijan .
Among the parties that signed the statement were the main parliamentary opposition party , Prosperous Armenia , led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian , the former ruling Republican Party of ex-President Serzh Sarkisian , and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( Dashnaktsutiun ) .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pashinian implied that corruption in previous governments was also to blame for the current situation .
`` We must prepare for revenge .
We haven ’ t dealt properly with the corrupt , oligarchic scoundrels , those who robbed this country , stole soldiers ' food , stole soldiers ' weapons , ” said Pashinian , a reformist pressing an anti-corruption campaign who came to power in 2018 in the wake of mass popular protests .
`` I call on citizens with dignity to be ready for us going after the rioters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Dashnaktsutiun , after the robbers from the Republican Party , the Prosperous Armenia Party , the deserters from the Hayrenik party who left their combat positions and fled , and must be tried for desertion , '' he charged .
With reporting by AFP , AP , and Interfax

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Russian peacekeepers are on their way to Nagorno-Karabakh to be deployed as part of an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to halt six weeks of military conflict over the breakaway region.
The first 200 Russian troops of the peacekeeping force arrived in Armenia on November 10 following the announcement earlier in the day of a Russia-brokered truce to end fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians in and around the enclave.
The announcement triggered celebrations in Azerbaijan but a political crisis in Armenia, where angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament.
The move came after Azerbaijani forces made major battlefield gains, including reports that they were approaching Nagorno-Karabakh's main city, Stepanakert (Xankandi in Azeri), after taking the nearby strategic town of Shushi (Susa).
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and ethnic Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
Efforts to resolve the conflict by the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992 and three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 have failed to hold.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian first announced the trilateral agreement in a Facebook post, saying he had signed a statement with the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on the "termination" of the war as of 1 p.m. local time.
Pashinian said the deal, which includes the long-term deployment of Russian troops to the region, was "the best possible solution for the current situation."
"I made this decision as a result of an in-depth analysis of the military situation and an assessment of the people who know it best," Pashinian wrote.
Later in the day, Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said military actions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh had ceased completely.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believed the agreement "will create [the] necessary conditions for a long-term and full-fledged settlement of the crisis around Nagorno-Karabakh on a fair basis and in the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people."
According to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the agreement amounted to a "capitulation" by Armenia.
"An iron hand forced him to sign this document," he said, referring to Pashinian.
Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian de facto leader, Arayik Harutiunian, said he had agreed with Pashinian to end hostilities "given the current dire situation" and to avoid completely losing the separatist enclave.
Under the deal, Azerbaijan will keep territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas captured during the conflict. It also calls for Armenian forces to hand over some areas they held outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the eastern district of Agdam and the western area of Kalbacar.
Armenians will also forfeit the Lachin region, where a crucial road connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The agreement calls for a 5-kilometer-wide area in the so-called Lachin Corridor to remain open and be protected by a Russian force of 1,960 peacekeepers under a five-year mandate.
Russia's Defense Ministry said that 12 Ilyushin Il-76 military transport planes delivered more than 200 peacekeepers and their equipment to Armenia on November 10.
The agreement also calls for Russian border services to monitor a new transport corridor through Armenia connecting Azerbaijan to its western exclave of Naxcivan, which is surrounded by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey.
European Union foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell on November 10 welcomed the truce agreement and called for further negotiations "to ensure that any settlement is sustainable."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone with Putin following the announcement and said his country would participate in monitoring the truce.
Erdogan also called for the return of ethnic Azeris to Nagorno-Karabakh and reiterated the need to create the corridor through Armenian territory between Azerbaijan and Naxcivan.
Since fighting erupted in late September, several thousand people are believed to have been killed on both sides.
Azerbaijan's forces scored a major victory on November 8, taking the key town of Shushi, offering strategic heights over Stepanakert, just 10 kilometers away.
Shushi also lies along the main road connecting Stepanakert with Armenia.
Thousands of people have fled Nagorno-Karabakh in recent days to Armenia, with lines of vehicles clogging the main road connecting the enclave to Armenia.
Azerbaijan's forces in recent weeks have also retaken several regions outside Nagorno-Karabakh that had been occupied by ethnic Armenian forces.
Several thousand angry protesters gathered in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in the early hours after Pashinian announced he had signed the cease-fire agreement, with mobs storming the government headquarters and parliament, ransacking offices and smashing windows in an outburst of anger.
Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob attack and hospitalized, drawing a sharp rebuke from the government.
Dozens of men also caused an incident at the RFE/RL bureau in Yerevan, calling the Armenian Service "traitors."
Acting RFE/RL President Daisy Sindelar said that what happened at RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau was "a reprehensible assault on the essential duty of journalists to serve as impartial witnesses during major news events.
"Our Armenian Service, Azatutyun, is one of the few media outlets in Armenia that has aimed to present all sides of a deeply divisive conflict. We call on the police and public alike to support the right of Azatutyun and all independent journalists to report the news, objectively and in full, without threat of violence or scapegoating," Sindelar added.
The Union of Journalist of Armenia strongly condemned the attacks and any threats against media.
President Armen Sarkisian's office said he was launching "political consultations" to build national unity and "coordinate...solutions arising from our agenda of protecting national interests."
Sarkisian said in a statement he had learnt about the agreement to end the fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh from the media.
"Unfortunately, there were no consultations or discussions with me, as the President of the Republic, regarding this document, and I did not participate in any negotiations," he said, insisting that the signing of such an important document involving Armenia's "vital security interests" and the "whole Armenian nation" should have been subjected to "comprehensive consultations and discussions."
The previous day, 17 opposition parties issued a joint statement calling for Pashinian's resignation amid a series of military defeats suffered by Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces in the enclave fighting against Azerbaijan.
Among the parties that signed the statement were the main parliamentary opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian, the former ruling Republican Party of ex-President Serzh Sarkisian, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun).
In his comments following the night of chaos, Pashinian implied that corruption in previous governments was also to blame for the current situation.
"We must prepare for revenge. We haven't dealt properly with the corrupt, oligarchic scoundrels, those who robbed this country, stole soldiers' food, stole soldiers' weapons," said Pashinian, a reformist pressing an anti-corruption campaign who came to power in 2018 in the wake of mass popular protests.
"I call on citizens with dignity to be ready for us going after the rioters and their bosses, after the corrupt part of Dashnaktsutiun, after the robbers from the Republican Party, the Prosperous Armenia party, the deserters from the Hayrenik party who left their combat positions and fled, and must be tried for desertion," he charged.
In Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, joyful crowds took to the streets on November 10 chanting "Karabakh! Karabakh!" and waving Azerbaijani and Turkish flags.
Lawmaker Aydin Mirzazadeg, who is also a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party's (YAP) Political Council, called the trilateral agreement "a historic victory."
However, the chairman of the opposition Musavat Party deplored that no consultations on the trilateral agreement were held in Azerbaijan.
"Azerbaijanis learned about the agreement at 4 a.m., which is not acceptable," Arif Hacili said.
According to Hacili, the agreement violates Azerbaijan's constitution and Declaration Of Independence, which he said do not allow the deployment of foreign troops in the country.
The deputy chairman of the opposition Azerbaijani Popular Front Party (PFPA), Seymur Hazi, expressed concern over "the return of the Russian Army to the region," calling it a threat to Azerbaijan's independence.
With reporting by AFP, AP, and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-10--Angry Mob Attacks RFE/RL's Armenia Bureau Amid Unrest Following Nagorno-Karabakh Deal

Around 40 men have attacked the bureau of RFE/RL 's Armenian Service ( Azatutyun ) in Yerevan amid unrest triggered by Armenia 's signing of a Russian-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan to end fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The mob tried to break into RFE/RL 's bureau early on the morning of November 10 , calling the Armenian Service `` traitors '' and `` Turks '' while in a tirade against the government over what they perceive as a surrender in Nagorno-Karabakh .
`` You are responsible for the deaths of my friends [ in Nagorno-Karabakh ] , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others said they wanted to destroy Azatutyun ’ s computer servers to force journalists from going on air .
The Union of Journalist of Armenia strongly condemned the attacks and any threats against media .
Artak Hambardzumian , an executive producer with RFE/RL 's Armenian Service , said he identified one of the men as Gerasim Vardanian , a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( Dashnaktsutiun ) , one of nearly two dozen political parties that are demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian ’ s resignation .
Hambardzumian said the men tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack him and a cameraman .
In chaotic scenes in Yerevan , protesters in the early hours of the morning also stormed government buildings and parliament .

YEREVAN -- Armenia's ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, has condemned the violence by protesters amid unrest triggered by the signing of a Russian-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan to end fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Tatoyan said in a statement on November 10 that an attack on parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, and a subsequent incident involving about 40 men who swarmed the bureau of RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun) in Yerevan threatening journalists was "unacceptable."
"Violence against Ararat Mirzoyan is unacceptable and deserves all condemnation, especially as he had a child with him," Tatoyan said in the statement.
"The attack on the Yerevan office of Radio Liberty should be condemned. According to the information at this time, there was an attempt to attack the property and equipment of the media, and there was also an attack on media personnel," the ombudsman added.
The November 10 announcement of a Russia-brokered truce to end fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians in the enclave has threatened to spark a political crisis in Armenia, where angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament.
The mob later rushed RFE/RL's bureau, calling the broadcaster's Armenian Service "traitors" and "Turks" in a tirade against the government over what they perceive as a surrender in Nagorno-Karabakh.
"You are responsible for the deaths of my friends [in Nagorno-Karabakh]," one of the attackers charged.
Others said they wanted to destroy Azatutyun's computer servers to keep journalists from going on the air.
RFE/RL acting President Daisy Sindelar said that what happened at the Yerevan bureau was "a reprehensible assault on the essential duty of journalists to serve as impartial witnesses during major news events."
"Our Armenian Service, Azatutyun, is one of the few media outlets in Armenia that has aimed to present all sides of a deeply divisive conflict. We call on the police and public alike to support the right of Azatutyun and all independent journalists to report the news, objectively and in full, without threat of violence or scapegoating," Sindelar added.
The Union of Journalist of Armenia also strongly condemned the attacks and any threats against media.
Artak Hambardzumian, an executive producer with RFE/RL's Armenian Service, said he identified one of the men as Gerasim Vardanian, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun), one of nearly two dozen political parties that are demanding Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s resignation.
Hambardzumian said the men tried to break the door to the bureau and attack him and a cameraman.


rferl--2020-11-10--Unrest, Political Crisis Hit Armenia Over Nagorno-Karabakh Losses

Armenia was plunged into political crisis after opposition groups called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign and a night of unrest over a Russian-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan to end fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh left the fate of the deal uncertain .
In chaotic scenes in the capital , hundreds of opposition supporters in the early hours of November 10 stormed the government headquarters in Yerevan and parliament , ransacking offices and smashing windows in an outburst of anger .
Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob attack and hospitalized , drawing a sharp rebuke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's office said on November 10 that he was launching `` political consultations ” to build national unity and `` coordinate…solutions arising from our agenda of protecting national interests . ''
Sarkisian said in a statement he had learnt about the agreement to end the fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh from the media .
`` Unfortunately , there were no consultations or discussions with me , as with the President of the Republic , regarding this document , and I did not participate in any negotiations , '' he said , insisting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving Armenia 's `` vital security interests '' and the `` whole Armenian nation '' should have been subjected to `` comprehensive consultations and discussions . ''
Earlier , thousands of angry demonstrators gathered in central Yerevan after Pashinian announced he had signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end six weeks of hostilities with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The backlash over the agreement came after 17 opposition parties issued a joint statement on November 9 calling for Pashinian ’ s resignation amid a series of military defeats suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enclave fighting against Azerbaijan .
Among the parties that signed the statement were the main parliamentary opposition party , Prosperous Armenia , led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian , the former ruling Republican Party of former President Serzh Sarkisian , and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( Dashnaktsutiun ) .
In his comments following the night of chaos , Pashinian implied that corruption in previous governments was also to blame for the current situation .
`` We must prepare for revenge .
We haven ’ t dealt properly with the corrupt , oligarchic scoundrels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers ’ food , stole soldiers ' weapons , '' said Pashinian , a reformist pressing an anti-corruption campaign who came to power in 2018 in the wake of mass popular protests .
`` I call on citizens with dignity to be ready for us going after the rioters and their bosses , after the corrupt part of Dashnaktsutyun , after the robbers from the Republican Party , the Prosperous Armenia Party , the deserters from the Hayrenik party who left their combat positions and fled , and must be tried for desertion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement between Armenia , Azerbaijan , and Russia to end fighting comes as Azerbaijani forces have made major battlefield gains in the six-week flare up of the decades-long conflict .
The agreement would see Azerbaijan keep territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas captured during the conflict .
It also calls for Armenian forces to hand over some areas they held outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .

Armenia was plunged into political crisis after opposition groups called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to resign and a night of unrest over a Russian-brokered agreement with Azerbaijan to end fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh left the fate of the deal uncertain.
In chaotic scenes in the capital, hundreds of opposition supporters in the early hours of November 10 stormed the government headquarters in Yerevan and parliament, ransacking offices and smashing windows in an outburst of anger.
Parliament Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob attack and hospitalized, drawing a sharp rebuke from the government.
President Armen Sarkisian's office said on November 10 that he was launching "political consultations” to build national unity and "coordinate…solutions arising from our agenda of protecting national interests."
Sarkisian said in a statement he had learnt about the agreement to end the fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh from the media.
"Unfortunately, there were no consultations or discussions with me, as with the President of the Republic, regarding this document, and I did not participate in any negotiations," he said, insisting that the signing of such an important document involving Armenia's "vital security interests" and the "whole Armenian nation" should have been subjected to "comprehensive consultations and discussions."
Earlier, thousands of angry demonstrators gathered in central Yerevan after Pashinian announced he had signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end six weeks of hostilities with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The backlash over the agreement came after 17 opposition parties issued a joint statement on November 9 calling for Pashinian’s resignation amid a series of military defeats suffered by Armenia-backed ethnic Armenian forces in the enclave fighting against Azerbaijan.
Among the parties that signed the statement were the main parliamentary opposition party, Prosperous Armenia, led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian, the former ruling Republican Party of former President Serzh Sarkisian, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun).
In his comments following the night of chaos, Pashinian implied that corruption in previous governments was also to blame for the current situation.
"We must prepare for revenge. We haven’t dealt properly with the corrupt, oligarchic scoundrels, those who robbed this country, stole soldiers’ food, stole soldiers' weapons," said Pashinian, a reformist pressing an anti-corruption campaign who came to power in 2018 in the wake of mass popular protests.
"I call on citizens with dignity to be ready for us going after the rioters and their bosses, after the corrupt part of Dashnaktsutyun, after the robbers from the Republican Party, the Prosperous Armenia Party, the deserters from the Hayrenik party who left their combat positions and fled, and must be tried for desertion," he charged.
The trilateral agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia to end fighting comes as Azerbaijani forces have made major battlefield gains in the six-week flare up of the decades-long conflict.
The agreement would see Azerbaijan keep territory in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas captured during the conflict. It also calls for Armenian forces to hand over some areas they held outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian Service


rferl--2020-11-11--Merkel Calls On Balkans To Overcome Differences As Bulgaria Holds Up North Macedonia's EU Accession

Merkel Calls On Balkans To Overcome Differences As Bulgaria Holds Up North Macedonia's EU Accession Talks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Balkan states to bury historical tensions as she expressed optimism EU accession talks could be launched with North Macedonia and Albania by the end of the year .
Merkel , whose country holds the EU ’ s rotating presidency until the end of the year , was speaking on November 10 via videolink at a meeting in the Bulgarian capital Sofia , bringing together countries involved in the so-called Berlin Process , a forum established to foster the European integration of the Western Balkan countries .
The EU enlargement summit comes as Bulgaria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Union membership over a history and language dispute with its neighbor .
“ The Berlin Process and its progress always have something to do with reconciliation , with overcoming historical tensions , and that is why we naturally want this process to continue , '' Merkel said at the summit .
“ You have to say ‘ yes ’ in the region , get along with each other .
This is very important , '' Merkel said .
The summit was co-hosted by EU member Bulgaria and neighboring North Macedonia , Bulgarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev met in-person in Sofia as they seek a solution to their disputes before November 17 talks on Skopje 's EU accession bid .
Neither side made public comments on the dispute between their two countries .
Bulgaria wants Skopje to acknowledge that both its identity and language have Bulgarian roots , thereby ending any claims that there is a distinct Macedonian minority in Bulgaria .
Skopje has long insisted Macedonian is a distinct South Slavic language that forms part of the country 's culture and national identity , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dialect of Bulgarian .
Leaders of EU countries and of membership candidates Montenegro , Serbia , North Macedonia , Albania , Bosnia , and Kosovo discussed their accession prospects at the summit .
In a declaration , summit participants set the goal of establishing a common regional market in the Western Balkans based on EU rules .
They also agreed to develop a green agenda to unlock the renewable energy potential of the region modeled on the EU ’ s Green Pact .
With reporting by AFP , AP , RFE/RL 's North @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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--2020-11-10--Former Marine Whelan Says He Could Be Part Of  Russia-U.S. Prisoner Exchange

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan , sentenced in June in Russia to 16 years on espionage charges that he rejects , says his arrest and subsequent trial was in retaliation for sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia and that he could be used as a bargaining chip in a prisoner exchange .
The 50-year-old Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and sentenced on June 15 after prosecutors claimed that a flash memory stick found in his possession contained classified information .
He is serving his sentence at Correctional Colony No .
17 in the region of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow , a region historically known as the location of some of Russia 's toughest prisons , including Soviet-era labor camps for political prisoners .
The United States has demanded Whelan 's immediate release , calling his treatment and conviction `` appalling . ''
Whelan , who has rejected the espionage charges and insists he had come to Russia to attend a wedding , says he was framed when he took the memory stick from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photos .
In his first extensive interview since his arrest , Whelan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't know why he was targeted .
`` I do n't know why my name was chosen , '' he said .
But he said he believed his arrest could be linked to his job as a global security executive for auto-parts supplier BorgWarner and its business with Russian truck manufacturer KamAZ , partly owned by Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec , which is under U.S. sanctions .
`` I think this was partly sanctions retaliation , '' he said .
Reports in June said Russian and U.S. officials were in talks about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians -- arms dealer Viktor Bout and drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko -- who are serving lengthy sentences in U.S. prisons .
Whelan said Federal Security Service ( FSB ) officers immediately mentioned both Bout and Yaroshenko to him after his arrest and that it was soon made clear Russia hoped for a trade .
`` The night I was arrested , they asked me if I knew who those two people were , '' Whelan said .
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in August the issue of Whelan 's exchange for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with U.S. officials .
Whelan 's family also said that no negotiations were currently under way .
Whelan told ABC News he understood it 's difficult for the U.S. government to exchange him -- an American tourist taken hostage -- for two criminals .
Still , he said that he remained optimistic .
`` I do n't think I 'll be here that long -- the governments will work it out quickly , '' Whelan said .
`` I think it 's a bit of an embarrassment for the Russian government because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've made a mistake .
Like I said , you know , I 'm like [ comic character ] Mr. Bean being abducted on holiday .
I do n't think this is a situation they want going longer than it needs to . ''
Whelan confirmed to ABC News that he had been woken up at approximately two-hour intervals every night over the past few weeks .
He said the practice apparently started because someone in the Russian prison system deemed him a flight risk .
However , he said that overall he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting along with his cellmates , who understand his conviction is politically motivated .
`` Everybody knows that it 's complete crap , and they laugh and say '' 'Well , yeah , this is what the FSB does .
It 's obviously political , ' '' he said .

Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, sentenced in June in Russia to 16 years on espionage charges that he rejects, says his arrest and subsequent trial was in retaliation for sanctions that the United States imposed on Russia and that he could be used as a bargaining chip in a prisoner exchange.
The 50-year-old Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and sentenced on June 15 after prosecutors claimed that a flash memory stick found in his possession contained classified information.
He is serving his sentence at Correctional Colony No. 17 in the region of Mordovia, some 350 kilometers east of Moscow, a region historically known as the location of some of Russia's toughest prisons, including Soviet-era labor camps for political prisoners.
The United States has demanded Whelan's immediate release, calling his treatment and conviction "appalling."
Whelan, who has rejected the espionage charges and insists he had come to Russia to attend a wedding, says he was framed when he took the memory stick from an acquaintance thinking it contained holiday photos.
In his first extensive interview since his arrest, Whelan told U.S. television station ABC he didn't know why he was targeted.
"I don't know why my name was chosen," he said.
But he said he believed his arrest could be linked to his job as a global security executive for auto-parts supplier BorgWarner and its business with Russian truck manufacturer KamAZ, partly owned by Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec, which is under U.S. sanctions.
"I think this was partly sanctions retaliation," he said.
Reports in June said Russian and U.S. officials were in talks about a possible swap of Whelan for two Russians -- arms dealer Viktor Bout and drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko -- who are serving lengthy sentences in U.S. prisons.
Whelan said Federal Security Service (FSB) officers immediately mentioned both Bout and Yaroshenko to him after his arrest and that it was soon made clear Russia hoped for a trade.
"The night I was arrested, they asked me if I knew who those two people were," Whelan said.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in August the issue of Whelan's exchange for Russian citizens had not yet been discussed with U.S. officials.
Whelan's family also said that no negotiations were currently under way. Whelan told ABC News he understood it's difficult for the U.S. government to exchange him -- an American tourist taken hostage -- for two criminals. Still, he said that he remained optimistic.
"I don't think I'll be here that long -- the governments will work it out quickly," Whelan said. "I think it's a bit of an embarrassment for the Russian government because they've by now figured out that they've made a mistake. Like I said, you know, I'm like [comic character] Mr. Bean being abducted on holiday. I don't think this is a situation they want going longer than it needs to."
Whelan confirmed to ABC News that he had been woken up at approximately two-hour intervals every night over the past few weeks. He said the practice apparently started because someone in the Russian prison system deemed him a flight risk.
However, he said that overall he had been treated reasonably well and was getting along with his cellmates, who understand his conviction is politically motivated.
"Everybody knows that it's complete crap, and they laugh and say" 'Well, yeah, this is what the FSB does. It's obviously political,'" he said.


rferl--2020-11-10--Budapest Art Students End Sit-In As Hungary Goes Into Coronavirus Lockdown

Hungary has announced a partial lockdown as a sharp spike in new coronavirus infections has prompted right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban to move away from his previous policy of avoiding serious restrictions to protect the economy .
Hungary reported 103 new COVID-19 deaths on November 10 , nearing the record of 107 set on November 7 .
The new restrictions from November 11 include a curfew between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. local time , a ban on public gatherings , and the closure of secondary schools .
Because of the lockdown , students and faculty of the Budapest University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) decided to end a 71-day occupation of university buildings in protest at a move by Orban to end the school 's autonomy .
`` Since our demands are still not met and talks with the Education Ministry have not begun despite our efforts , we are not giving up the blockade , but are taking it with us , '' student spokeswoman Panni Szurdi said .
`` We will keep on going with the resistance outside of the buildings for now . ''
`` This is about us acting as responsible citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is a decision we had to make given that there is a situation in our country , a pandemic , that is more important than us being inside the buildings .
We can come up with different ways to protest . ''
Under Orban 's reform , administrative matters that were previously the purview of an elected senate are now handled by a board of trustees comprising people connected to the Orban government .
Students and faculty declared the new board illegitimate and began the occupation in early September .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States , the European Union , and rights activists for undermining democratic institutions , including elections , the press , and academic freedom .
The respected Central European University , partially funded by Hungarian-born U.S. billionaire philanthropist George Soros , closed down most of its operations in Hungary in 2018 following a campaign of attacks against it by members of Orban 's Fidesz party .
According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center on November 10 , Hungary had recorded 114,778 coronavirus infections and 2,493 deaths since the pandemic began .
@ @ @ @ @ @

Hungary has announced a partial lockdown as a sharp spike in new coronavirus infections has prompted right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban to move away from his previous policy of avoiding serious restrictions to protect the economy.
Hungary reported 103 new COVID-19 deaths on November 10, nearing the record of 107 set on November 7.
The new restrictions from November 11 include a curfew between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. local time, a ban on public gatherings, and the closure of secondary schools.
Because of the lockdown, students and faculty of the Budapest University of Theater and Film Arts (SZFE) decided to end a 71-day occupation of university buildings in protest at a move by Orban to end the school's autonomy.
"Since our demands are still not met and talks with the Education Ministry have not begun despite our efforts, we are not giving up the blockade, but are taking it with us," student spokeswoman Panni Szurdi said. "We will keep on going with the resistance outside of the buildings for now."
"This is about us acting as responsible citizens," student Dora Galosi told RFE/RL. "This is a decision we had to make given that there is a situation in our country, a pandemic, that is more important than us being inside the buildings. We can come up with different ways to protest."
Under Orban's reform, administrative matters that were previously the purview of an elected senate are now handled by a board of trustees comprising people connected to the Orban government.
Students and faculty declared the new board illegitimate and began the occupation in early September.
The populist Orban has been criticized by the United States, the European Union, and rights activists for undermining democratic institutions, including elections, the press, and academic freedom.
The respected Central European University, partially funded by Hungarian-born U.S. billionaire philanthropist George Soros, closed down most of its operations in Hungary in 2018 following a campaign of attacks against it by members of Orban's Fidesz party.
According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center on November 10, Hungary had recorded 114,778 coronavirus infections and 2,493 deaths since the pandemic began.
With reporting by Reuters and dpa


rferl--2020-11-10--Putin Says 'External Pressure' On Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova 'Unacceptable'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said `` attempts to exert foreign pressure '' in Belarus , Kyrgyzstan , and Moldova are `` unacceptable . ''
Opening an online summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ( SCO ) on November 10 , Putin said that Belarus was `` under pressure from external forces . ''
Mass protests in Belarus demanding the departure of Alyaksandr Lukashenka have gone on for the past three months after electoral officials handed him a landslide victory in the August 9 presidential poll that the opposition and the West say was rigged .
Moscow has backed Lukashenka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a violent crackdown on protesters .
`` After the presidential election held in their country , our Belarusian friends are experiencing unprecedented pressure , stand against sanctions and provocations unleashed on them through an information and propaganda war , '' Putin said , adding that `` the people of Belarus must solve their problems themselves without anyone 's interference . ''
Lukashenka has said publicly that EU states are behind the ongoing protests .
Putin also said that two other former Soviet republics , Kyrgyzstan and Moldova , are also experiencing `` outer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests over results of parliamentary elections ousted the government and parliament speaker and caused a deep political crisis that led to the resignation of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov last month .
In Moldova , pro-European presidential candidate Maia Sandu won a surprise victory in the first round of a presidential election on November 1 that now heads to a runoff against Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon .
Putin also said that the Moscow-brokered cease-fire in Azerbaijan 's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh will pave the way for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stability in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SCO summit will adopt a joint statement on measures to curb coronavirus pandemic .
Afghanistan , Belarus , Iran , and Mongolia have observer status in the organization , while Armenia , Azerbaijan , Cambodia , Nepal , Turkey , and Sri Lanka are SCO dialogue partners .
With reporting by TASS and Interfax

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said "attempts to exert foreign pressure" in Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova are "unacceptable."
Opening an online summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on November 10, Putin said that Belarus was "under pressure from external forces."
Mass protests in Belarus demanding the departure of Alyaksandr Lukashenka have gone on for the past three months after electoral officials handed him a landslide victory in the August 9 presidential poll that the opposition and the West say was rigged.
Moscow has backed Lukashenka in the ongoing standoff, marred by a violent crackdown on protesters.
"After the presidential election held in their country, our Belarusian friends are experiencing unprecedented pressure, stand against sanctions and provocations unleashed on them through an information and propaganda war," Putin said, adding that "the people of Belarus must solve their problems themselves without anyone's interference."
Lukashenka has said publicly that EU states are behind the ongoing protests.
Putin also said that two other former Soviet republics, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova, are also experiencing "outer pressure."
In Kyrgyzstan, mass protests over results of parliamentary elections ousted the government and parliament speaker and caused a deep political crisis that led to the resignation of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov last month.
In Moldova, pro-European presidential candidate Maia Sandu won a surprise victory in the first round of a presidential election on November 1 that now heads to a runoff against Moscow-backed incumbent Igor Dodon.
Putin also said that the Moscow-brokered cease-fire in Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh will pave the way for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stability in the South Caucasus.
Putin added that the SCO summit will adopt a joint statement on measures to curb coronavirus pandemic.
The SCO comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia have observer status in the organization, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka are SCO dialogue partners.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-10--Britain Expels Two Belarusian Diplomats In Tit-For-Tat Move

Britain says it has expelled two Belarusian diplomats following the `` unjustified expulsion '' of two of its own diplomats by Minsk , amid a wave of protests across Belarus calling for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka following a presidential election in August that the West has refused to accept .
`` The UK will not be cowed by the attempts of Lukashenko 's regime to stop us speaking out about the rigged election & the despicable violence against the Belarusian people , '' British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter on November 19 .
Raab 's announcement came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson said the Foreign Office had summoned the Belarusian ambassador to London .
The previous day , Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatol Hlaz said two British diplomats had been declared personae non gratae after they engaged in `` destructive '' activities .
The diplomatic spat marks a further deterioration in relations between European capitals and Minsk over Lukashenka 's violent crackdown on postelection protests .
Lukashenka , who has ruled Belarus for 26 years , has faced almost daily protests since the August 9 presidential election that the opposition says was rigged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the authorities declared Lukashenka the landslide winner of the vote .
Most of the country 's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country .
Lukashenka has called the protesters and members of the opposition Western `` puppets . ''
Britain and the European Union have imposed sanctions on senior Belarusian officials , including Lukashenka , in response to the crackdown and `` falsification '' of the presidential vote .

Britain says it has expelled two Belarusian diplomats following the "unjustified expulsion" of two of its own diplomats by Minsk, amid a wave of protests across Belarus calling for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka following a presidential election in August that the West has refused to accept.
"The UK will not be cowed by the attempts of Lukashenko's regime to stop us speaking out about the rigged election & the despicable violence against the Belarusian people," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Twitter on November 10.
Raab's announcement came shortly after a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the Foreign Office had summoned the Belarusian ambassador to London.
The previous day, Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatol Hlaz said two British diplomats had been declared personae non gratae after they engaged in "destructive" activities.
The diplomatic spat marks a further deterioration in relations between European capitals and Minsk over Lukashenka's violent crackdown on postelection protests.
Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, has faced almost daily protests since the August 9 presidential election that the opposition says was rigged.
Thousands of people have been arrested since the authorities declared Lukashenka the landslide winner of the vote. Most of the country's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country.
Lukashenka has called the protesters and members of the opposition Western "puppets."
Britain and the European Union have imposed sanctions on senior Belarusian officials, including Lukashenka, in response to the crackdown and "falsification" of the presidential vote.


rferl--2020-11-10--Moscow Tightens Coronavirus Curbs On Restaurants, Bars Until Mid-January

MOSCOW -- Russian authorities have decided to prohibit restaurants , bars , and nightclubs in the capital from serving customers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. for two months in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
From November 13 until January 15 , the number of spectators in theaters , movie theaters , and concert halls will be restricted to up to one-quarter of all their total capacity , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on November 10 , citing a `` significant '' rise in the number of new infections .
During that period , college and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their education through remote learning .
Russian health authorities said on November 10 that 5,902 new infections were reported in Moscow over the past day .
At total of 20,977 new cases and 368 deaths were reported across the country , bringing the overall case tally to more than 1,817,100 -- the fifth-largest in the world .
On November 6 , Moscow Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said that 70 percent of the beds allocated in the city for COVID-19 patients were filled , after two temporary hospitals were opened for the sick last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating .

MOSCOW -- Russian authorities have decided to prohibit restaurants, bars, and nightclubs in the capital from serving customers between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. for two months in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
From November 13 until January 15, the number of spectators in theaters, movie theaters, and concert halls will be restricted to up to one-quarter of all their total capacity, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on November 10, citing a "significant" rise in the number of new infections.
During that period, college and university students will also have to continue their education through remote learning.
Russian health authorities said on November 10 that 5,902 new infections were reported in Moscow over the past day.
At total of 20,977 new cases and 368 deaths were reported across the country, bringing the overall case tally to more than 1,817,100 -- the fifth-largest in the world.
On November 6, Moscow Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said that 70 percent of the beds allocated in the city for COVID-19 patients were filled, after two temporary hospitals were opened for the sick last month in addition to the two previously operating.


rferl--2020-11-10--Russian Peacekeepers Deploy To Nagorno-Karabakh After Truce As Political Crisis Hits Armenia

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Russian peacekeepers are on their way to Nagorno-Karabakh to be deployed as part of an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia to halt six weeks of military conflict over the breakaway region .
The first 200 Russian troops of the peacekeeping force arrived in Armenia on November 10 following the announcement earlier in the day of a Russia-brokered truce to end fighting between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians in and around the enclave .
The announcement triggered celebrations in Azerbaijan but a political crisis in Armenia , where angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament .
The move came after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including reports that they were approaching Nagorno-Karabakh 's main city , Stepanakert ( Xankandi in Azeri ) , after taking the nearby strategic town of Shushi ( Susa ) .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops and ethnic Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
Efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) -- co-chaired by Russia , France , and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992 and three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 have failed to hold .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian first announced the trilateral agreement in a Facebook post , saying he had signed a statement with the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan on the `` termination '' of the war as of 1 p.m. local time .
Pashinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term deployment of Russian troops to the region , was `` the best possible solution for the current situation . ''
`` I made this decision as a result of an in-depth analysis of the military situation and an assessment of the people who know it best , '' Pashinian wrote .
Later in the day , Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said military actions in and around Nagorno-Karabakh had ceased completely .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he believed the agreement `` will create [ the ] necessary conditions for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around Nagorno-Karabakh on a fair basis and in the interests of the Armenian and Azerbaijani people . ''
According to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev , the agreement amounted to a `` capitulation '' by Armenia .
`` An iron hand forced him to sign this document , '' he said , referring to Pashinian .
Nagorno-Karabakh 's ethnic Armenian de facto leader , Arayik Harutiunian , said he had agreed with Pashinian to end hostilities `` given the current dire situation '' and to avoid completely losing the separatist enclave .
Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas captured during the conflict .
It also calls for Armenian forces to hand over some areas they held outside the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh , including the eastern district of Agdam and the western area of Kalbacar .
Armenians will also forfeit the Lachin region , where a crucial road connects Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia .
The agreement calls for a 5-kilometer-wide area in the so-called Lachin Corridor to remain open and be protected by a Russian force of 1,960 peacekeepers under a five-year mandate .
Russia 's Defense Ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered more than 200 peacekeepers and their equipment to Armenia on November 10 .
The agreement also calls for Russian border services to monitor a new transport corridor through Armenia connecting Azerbaijan to its western exclave of Naxcivan , which is surrounded by Armenia , Iran , and Turkey .
European Union foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell on November 10 welcomed the truce agreement and called for further negotiations `` to ensure that any settlement is sustainable . ''
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone with Putin following the announcement and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truce .
Erdogan also called for the return of ethnic Azeris to Nagorno-Karabakh and reiterated the need to create the corridor through Armenian territory between Azerbaijan and Naxcivan .
Since fighting erupted in late September , several thousand people are believed to have been killed on both sides .
Azerbaijan 's forces scored a major victory on November 8 , taking the key town of Shushi , offering strategic heights over Stepanakert , just 10 kilometers away .
Shushi also lies along the main road connecting Stepanakert with Armenia .
Thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenia , with lines of vehicles clogging the main road connecting the enclave to Armenia .
Azerbaijan 's forces in recent weeks have also retaken several regions outside Nagorno-Karabakh that had been occupied by ethnic Armenian forces .
Several thousand angry protesters gathered in the Armenian capital , Yerevan , in the early hours after Pashinian announced he had signed the cease-fire agreement , with mobs storming the government headquarters and parliament , ransacking offices and smashing windows in an outburst of anger .
Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan was injured in a mob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebuke from the government .
Dozens of men also caused an incident at the RFE/RL bureau in Yerevan , calling the Armenian Service `` traitors . ''
Acting RFE/RL President Daisy Sindelar said that what happened at RFE/RL 's Yerevan bureau was `` a reprehensible assault on the essential duty of journalists to serve as impartial witnesses during major news events .
`` Our Armenian Service , Azatutyun , is one of the few media outlets in Armenia that has aimed to present all sides of a deeply divisive conflict .
We call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the right of Azatutyun and all independent journalists to report the news , objectively and in full , without threat of violence or scapegoating , '' Sindelar added .
The Union of Journalist of Armenia strongly condemned the attacks and any threats against media .
President Armen Sarkisian 's office said he was launching `` political consultations '' to build national unity and `` coordinate ... solutions arising from our agenda of protecting national interests . ''
Sarkisian said in a statement he had learnt about the agreement to end the fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Unfortunately , there were no consultations or discussions with me , as the President of the Republic , regarding this document , and I did not participate in any negotiations , '' he said , insisting that the signing of such an important document involving Armenia 's `` vital security interests '' and the `` whole Armenian nation '' should have been subjected to `` comprehensive consultations and discussions . ''
The previous day , 17 opposition parties issued a joint statement calling for Pashinian 's resignation amid a series of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces in the enclave fighting against Azerbaijan .
Among the parties that signed the statement were the main parliamentary opposition party , Prosperous Armenia , led by tycoon Gagik Tsarukian , the former ruling Republican Party of ex-President Serzh Sarkisian , and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( Dashnaktsutiun ) .
In his comments following the night of chaos , Pashinian implied that corruption in previous governments was also to blame for the current situation .
`` We must prepare for revenge .
We have n't dealt properly with the corrupt , oligarchic scoundrels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stole soldiers ' food , stole soldiers ' weapons , '' said Pashinian , a reformist pressing an anti-corruption campaign who came to power in 2018 in the wake of mass popular protests .
`` I call on citizens with dignity to be ready for us going after the rioters and their bosses , after the corrupt part of Dashnaktsutiun , after the robbers from the Republican Party , the Prosperous Armenia party , the deserters from the Hayrenik party who left their combat positions and fled , and must be tried for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijan 's capital , Baku , joyful crowds took to the streets on November 10 chanting `` Karabakh !
Karabakh ! ''
and waving Azerbaijani and Turkish flags .
Lawmaker Aydin Mirzazadeg , who is also a member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party 's ( YAP ) Political Council , called the trilateral agreement `` a historic victory . ''
However , the chairman of the opposition Musavat Party deplored that no consultations on the trilateral agreement were held in Azerbaijan .
`` Azerbaijanis learned about the agreement at 4 a.m. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hacili said .
According to Hacili , the agreement violates Azerbaijan 's constitution and Declaration Of Independence , which he said do not allow the deployment of foreign troops in the country .
The deputy chairman of the opposition Azerbaijani Popular Front Party ( PFPA ) , Seymur Hazi , expressed concern over `` the return of the Russian Army to the region , '' calling it a threat to Azerbaijan 's independence .
With reporting by AFP , AP , and Interfax