rferl--2020-09-24--Trial In Pakistan Again Postponed For Doctor Who Allegedly Helped Locate Bin Laden

A court in Pakistan has again postponed the trial of a doctor , Shakil Afridi , who has been languishing in jail since Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals in 2011 .
Afridi reportedly used a vaccination scam to identify bin Laden 's home in the garrison town of Abbottabad .
He was taken into custody on May 23 , 2011 , 20 days after bin Laden , mastermind of the September 11 , 2001 , attacks in the United States , was killed .
The raid embarrassed many in Pakistan , souring bilateral ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 , the Peshawar High Court said the case would resume on September 30 .
Qamar Nadeem , Afridi ’ s lawyer , told RFE/RL on September 24 that the trial has already been postponed 16 times because the government prosecutor failed to show up .
Afridi was never charged in connection with the bin Laden operation but for allegedly aiding -- both medically and financially -- Lashkar-e-Islam militants in the nearby Khyber tribal region .
His family has denied the charges and said the only money Afridi ever gave Lashkar-e-Islam was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,000 to secure his own release after the militant group kidnapped him in 2008 .
He was sentenced to 33 years in prison by a tribal court , although this was later reduced to 23 years on appeal .
Afridi is imprisoned in a jail in Pakistan ’ s eastern Sahiwal district .
His lawyer says Afridi faces severe restrictions in jail .
Pakistani officials described bin Laden ’ s long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and rejected any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in @ @ @

A court in Pakistan has again postponed the trial of a doctor, Shakil Afridi, who has been languishing in jail since Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals in 2011.
Afridi reportedly used a vaccination scam to identify bin Laden's home in the garrison town of Abbottabad. He was taken into custody on May 23, 2011, 20 days after bin Laden, mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, was killed. The raid embarrassed many in Pakistan, souring bilateral ties with the United States.
On September 24, the Peshawar High Court said the case would resume on September 30.
Qamar Nadeem, Afridi’s lawyer, told RFE/RL on September 24 that the trial has already been postponed 16 times because the government prosecutor failed to show up.
Afridi was never charged in connection with the bin Laden operation but for allegedly aiding -- both medically and financially -- Lashkar-e-Islam militants in the nearby Khyber tribal region.
His family has denied the charges and said the only money Afridi ever gave Lashkar-e-Islam was a ransom payment worth the equivalent of $6,000 to secure his own release after the militant group kidnapped him in 2008.
He was sentenced to 33 years in prison by a tribal court, although this was later reduced to 23 years on appeal. Afridi is imprisoned in a jail in Pakistan’s eastern Sahiwal district. His lawyer says Afridi faces severe restrictions in jail.
Pakistani officials described bin Laden’s long presence in Abbottabad as a security lapse and rejected any suggestion that members of the military or intelligence services were complicit in hiding him.


rferl--2020-09-24--Russian Bailiffs Seize Kremlin-Critic Navalny's Apartment After Court Ruling

Russian bailiffs have seized the apartment of Kremlin-critic Aleksei Navalny after he lost a defamation lawsuit involving a businessman with close ties to President Vladimir Putin .
Kira Yarmysh , a spokeswoman for Navalny , announced the property ’ s seizure on September 24 on her Twitter account .
She said that court bailiffs had put the freeze on his apartment in August , while he was in a coma , to prevent the activist from selling , gifting , or mortgaging the property .
Navalny is still allowed to reside in his apartment in Moscow .
A Moscow court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation ( FBK ) , and the organization 's lawyer , Lyubov Sobol , to pay a total of 87.6 million rubles ( $ 1.15 million ) split evenly among them to a catering company , Moscow Schoolchild , for defamation .
Moscow Schoolchild , since renamed Wilmap LLC , had sued the three defendants over an investigative video produced by FBK alleging that the company did not comply with sanitary standards , forged documents , and supplied poor-quality food to kindergartens and schools .
Yevgeny Prigozhin , a Kremlin-connected businessman known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last month he had bought up the debt owed to the school and intended to collect on it should Navalny survive a poisoning .
Navalny on August 20 took ill aboard a Moscow-bound flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk .
He was later transported to a hospital in Berlin where doctors said he had been poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent belonging to the Novichok group , a Soviet-made chemical weapon .
The activist has emerged from his coma and was discharged from the hospital on September 23 .
He continues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the Moscow caterer was owned by Prigozhin .
The businessman has long denied any affiliation with the catering company , but an investigation later found that half of Moscow Schoolchild was owned by a former policeman who identified himself as the head of security for Concord , Prigozhin 's main company .
Prigozhin has been the subject of other FBK investigations in the past .
Navalny announced in July that the court ruling against his company had forced him to liquidate FBK and its bank accounts to prevent the seizure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who carries out corruption investigations financed by donations from Russian citizens and firms , has registered a new company in order to continue his work .

Russian bailiffs have seized the apartment of Kremlin-critic Aleksei Navalny after he lost a defamation lawsuit involving a businessman with close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
Kira Yarmysh, a spokeswoman for Navalny, announced the property’s seizure on September 24 on her Twitter account.
She said that court bailiffs had put the freeze on his apartment in August, while he was in a coma, to prevent the activist from selling, gifting, or mortgaging the property. Navalny is still allowed to reside in his apartment in Moscow.
A Moscow court in October ordered Navalny, his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), and the organization's lawyer, Lyubov Sobol, to pay a total of 87.6 million rubles ($1.15 million) split evenly among them to a catering company, Moscow Schoolchild, for defamation.
Moscow Schoolchild, since renamed Wilmap LLC, had sued the three defendants over an investigative video produced by FBK alleging that the company did not comply with sanitary standards, forged documents, and supplied poor-quality food to kindergartens and schools.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Kremlin-connected businessman known as "Putin’s Chef," said last month he had bought up the debt owed to the school and intended to collect on it should Navalny survive a poisoning.
Navalny on August 20 took ill aboard a Moscow-bound flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk.
He was later transported to a hospital in Berlin where doctors said he had been poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent belonging to the Novichok group, a Soviet-made chemical weapon.
The activist has emerged from his coma and was discharged from the hospital on September 23. He continues to recover in Germany.
FBK has said that the Moscow caterer was owned by Prigozhin.
The businessman has long denied any affiliation with the catering company, but an investigation later found that half of Moscow Schoolchild was owned by a former policeman who identified himself as the head of security for Concord, Prigozhin's main company.
Prigozhin has been the subject of other FBK investigations in the past.
Navalny announced in July that the court ruling against his company had forced him to liquidate FBK and its bank accounts to prevent the seizure of cash by bailiffs.
The activist, who carries out corruption investigations financed by donations from Russian citizens and firms, has registered a new company in order to continue his work.


rferl--2020-09-25--Kremlin Slams EU For Refusing To Recognize Lukashenka As President Of Belarus

Russia has criticized a decision by the European Union to not recognize Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus , saying it violates international law and is tantamount to indirect meddling in the country 's internal affairs .
Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , was inaugurated on September 23 in a secretive ceremony after weeks of mass protests .
He declared a landslide win at an election last month that was marred by vote-rigging allegations he denies .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on September 25 that the decision to not recognize him as the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Belarus , and have no affect on Belarusian ties with Moscow .
Russia has backed Lukashenka since the election with a $ 1.5 billion loan and vows of possible military help , including support from a police brigade .
Peskov ’ s comments come a day after the EU ’ s foreign policy chief reiterated the bloc ’ s stance that it refuses to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus ’ s legitimate leader .
“ This ‘ inauguration ’ directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population , as expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests since the elections , and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus , ” Josep Borrell said in a statement issued on September 24 , adding that Brussels was reviewing its relations with Minsk .
The United States has also said it does not recognize Lukashenka .
`` The elections August 9 were neither free nor fair .
The announced results were fraudulent and did not convey legitimacy , '' a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL on September 23 .
`` The United States can not consider Alyaksandr Lukashenka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The EU and United States have increased contacts with Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , the self-exiled opposition candidate , who is now in Lithuania and says she won the election .
Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in response to protests , including thousands of arrests , beatings , and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters , and the expulsions of foreign journalists .
A Minsk court in a closed-door hearing on September 25 rejected an appeal to release opposition leader Maryya Kalesnikava pending her trial .
Kalesnikava , a former leader of Tsikhanouskaya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coordination Council to facilitate a political transition in Belarus , is facing charges of threatening Belarus ’ s national security .
According to the Minsk court ruling , the 38-year-old Kalesnikava will remain in custody until her planned trial at the beginning of November .
Kalesnikava and two of her staff were snatched from the streets of Minsk on September 7 by masked men .
The three were driven the next day to the border , where authorities told them to cross into Ukraine .
Security officers reportedly failed to deport Kalesnikava @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pieces after they arrived in a no-man ’ s-land between Belarus and Ukraine .
Her two associates continued on and are now in Ukraine .
A dozen human rights watchdogs based in Belarus have recognized Kalesnikava and two other associates also being detained as political prisoners and have demanded their immediate release from custody .
The United States , Canada , and Britain are expected to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials for the crackdown as early as September 25 .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ON September 24 that the United Kingdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coordination with the United States and Canada , after the European Union 's measures were delayed by Cyprus .
Raab said London was working with Washington and Ottawa `` to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency '' against Belarusian authorities .
The United States is consulting with the EU on its sanctions list , but the timetable for announcing them may differ from Brussels due to different approval procedures in the bloc .
The passage of EU sanctions needs unanimous approval from all 27 member countries and Cyprus has so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU must also extend sanctions over Turkish gas-drilling operations in its waters at the same time .
The United States has been pressing Cyprus to lift its veto on the proposed EU sanctions against Belarus to allow a coordinated response to the crisis .

Russia has criticized a decision by the European Union to not recognize Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus as an opposition leader called for renewed mass protests after Lukashenka held a secretive inauguration this week following a disputed election.
Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was inaugurated on September 23 in a secretive ceremony after weeks of mass protests. He declared a landslide win at an election last month that was marred by vote-rigging allegations he denies.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on September 25 that the decision to not recognize him as the head of state would complicate the EU's dialogue with Belarus, and have no effect on Belarusian ties with Moscow.
In reaction to Lukashenka’s move, opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging network that Belarusians should take to the streets on September 27 to push for the "goal of new, honest elections and, as a result, an official, lawful inauguration."
Russia has backed Lukashenka since the election with a $1.5 billion loan and vows of possible military help, including support from a police brigade.
Peskov’s comments come a day after the EU’s foreign policy chief reiterated the bloc’s stance that it refuses to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus’s legitimate leader.
“This ‘inauguration’ directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population, as expressed in numerous, unprecedented, and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus,” Josep Borrell said in a statement issued on September 24, adding that Brussels was reviewing its relations with Minsk.
The United States has also said it does not recognize Lukashenka.
"The elections August 9 were neither free nor fair. The announced results were fraudulent and did not convey legitimacy," a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL on September 23. "The United States cannot consider Alyaksandr Lukashenka the legitimately elected leader of Belarus."
The EU and United States have increased contacts with Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the self-exiled opposition candidate, who is now in Lithuania and says she won the election.
Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in response to protests, including thousands of arrests, beatings, and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters, and the expulsions of foreign journalists.
A Minsk court in a closed-door hearing on September 25 rejected an appeal to release opposition leader Maryya Kalesnikava pending her trial.
Kalesnikava, a former leader of Tsikhanouskaya’s campaign team and member of the Coordination Council to facilitate a political transition in Belarus, is facing charges of threatening Belarus’s national security.
According to the Minsk court ruling, the 38-year-old Kalesnikava will remain in custody until her planned trial at the beginning of November.
Her lawyer, Lyudmila Kazak, went missing on September 24, with police confirming later that she had been detained.
Kazak's lawyers said on September 25 that she faces administrative charges of participating in an unauthorized rally and resisting a police officer.
Kalesnikava and two of her staff were snatched from the streets of Minsk on September 7 by masked men. The three were driven the next day to the border, where authorities told them to cross into Ukraine.
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
Security officers reportedly failed to deport Kalesnikava because she ripped her passport into small pieces after they arrived in a no-man’s-land between Belarus and Ukraine. Her two associates continued on and are now in Ukraine.
A dozen human rights watchdogs based in Belarus have recognized Kalesnikava and two other associates also being detained as political prisoners and have demanded their immediate release from custody.
The United States, Canada, and Britain are expected to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials for the crackdown as early as September 25.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ON September 24 that the United Kingdom was initiating its own sanctions, in coordination with the United States and Canada, after the European Union's measures were delayed by Cyprus.
Raab said London was working with Washington and Ottawa "to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency" against Belarusian authorities.
The United States is consulting with the EU on its sanctions list, but the timetable for announcing them may differ from Brussels due to different approval procedures in the bloc.
The passage of EU sanctions needs unanimous approval from all 27 member countries and Cyprus has so far refused to vote, insisting that the EU must also extend sanctions over Turkish gas-drilling operations in its waters at the same time.
The United States has been pressing Cyprus to lift its veto on the proposed EU sanctions against Belarus to allow a coordinated response to the crisis.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-09-25--Prominent Kashmiri Lawyer Shot Dead In Srinagar

A prominent lawyer has been shot dead in Srinagar , the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir .
Babar Qadri was shot on the evening of September 24 at his home by unidentified assailants , police said on September 25 .
Two men came to Qadri 's home posing as his clients and opened fire when he answered , relatives added .
Qadri was rushed to a hospital , where doctors pronounced him dead .
Police say they have opened an investigation .
Qadri , in his late 30s , was an outspoken defender of Kashmir 's right to self-determination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news channels .
In one recent debate , Qadri shouted , “ Down with India !
” in response to a chant of “ Down with Pakistan !
” by the news channel ’ s anchor .
Hundreds have fallen victim to targeted killings in Kashmir after an armed militancy erupted in 1989 against India 's rule in the disputed region .
Tens of thousands of civilians , militants , and government forces have been killed in the conflict .
Human rights groups have blamed both militants and Indian troops for covert killings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key dispute between Pakistan and India since the two split in 1947 after British colonial rule .
Both claim the region in its entirety .
The nuclear-armed rivals each control part of Kashmir and have fought two wars over its status .
Most Muslim Kashmiris want the territory to be united under Pakistani rule or to be run as a sovereign country .
New Delhi calls the Kashmir militancy Pakistan-sponsored terrorism .
Pakistan denies the charge .
Based on reporting by AP and timesofindia.indiantimes.com

A prominent lawyer has been shot dead in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Babar Qadri was shot on the evening of September 24 at his home by unidentified assailants, police said on September 25.
Two men came to Qadri's home posing as his clients and opened fire when he answered, relatives added.
Qadri was rushed to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Police say they have opened an investigation.
Qadri, in his late 30s, was an outspoken defender of Kashmir's right to self-determination, appearing often in debates on Indian television news channels.
In one recent debate, Qadri shouted, “Down with India!” in response to a chant of “Down with Pakistan!” by the news channel’s anchor.
Hundreds have fallen victim to targeted killings in Kashmir after an armed militancy erupted in 1989 against India's rule in the disputed region.
Tens of thousands of civilians, militants, and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
Human rights groups have blamed both militants and Indian troops for covert killings.
The status of Kashmir has been a key dispute between Pakistan and India since the two split in 1947 after British colonial rule. Both claim the region in its entirety.
The nuclear-armed rivals each control part of Kashmir and have fought two wars over its status.
Most Muslim Kashmiris want the territory to be united under Pakistani rule or to be run as a sovereign country.
New Delhi calls the Kashmir militancy Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge.
Based on reporting by AP and timesofindia.indiantimes.com


rferl--2020-09-25--President For Life? Turkmen Leader Signs Mysterious Constitutional Changes Into Law

Turkmenistan 's authoritarian leader , Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov , has signed into law constitutional changes , the details of which remain largely unknown .
State-controlled media reported on September 25 that Berdymukhammedov , who initiated the constitutional changes a year ago and has led a commission he established that prepared a bill of amendments , signed the legislation after the People 's Council and lawmakers approved it .
Turkmen citizens have yet to be informed about the exact changes to the constitution of the tightly controlled , energy-rich country , except that the single-chamber parliament , the Mejlis , will merge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a two-chamber institution .
The People 's Council ( Halk Maslahaty ) was created in 2017 on the basis of the Council of Elders .
Berdymukhammedov is the body 's chairman .
Critics have said that Berdymukhammedov plans to use the constitutional amendments to secure his lifetime presidency and its eventual succession to his son and grandchildren .
Earlier this month , dozens of Turkmen citizens held rallies in Washington , as well as in the cities of Houston and Pittsburgh , protesting the plan .
Government critics and human rights groups say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes in the restrictive country since he came to power after the death of autocrat Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006 .
Like his late predecessor , Berdymukhammedov has relied on subsidized prices for basic goods and utilities to help maintain his grip on power .

Turkmenistan's authoritarian leader, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, has signed into law constitutional changes, the details of which remain largely unknown.
State-controlled media reported on September 25 that Berdymukhammedov, who initiated the constitutional changes a year ago and has led a commission he established that prepared a bill of amendments, signed the legislation after the People's Council and lawmakers approved it.
Turkmen citizens have yet to be informed about the exact changes to the constitution of the tightly controlled, energy-rich country, except that the single-chamber parliament, the Mejlis, will merge with the People's Council and become a two-chamber institution.
The People's Council (Halk Maslahaty) was created in 2017 on the basis of the Council of Elders. Berdymukhammedov is the body's chairman.
Critics have said that Berdymukhammedov plans to use the constitutional amendments to secure his lifetime presidency and its eventual succession to his son and grandchildren.
Earlier this month, dozens of Turkmen citizens held rallies in Washington, as well as in the cities of Houston and Pittsburgh, protesting the plan.
Government critics and human rights groups say Berdymukhammedov has suppressed dissent and made few changes in the restrictive country since he came to power after the death of autocrat Saparmurat Niyazov in 2006.
Like his late predecessor, Berdymukhammedov has relied on subsidized prices for basic goods and utilities to help maintain his grip on power.


rferl--2020-09-25--Kosovar Prime Minister Welcomes Idea To Rename Problematic Lake After Trump

An off-the-cuff remark may help solve a diplomatic impasse and leave its mark on the Balkan map .
Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has welcomed a suggestion to rename a lake that is in both Kosovo and Serbia after U.S. President Donald Trump .
The body of water is known by Serbs as Gazivoda Lake and by Kosovars as Ujman Lake .
What to call it was just one of many disagreements Serbian and Kosovar negotiators faced during U.S.-mediated talks that ended with the two sides signing an agreement to normalize economic ties at the White House on September 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump 's special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo peace talks , reportedly suggested -- apparently half-jokingly -- that the lake be named after Trump to overcome the impasse .
Hoti said he welcomed the idea in a post on Facebook on September 24 .
“ I have welcomed Ambassador Grenell 's proposal for Ujman Lake to be called President Trump Lake , in a sign of honor for his extraordinary role in reaching a historic agreement on normalizing economic relations between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia , as a big step towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with mutual recognition , ” he wrote .
An image of a banner reading “ Lake Trump ” at a dam on the lake – which provides most of Kosovo ’ s drinking water -- was posted to social media on September 24 and shared by Grenell on Twitter .
In his Facebook post , Hoti noted that “ Kosovo has named several squares after American personalities , including Presidents Clinton and Bush , Senator Bob Dole , Secretary of State Madeleine Albright , in honor of their role in Kosovo ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead -- most of them 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 its sovereignty in 2008 , a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China .

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that there can be no advancement in the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless there is an improvement in the treatment of women in the country.
Speaking to reporters on August 15, the two-year anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Kabul, Blinken said the United States continues to work to hold the Taliban accountable for the commitments that it's made, particularly when it comes to the rights of women and girls.
"We've been very clear with the Taliban -- and dozens of countries around the world have been very clear -- that the path to any more normal relationship between the Taliban and other countries will be blocked unless and until the rights of women and girls among other things are actually supported," Blinken said.
No country has recognized the Taliban-led government, and the United States has avoided direct economic engagement in part over the treatment of women and girls, who have seen their rights drastically curbed by the hard-line Islamists. This includes a ban on women working in local and international nongovernmental organizations and a ban on education beyond the sixth grade.
The Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 after President Joe Biden withdrew U.S. troops under the terms of an agreement reached in February 2020 between the Taliban and the administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Blinken defended the pullout and said the United States was not focused on other priorities.
"The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was an incredibly difficult one, but also the right one," Blinken said. "We ended America's longest war. For the first time in 20 years, we don't have another generation of young Americans going to fight and die."
A number of international human rights organizations earlier on August 15 called the Taliban's two years of rule shameful and worrying.
Amnesty International and several other international human rights organizations demanded in a statement an effective response to the situation, noting the Taliban's strict decrees against human rights in Afghanistan, especially against women and girls.
The organizations said in a statement that in the past two years, the Taliban has increasingly imposed harmful policies against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities that clearly violate Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.
The Taliban has previously rejected reports on the treatment of women as propaganda of international organizations. The militant group's leaders have said they have strengthened all the rights of women in Afghanistan in light of Islamic principles.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban, said in an interview with the AP marking the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of the country that the Taliban views its rule of Afghanistan as open-ended and as drawing legitimacy from Islamic law. He also suggested a ban on female education will remain in place.
Female activist Soheila Yousefi calls the situation alarming and wants the world to pay attention.
"The international community should take serious action in this regard because the world chose to be silent in these two years and did not take any practical steps. Our request is that they should look at the current situation in Afghanistan, then take a serious and comprehensive review."
The Taliban did not respond to Radio Azadi's questions before the release of the report, but the rulers have spoken of strengthening human rights in Afghanistan, especially the rights of women and girls, according to Islamic principles.
With reporting by AP and AFP


rferl--2020-09-25--Kyrgyz Health Workers Bearing Brunt Of COVID-19 Pandemic: Amnesty

Health workers in Kyrgyzstan have been forced to work long hours , often without promised extra pay and sometimes even with reduced pay , and subjected to a “ prisonlike ” quarantine regime during the COVID-19 pandemic , Amnesty International said in a new report on September 25 .
Unofficial sources said 40 health workers died at the height of the outbreak from mid-March to late July , while official data from the Ministry of Health put the toll at 29 deaths , the new report said .
According to a tally by Johns Hopkins University , Kyrgyzstan has 45,757 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
“ Kyrgyz doctors have worked selflessly , risking their lives every day looking after their patients , often in the absence of vital medical supplies , '' said Heather McGill , Amnesty International ’ s researcher on Central Asia .
`` It is appalling that in return they were denied their human rights , underpaid and forced to keep quiet about their problems for fear of retaliation , ” said McGill .
The report -- titled Kyrgyzstan : Beyond The Call Of Duty : The Rights Of Health Workers In Kyrgyzstan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been working daily 12-hour shifts for two weeks in a row followed by 14 days of quarantine .
According to one doctor , quarantine conditions resembled “ being like in prison ” with reports of health workers often living 10 in a room and unable to see their families , the report said .
“ I am now working 24 hours a day .
I can ’ t leave because there are so many patients .
I am working in a COVID department .
I am the only doctor .
I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am the manager and I can ’ t just leave at the end of my shift .
I have to be there constantly .
We manage to sleep three to four hours .
I have been working like this for 30 days , ” one doctor told Amnesty International .
In the early phase of the outbreak , health workers were forced to work without adequate supplies of personal protection equipment ( PPE ) .
When they did receive such equipment , its quality was below standard and medical personnel lacked adequate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
Adding to their plight , Kyrgyz doctors and nurses , who are among the lowest paid professionals in the country , have n't been paid in a timely manner , while some have even had their salaries cut , the report revealed .
“ The main thing is that they pay us the salary they promised .
I have to feed my family , ” one doctor told Amnesty , complaining that this promise was not met .
Because of low salaries , Kyrgyz medical personnel have migrated to other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trend that caused a chronic shortage of doctors in the state sector .
Amnesty says that , in addition to the great difficulties they encounter on a daily basis , Kyrgyz health workers also face repression .
Doctors contacted by the rights group were often reluctant to speak out and those who accepted to be interviewed asked that their identities be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals from their superiors .
In the rare cases when health workers have publicly complained , they have suffered threats , dismissal , or humiliation from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should take steps to build greater resilience in the health system to better cope with the pandemic , and focus on protecting the rights of health workers .
It must also ensure that everyone in the country can exercise their right to freedom of expression , and adopt measures to protect whistle-blowers , ” said McGill .
The report urges Kyrgyzstan to meet its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic , Social , and Cultural Rights and guarantee just and favorable conditions of work for all workers , including health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must ensure that all doctors are provided with PPE that complies with international standards and that they are properly trained in how to use it to avoid infection , the report concluded .

Health workers in Kyrgyzstan have been forced to work long hours, often without promised extra pay and sometimes even with reduced pay, and subjected to a “prisonlike” quarantine regime during the COVID-19 pandemic, Amnesty International said in a new report on September 25.
Unofficial sources said 40 health workers died at the height of the outbreak from mid-March to late July, while official data from the Ministry of Health put the toll at 29 deaths, the new report said.
According to a tally by Johns Hopkins University, Kyrgyzstan has 45,757 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 1,063 COVID-19 deaths.
“Kyrgyz doctors have worked selflessly, risking their lives every day looking after their patients, often in the absence of vital medical supplies," said Heather McGill, Amnesty International’s researcher on Central Asia.
"It is appalling that in return they were denied their human rights, underpaid and forced to keep quiet about their problems for fear of retaliation,”
said McGill.
The report -- titled Kyrgyzstan: Beyond The Call Of Duty: The Rights Of Health Workers In Kyrgyzstan -- says that since May, doctors have been working daily 12-hour shifts for two weeks in a row followed by 14 days of quarantine.
According to one doctor, quarantine conditions resembled “being like in prison” with reports of health workers often living 10 in a room and unable to see their families, the report said.
“I am now working 24 hours a day. I can’t leave because there are so many patients. I am working in a COVID department. I am the only doctor. I have an assistant who is a surgeon. I am the manager and I can’t just leave at the end of my shift. I have to be there constantly. We manage to sleep three to four hours. I have been working like this for 30 days,” one doctor told Amnesty International.
In the early phase of the outbreak, health workers were forced to work without adequate supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE). When they did receive such equipment, its quality was below standard and medical personnel lacked adequate training to use it, the report says.
Adding to their plight, Kyrgyz doctors and nurses, who are among the lowest paid professionals in the country, haven't been paid in a timely manner, while some have even had their salaries cut, the report revealed.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
“The main thing is that they pay us the salary they promised. I have to feed my family,” one doctor told Amnesty, complaining that this promise was not met.
Because of low salaries, Kyrgyz medical personnel have migrated to other countries and to the private sector -- a trend that caused a chronic shortage of doctors in the state sector.
Amnesty says that, in addition to the great difficulties they encounter on a daily basis, Kyrgyz health workers also face repression. Doctors contacted by the rights group were often reluctant to speak out and those who accepted to be interviewed asked that their identities be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals from their superiors.
In the rare cases when health workers have publicly complained, they have suffered threats, dismissal, or humiliation from their employers.
“The government of Kyrgyzstan should take steps to build greater resilience in the health system to better cope with the pandemic, and focus on protecting the rights of health workers. It must also ensure that everyone in the country can exercise their right to freedom of expression, and adopt measures to protect whistle-blowers,” said McGill.
The report urges Kyrgyzstan to meet its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights and guarantee just and favorable conditions of work for all workers, including health workers.
Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Health must ensure that all doctors are provided with PPE that complies with international standards and that they are properly trained in how to use it to avoid infection, the report concluded.


rferl--2020-09-24--Russian Bailiffs Seize Kremlin Critic Navalny's Apartment After Court Ruling


rferl--2020-09-25--In UN Speech, Pakistani Prime Minister Accuses India Of Sponsoring Hatred Of Muslims

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told the United Nations General Assembly on September 25 that India ’ s Hindu nationalist government is a state sponsor of hatred and prejudice against Muslims .
Speaking in a pre-recorded speech to the UN gathering , which is being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic , Khan told world leaders that Islamophobia rules India and threatens nearly 200 million Muslims who live there .
“ They believe that India is exclusive to Hindus and others are not equal citizens , ” Khan said .
The Pakistani leader also criticized the Indian government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Muslim-majority Kashmir region .
Khan has frequently criticized the August 2019 decision by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s government to strip Jammu and Kashmir ’ s statehood , scrap its separate constitution , and remove inherited protections on land and jobs .
India ’ s action and a security clampdown that followed has sparked protests .
UN-appointed independent experts have called on India to take urgent action .
Residents of the heavily militarized Indian-controlled region of Kashmir say security forces have arrested thousands of young men .
They claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , inflicted residents with beatings and electric shocks , and threatened to take away and marry their female relatives .
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told the United Nations General Assembly on September 25 that India’s Hindu nationalist government is a state sponsor of hatred and prejudice against Muslims.
Speaking in a prerecorded speech to the UN gathering, which is being held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, Khan told world leaders that Islamophobia rules India and threatens nearly 200 million Muslims who live there.
“They believe that India is exclusive to Hindus and others are not equal citizens,” Khan said.
The Pakistani leader also criticized the Indian government’s attempts to consolidate its control over the Muslim-majority Kashmir region.
Khan has frequently criticized the August 2019 decision by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to strip Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, scrap its separate constitution, and remove inherited protections on land and jobs.
India’s action and a security clampdown that followed has sparked protests.
UN-appointed independent experts have called on India to take urgent action.
Residents of the heavily militarized Indian-controlled region of Kashmir say security forces have arrested thousands of young men.
They claim that security forces have raided people's homes, inflicted residents with beatings and electric shocks, and threatened to take away and marry their female relatives.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters


rferl--2020-09-25--Opposition Lawyer In Belarus Fined, Freed From Jail

MINSK -- A lawyer representing a top opposition activist in Belarus has been freed after a court imposed a fine against her on September 25 , a day after she was detained by police .
Meanwhile , three journalists who have covered weeks of mass protests against the country 's longtime authoritarian ruler have each been sentenced to about two weeks in jail .
The lawyer , Lyudmila Kazak , went missing on September 24 before police confirmed later in the day that she had been arrested .
She was found guilty of `` failing to obey police '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended Maryya Kalesnikava , a key member of a council Belarus 's political opposition set up to push for a new presidential election in the wake of the disputed August 9 vote that officials said had given Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term in office .
The opposition and some poll workers claim that the results were falsified .
Kalesnikava is facing charges of undermining state security and could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if she is convicted .
Kazak had relayed several messages to the public that Kalesnikava sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue anti-Lukashenka protests as well as allegations that law enforcement officers threatened to kill Kalesnikava .
`` Freedom is worth fighting for .
Do not be afraid to be free , '' one of Kalesnikava 's messages said .
`` I do not regret anything and would do the same again . ''
Kalesnikava has said Belarusian security forces drove her to the border with Ukraine to try to make her leave the country , but she tore up her passport .
Meanwhile , two journalists with the Polish-funded Belsat TV channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 to 12 days in jail and each fined about $ 310 .
They were charged with working without accreditation .
A Belarusian video journalist was also sentenced on September 25 to 15 days for `` involvement in mass disorder , '' according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists .
Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have been protesting daily since official results announced from the presidential election gave Lukashenka about 80 percent of the vote .

MINSK -- A lawyer representing a top opposition activist in Belarus has been freed after a court imposed a fine against her on September 25, a day after she was detained by police.
Meanwhile, three journalists who have covered weeks of mass protests against the country's longtime authoritarian ruler have each been sentenced to about two weeks in jail.
The lawyer, Lyudmila Kazak, went missing on September 24 before police confirmed later in the day that she had been arrested. She was found guilty of "failing to obey police" and fined about $260.
Kazak has defended Maryya Kalesnikava, a key member of a council Belarus's political opposition set up to push for a new presidential election in the wake of the disputed August 9 vote that officials said had given Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term in office.
The opposition and some poll workers claim that the results were falsified.
Kalesnikava is facing charges of undermining state security and could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if she is convicted.
Kazak had relayed several messages to the public that Kalesnikava sent from jail -- including calls for protesters to continue anti-Lukashenka protests as well as allegations that law enforcement officers threatened to kill Kalesnikava.
"Freedom is worth fighting for. Do not be afraid to be free," one of Kalesnikava's messages said. "I do not regret anything and would do the same again."
Kalesnikava has said Belarusian security forces drove her to the border with Ukraine to try to make her leave the country, but she tore up her passport.
Meanwhile, two journalists with the Polish-funded Belsat TV channel that covers Belarus were sentenced on September 25 to 12 days in jail and each fined about $310. They were charged with working without accreditation.
A Belarusian video journalist was also sentenced on September 25 to 15 days for "involvement in mass disorder," according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists.
Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have been protesting daily since official results announced from the presidential election gave Lukashenka about 80 percent of the vote.
With reporting by AP


rferl--2020-09-25--Military Plane Crash In Ukraine Kills At Least 22

At least 22 people including air force cadets were killed when a military transport plane crashed in eastern Ukraine on @ @ @ @ @ , the military said .
The Antonov An-26 aircraft carrying 27 crew and cadets crashed @ @ @ @ @ Kharkiv region , the Ukrainian Air Force said .
Two men managed to survive the @ @ @ @ @ at the hospital , while the fate of three others is still unknown .
The @ @ @ @ @ dead were cadets at Kharkiv National Air Force University .
Video posted by Deputy Interior @ @ @ @ @ showed the plane in flames lying near a road .
An investigation has started to @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A state commission is set up to find out all the circumstances and @ @ @ @ @ ” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement .
He is expected to visit the @ @ @ @ @ September 26 .

Twenty six people including air force cadets were killed when a military transport plane crashed in eastern Ukraine on the evening of September 25, the military said.
The Antonov An-26 aircraft carrying 27 crew and cadets crashed during landing in the northeastern Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian Air Force said.
Officials later said, a pilot of the plane reported an engine problem just before landing.
Two men managed to survive the crash, and were hospitalized. Officials later said one had died.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing.
The military said most of the dead were cadets at the Kharkiv National Air Force University.
Video posted by Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko on Facebook showed the plane in flames lying near a road.
An investigation has started into what caused the crash.
“A state commission is set up to find out all the circumstances and causes of this catastrophe,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement. He is expected to visit the site of the crash later on September 26.


rferl--2020-09-25--Stabbing Near Former Charlie Hebdo Office In Paris ‘Act Of Islamist Terrorism’

A stabbing that left two people injured in Paris near the former offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo -- the scene of a 2015 massacre that killed 12 people -- is being treated as a terror attack , the French interior minister said .
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on September 25 the knifing was `` clearly an act of Islamist terrorism.
” “ Obviously , there is little doubt .
It 's a new bloody attack against our country , against journalists , against this society , ” he said in an interview with the France 2 television @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main suspect was an 18-year-old believed to have arrived in France three years ago as an unaccompanied minor from Pakistan .
His identity is still being verified .
The main suspect was arrested on the steps of the Bastille Opera not far from the attack site with blood on his clothing .
A blade -- described as a machete or a meat cleaver -- was recovered at the scene of the attack .
An Algerian man was also arrested shortly after the attack for possible links to main suspect .
Hours later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistani origin were taken into custody for questioning during a raid on the main suspect ’ s home in Paris .
The interior minister said the 18 year old had been previously arrested for carrying a screwdriver but was not known to be radicalized .
France 's counterterrorism prosecutor 's office said that an investigation had been opened into “ attempted murder in relation to a terrorist enterprise '' and `` conspiracy with terrorists . ''
Premieres Lignes news-production agency said the wounded were its employees -- a man and a woman taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their injuries were serious but not life threatening .
The attack comes as a high-profile trial is under way in Paris of 14 people including three fugitives , accused of helping two militants carry out the January 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo .
The magazine has since moved to a secret location guarded by police .
French Prime Minister Jean Castex noted the “ symbolic site ” of the knife attack , “ at the very moment where the trial into the atrocious acts against Charlie Hebdo is under way.
” The court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avenge the Prophet Muhammad , nearly a decade after Charlie Hebdo published cartoons mocking him .
Ahead of the start of the trial three weeks ago , Charlie Hebdo reprinted some of the caricatures .
With reporting by AP , AFP , Reuters , dpa , and the BBC

A stabbing that left two people injured in Paris near the former offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo -- the scene of a 2015 massacre that killed 12 people -- is being treated as a terror attack, the French interior minister said.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on September 25 the knifing was "clearly an act of Islamist terrorism.”
“Obviously, there is little doubt. It's a new bloody attack against our country, against journalists, against this society,” he said in an interview with the France 2 television station.
The interior minister said the main suspect was an 18-year-old believed to have arrived in France three years ago as an unaccompanied minor from Pakistan. His identity is still being verified.
The main suspect was arrested on the steps of the Bastille Opera not far from the attack site with blood on his clothing. A blade, described as a machete or a meat cleaver, was recovered at the scene of the attack.
An Algerian man was also arrested shortly after the attack for possible links to the main suspect. Hours later, five other people said to be of Pakistani origin were taken into custody for questioning during a raid on the main suspect’s home in Paris.
The interior minister said the 18-year-old had been previously arrested for carrying a screwdriver but was not known to be radicalized.
France's counterterrorism prosecutor's office said that an investigation had been opened into “attempted murder in relation to a terrorist enterprise" and "conspiracy with terrorists."
Premieres Lignes news-production agency said the wounded were its employees -- a man and a woman taking a cigarette break outside. Authorities said their injuries were serious but not life threatening.
The attack comes as a high-profile trial is under way in Paris of 14 people including three fugitives, accused of helping two militants carry out the January 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo.
The magazine has since moved to a secret location guarded by police.
French Prime Minister Jean Castex noted the “symbolic site” of the knife attack, “at the very moment where the trial into the atrocious acts against Charlie Hebdo is under way.”
The court has heard that the suspects had sought to avenge the Prophet Muhammad, nearly a decade after Charlie Hebdo published cartoons mocking him.
Ahead of the start of the trial three weeks ago, Charlie Hebdo reprinted some of the caricatures.
With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa, and the BBC


rferl--2020-09-25--Navalny Says Quick Action By Pilots, Paramedics Thwarted 'Plans Of Killers'

Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny says he owes his life to the pilots who made an emergency landing when he collapsed on a flight last month , and to paramedics he said had quickly diagnosed poisoning and injected him with atropine .
Navalny made the remarks in a September 25 Instagram post from Germany where he is recovering from what European experts have determined was poisoning with a Novichok-like nerve agent .
`` Thank you , unknown good-hearted friends .
You are good people , '' the 44-year-old Navalny wrote about those who acted quickly and thwarted `` the plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aboard a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20 and spent nearly three weeks in an induced coma .
After 48 hours in a hospital in Omsk , where Russian doctors said they found no trace of any poisoning , Navalny was transferred to Berlin 's Charite hospital .
Doctors there found traces of a Soviet-style nerve agent from the Novichok chemical group in his body .
Their findings were independently confirmed by laboratories in France and Sweden .
Navalny , a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin , was discharged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Amid allegations from Navalny ’ s allies that Kremlin agents had poisoned him , the Russian government has resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation .
The Kremlin denies poisoning Navalny and says it has seen no evidence of poisoning .
It is demanding that Germany , France , and Sweden share their findings .
On September 23 , the Russian delegation to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) sent a note to Germany requesting “ comprehensive information on the so-called Navalny case , '' including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other clinical samples . ''
German government spokeswoman Martina Fietz confirmed on September 25 that the German mission to the OPCW received the note .
She said the German mission will respond in keeping with rules that provide for a 10-day deadline .
`` But let me repeat again what we have said here repeatedly in the past : Russia already has everything necessary to be able to conduct investigations itself , '' Fietz said , adding that the OPCW has already taken samples .
Doctors in Berlin have said that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , they think a `` complete recovery is possible . ''
But Navalny has said it will be a long recovery process .
Navalny 's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on September 24 that his recovery could take weeks .
Nevertheless , she said he plans to return to Russia at some point in the future .
In his September 25 Instagram post , Navalny said `` a series of happy coincidences and sharp actions '' by pilots and medical workers sabotaged what he described as `` the plans of the killers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes after takeoff , and in another 15 minutes lose consciousness .
There was guaranteed to be no access to medical help and in another hour I would continue travelling in a black plastic bag on the last row of seats , scaring all passengers going to the bathroom , '' Navalny wrote .
`` Everything that happened next was very dramatic and deserves a separate story , but there would have been nothing to tell if not for these guys , '' Navalny said .
With reporting by AP and Reuters

Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny says he owes his life to the pilots who made an emergency landing when he collapsed on a flight last month, and to paramedics he said had quickly diagnosed poisoning and injected him with atropine.
Navalny made the remarks in a September 25 Instagram post from Germany where he is recovering from what European experts have determined was poisoning with a Novichok-like nerve agent.
"Thank you, unknown good-hearted friends. You are good people," the 44-year-old Navalny wrote about those who acted quickly and thwarted "the plans of the killers."
Navalny collapsed aboard a flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20 and spent nearly three weeks in an induced coma.
After 48 hours in a hospital in Omsk, where Russian doctors said they found no trace of any poisoning, Navalny was transferred to Berlin's Charite hospital.
Doctors there found traces of a Soviet-style nerve agent from the Novichok chemical group in his body. Their findings were independently confirmed by laboratories in France and Sweden.
Navalny, a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was discharged from the Berlin hospital earlier this week.
Amid allegations from Navalny’s allies that Kremlin agents had poisoned him, the Russian government has resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation.
The Kremlin denies poisoning Navalny and says it has seen no evidence of poisoning. It is demanding that Germany, France, and Sweden share their findings.
On September 23, the Russian delegation to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) sent a note to Germany requesting “comprehensive information on the so-called Navalny case," including "test results, biological materials, and other clinical samples."
German government spokeswoman Martina Fietz confirmed on September 25 that the German mission to the OPCW received the note. She said the German mission will respond in keeping with rules that provide for a 10-day deadline.
"But let me repeat again what we have said here repeatedly in the past: Russia already has everything necessary to be able to conduct investigations itself," Fietz said, adding that the OPCW has already taken samples.
'Happy Coincidences, Sharp Actions'
Doctors in Berlin have said that, based on Navalny’s progress so far, they think a "complete recovery is possible."
But Navalny has said it will be a long recovery process.
Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on September 24 that his recovery could take weeks. Nevertheless, she said he plans to return to Russia at some point in the future.
In his September 25 Instagram post, Navalny said "a series of happy coincidences and sharp actions" by pilots and medical workers sabotaged what he described as "the plans of the killers."
"I would fall sick 20 minutes after takeoff, and in another 15 minutes lose consciousness. There was guaranteed to be no access to medical help and in another hour I would continue travelling in a black plastic bag on the last row of seats, scaring all passengers going to the bathroom," Navalny wrote.
"Everything that happened next was very dramatic and deserves a separate story, but there would have been nothing to tell if not for these guys," Navalny said.
With reporting by AP and Reuters


rferl--2020-09-25--Leader Of Kosovo Veterans Group Arrested, To Be Sent To The Hague

PRISTINA -- European Union police have arrested the head of the Kosovo War Veterans Association in Pristina in order to transport him to a war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands to face charges that have not yet been specified .
A statement from the Specialist Prosecutor 's Office at the Hague-based tribunal said Hysni Gucati was arrested September 25 `` on an arrest warrant and transfer order issued by a pretrial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers . ''
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers at The Hague is mandated to investigate and prosecute suspects in war crimes committed during Kosovo 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the prosecutor 's statement did not specify whether Gucati would face war crimes charges .
Witnesses said Gucati was handcuffed by masked police officers at the association 's Pristina office on September 25 and taken away in an police car of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo , or EULEX .
The Specialist Prosecutor 's Office said EULEX `` provided operational and logistic support '' to carry out the arrest `` in line with its mandate and in accordance with Kosovo legislation . ''
It said the Kosovo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Gucati 's arrest .
The War Veterans Association represents former fighters from the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UCK ) , the ethnic-Albanian separatist militia group that fought against Belgrade 's forces in Kosovo 's 1998-1999 war for independence .
Gucati and his aides have published dozens of court documents in recent weeks with the names of suspects , witnesses , and civilians allegedly murdered during the war , which eventually led to Kosovo 's independence from Belgrade in 2008 .
The War Veterans Association has claimed that they received the documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a lawyer for the War Veterans Association , said Gucati was `` never interviewed on war crimes charges and , based on the documents we saw , he may have been arrested on obstruction of justice charges . ''
Christopher Bennett , a spokesman for the prosecutor at the Hague-based tribunal , said earlier this week that releasing the documents would undermine `` the proper administration of justice ” and would be a criminal act .
Later on September 25 , EULEX and Kosovo police also arrested Gucati 's deputy , Nasim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pejton .
He had told reporters after Gucati 's arrest that the War Veterans Assocation does not recognize the authority of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers .
Ramush Haradinaj , Kosovo 's former prime minister and a veteran UCK commander , wrote on Facebook after the police raid that `` there is no reason for operations or storming because everyone will respond voluntarily to justice . ''
Haradinaj himself was twice prosecuted and acquitted by another international war crimes court at The Hague .
He resigned as prime minister in July 2019 when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for questioning .
Kosovar President Hashim Thaci , also a former UCK leader , said in a statement after the arrests that `` the publication of the files was unacceptable . ''
`` The citizens of Kosovo and the world expect the Specialized Chambers to respond adequately , professionally and transparently to the monstrous allegations '' against UCK veterans , Thaci said .
`` As history shows us , the Kosovo Liberation Army was a voluntary movement , part of Kosovo 's civil resistance and struggle for freedom and independence , and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` I emphasize that the recent leak of the files from the Specialist Chambers has violated the legitimacy of the court in the eyes of the citizens of Kosovo , '' Thaci said .
`` It has damaged the image of the State of Kosovo and the rights of the potentially accused . ''
With reporting by Reuters , AP , and dpa

PRISTINA -- European Union police have arrested the head of the Kosovo War Veterans Association in Pristina in order to transport him to a war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands to face charges that have not yet been specified.
A statement from the Specialist Prosecutor's Office at the Hague-based tribunal said Hysni Gucati was arrested September 25 "on an arrest warrant and transfer order issued by a pretrial judge of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers."
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers at The Hague is mandated to investigate and prosecute suspects in war crimes committed during Kosovo's 1998-99 guerrilla uprising against rule from Belgrade.
But the prosecutor's statement did not specify whether Gucati would face war crimes charges.
Witnesses said Gucati was handcuffed by masked police officers at the association's Pristina office on September 25 and taken away in an police car of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, or EULEX.
The Specialist Prosecutor's Office said EULEX "provided operational and logistic support" to carry out the arrest "in line with its mandate and in accordance with Kosovo legislation."
It said the Kosovo Police (KP) also provided operational support for Gucati's arrest.
The War Veterans Association represents former fighters from the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), the ethnic-Albanian separatist militia group that fought against Belgrade's forces in Kosovo's 1998-1999 war for independence.
Gucati and his aides have published dozens of court documents in recent weeks with the names of suspects, witnesses, and civilians allegedly murdered during the war, which eventually led to Kosovo's independence from Belgrade in 2008.
The War Veterans Association has claimed that they received the documents from an anonymous source.
Tome Gashi, a lawyer for the War Veterans Association, said Gucati was "never interviewed on war crimes charges and, based on the documents we saw, he may have been arrested on obstruction of justice charges."
Christopher Bennett, a spokesman for the prosecutor at the Hague-based tribunal, said earlier this week that releasing the documents would undermine "the proper administration of justice” and would be a criminal act.
Later on September 25, EULEX and Kosovo police also arrested Gucati's deputy, Nasim Haradinaj, in the Pristina suburb of Pejton.
He had told reporters after Gucati's arrest that the War Veterans Assocation does not recognize the authority of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.
Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo's former prime minister and a veteran UCK commander, wrote on Facebook after the police raid that "there is no reason for operations or storming because everyone will respond voluntarily to justice."
Haradinaj himself was twice prosecuted and acquitted by another international war crimes court at The Hague. He resigned as prime minister in July 2019 when the Kosovo Specialist Chambers last called him in for questioning.
Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, also a former UCK leader, said in a statement after the arrests that "the publication of the files was unacceptable."
"The citizens of Kosovo and the world expect the Specialized Chambers to respond adequately, professionally and transparently to the monstrous allegations" against UCK veterans, Thaci said.
"As history shows us, the Kosovo Liberation Army was a voluntary movement, part of Kosovo's civil resistance and struggle for freedom and independence, and was recognized as such by the international community," he said.
"I emphasize that the recent leak of the files from the Specialist Chambers has violated the legitimacy of the court in the eyes of the citizens of Kosovo," Thaci said. "It has damaged the image of the State of Kosovo and the rights of the potentially accused."
With reporting by Reuters, AP, and dpa


rferl--2020-09-25--Putin Calls For Pact With U.S. To Avoid 'Digital Sphere' Election Confrontations

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a new deal with the United States to ensure neither country engages in cybermeddling in each other 's elections .
In a statement ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 3 , Putin called on September 25 for a reset between Russia and the United States , adding that he wanted an agreement between the two countries to prevent incidents in cyberspace .
Putin 's offer comes amid recent reports suggesting that Moscow may already be trying to interfere in the upcoming U.S. vote .
And , it would n't be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with the aim of helping Donald Trump , including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton .
Moscow denies that charge .
Trump is currently campaigning for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden , and Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the campaign , despite evidence to the contrary .
`` One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere , '' Putin said in the Kremlin statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies ( ICT ) , '' the Kremlin said .
Facebook said on September 24 that it had dismantled three networks of fake accounts which could be used by Russia 's intelligence services to leak hacked documents to disrupt the upcoming U.S. election .
The social-media company said the accounts , which it suspended for using fake identities and other types of `` coordinated inauthentic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence and people associated with a St. Petersburg-based organisation accused by U.S. officials of working to sway the 2016 presidential vote .
Microsoft said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia , China , and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden .
Russia and China dismissed the allegations .
Reuters reported on September 9 that Microsoft had alerted one of Biden 's main election-campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers .
The Kremlin called the report `` nonsense '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for a new deal with the United States to ensure neither country engages in cybermeddling in each other's elections.
In a statement ahead of the U.S. presidential election on November 3, Putin called on September 25 for a reset between Russia and the United States, adding that he wanted an agreement between the two countries to prevent incidents in cyberspace.
Putin's offer comes amid recent reports suggesting that Moscow may already be trying to interfere in the upcoming U.S. vote.
And, it wouldn't be the first time.
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Moscow interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election with the aim of helping Donald Trump, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge.
Trump is currently campaigning for reelection against Democrat Joe Biden, and Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the campaign, despite evidence to the contrary.
"One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere," Putin said in the Kremlin statement.
"We would like to once again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT)," the Kremlin said.
Facebook said on September 24 that it had dismantled three networks of fake accounts which could be used by Russia's intelligence services to leak hacked documents to disrupt the upcoming U.S. election.
The social-media company said the accounts, which it suspended for using fake identities and other types of "coordinated inauthentic behavior," were linked to Russian intelligence and people associated with a St. Petersburg-based organisation accused by U.S. officials of working to sway the 2016 presidential vote.
Microsoft said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia, China, and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden. Russia and China dismissed the allegations.
Reuters reported on September 9 that Microsoft had alerted one of Biden's main election-campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers. The Kremlin called the report "nonsense".
With reporting by Interfax and Reuters


rferl--2020-09-25--Kremlin Slams EU For Refusing To Recognize Lukashenka, Opposition Calls For More Protests

Russia has criticized a decision by the European Union to not recognize Alyaksandr Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus as an opposition leader called for renewed mass protests after Lukashenka held a secretive inauguration this week following a disputed election .
Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , was inaugurated on September 23 in a secretive ceremony after weeks of mass protests .
He declared a landslide win at an election last month that was marred by vote-rigging allegations he denies .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on September 25 that the decision to not recognize him as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU 's dialogue with Belarus , and have no effect on Belarusian ties with Moscow .
In reaction to Lukashenka ’ s move , opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya said in a statement posted on the Telegram messaging network that Belarusians should take to the streets on September 27 to push for the `` goal of new , honest elections and , as a result , an official , lawful inauguration . ''
Russia has backed Lukashenka since the election with a $ 1.5 billion loan and vows of possible military help , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments come a day after the EU ’ s foreign policy chief reiterated the bloc ’ s stance that it refuses to recognize Lukashenka as Belarus ’ s legitimate leader .
“ This ‘ inauguration ’ directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population , as expressed in numerous , unprecedented , and peaceful protests since the elections , and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus , ” Josep Borrell said in a statement issued on September 24 , adding that Brussels was reviewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States has also said it does not recognize Lukashenka .
`` The elections August 9 were neither free nor fair .
The announced results were fraudulent and did not convey legitimacy , '' a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL on September 23 .
`` The United States can not consider Alyaksandr Lukashenka the legitimately elected leader of Belarus . ''
The EU and United States have increased contacts with Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , the self-exiled opposition candidate , who is now in Lithuania and says she won the election .
Lukashenka has directed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including thousands of arrests , beatings , and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters , and the expulsions of foreign journalists .
A Minsk court in a closed-door hearing on September 25 rejected an appeal to release opposition leader Maryya Kalesnikava pending her trial .
Kalesnikava , a former leader of Tsikhanouskaya ’ s campaign team and member of the Coordination Council to facilitate a political transition in Belarus , is facing charges of threatening Belarus ’ s national security .
According to the Minsk court ruling , the 38-year-old Kalesnikava will remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of November .
Her lawyer , Lyudmila Kazak , went missing on September 24 , with police confirming later that she had been detained .
Kazak 's lawyers said on September 25 that she faces administrative charges of participating in an unauthorized rally and resisting a police officer .
Kalesnikava and two of her staff were snatched from the streets of Minsk on September 7 by masked men .
The three were driven the next day to the border , where authorities told them to cross into Ukraine .
Security officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ripped her passport into small pieces after they arrived in a no-man ’ s-land between Belarus and Ukraine .
Her two associates continued on and are now in Ukraine .
A dozen human rights watchdogs based in Belarus have recognized Kalesnikava and two other associates also being detained as political prisoners and have demanded their immediate release from custody .
The United States , Canada , and Britain are expected to impose sanctions on Belarusian officials for the crackdown as early as September 25 .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said ON September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own sanctions , in coordination with the United States and Canada , after the European Union 's measures were delayed by Cyprus .
Raab said London was working with Washington and Ottawa `` to prepare appropriate listings as a matter of urgency '' against Belarusian authorities .
The United States is consulting with the EU on its sanctions list , but the timetable for announcing them may differ from Brussels due to different approval procedures in the bloc .
The passage of EU sanctions needs unanimous approval from all 27 member countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , insisting that the EU must also extend sanctions over Turkish gas-drilling operations in its waters at the same time .
The United States has been pressing Cyprus to lift its veto on the proposed EU sanctions against Belarus to allow a coordinated response to the crisis .


rferl--2020-09-26--Protests Continue In Belarus Against Lukashenka, Arrests Reported

Protests continue in Belarus against Alyaksandr Lukashenka who claimed victory in the country 's presidential election more than a month ago amid reports of widespread fraud .
Women gathered in downtown Minsk on September 26 , many carrying flowers in what was billed as a women 's march through the capital , Minsk .
RFE/RL 's Belarus Service reports riot police quickly moved in and detained at least 10 women .
Among those held by riot police was 73-year-old Nina Bahinskaya , a frail but resolute figure who has been a regular participant of the anti-Lukashenka protests .
Near a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women chanted `` What have we done to you ? ''
as riot police looked on .
Rallies were reported elsewhere in Belarus , including Hrodna .
The action comes after Lukashenka held a secretive inauguration on September 23 in Minsk amid a police lockdown in the city and Internet blackout .
The EU and United States reacted , saying they would not recognize Lukashenka , who came to power in 1994 , as the legitimate leader of Belarus .
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , now in Lithuania , called for Belarusians to demonstrate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new , honest elections and , as a result , an official , lawful inauguration.
” Tsikhanouskaya , who joined the presidential race at the last moment after her husband ’ s own bid was ended after he was jailed , said she won the August 9 poll with 60 to 70 percent of the vote .
The EU and United States have increased contacts with Tsikhanouskaya , a former English teacher and translator .
Russia slammed the move by the EU and United States not to recognize Lukashenka , with Kremlin spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of international law and interference in Belarus 's internal affairs .
Russia has backed Lukashenka since the election with a $ 1.5 billion loan and vows of possible military help , including support from a police brigade .
The two countries are now taking part in military drills in Belarus with plans to hold more on a monthly basis in the near future .
Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in response to protests , including thousands of arrests , beatings and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters , and the expulsions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a closed-door hearing on September 25 rejected an appeal to release opposition leader Maryya Kalesnikava pending her trial .
leader of Tsikhanouskaya ’ s campaign team and member of the Coordination Council to facilitate a political transition in Belarus , is facing charges of threatening Belarus ’ s national security .
According to the Minsk court ruling , the 38-year-old Kalesnikava will remain in custody until her planned trial at the beginning of November .
Her lawyer , Lyudmila Kazak , went missing on September 24 , with police confirming later that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers said on September 25 that she faces administrative charges of participating in an unauthorized rally and resisting a police officer .
Kalesnikava and two of her staff were snatched from the streets of Minsk on September 7 by masked men .
The three were driven the next day to the border , where authorities told them to cross into Ukraine .
Security officers reportedly failed to deport Kalesnikava because she ripped her passport into small pieces after they arrived in a no-man ’ s-land between Belarus and Ukraine .
Her two associates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A dozen human rights watchdogs based in Belarus have recognized Kalesnikava and two other associates also being detained as political prisoners and have demanded their immediate release from custody .

Security forces in Minsk detained more than 100 protesters on September 26 during a women’s march against Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who claimed victory in the country's presidential election more than a month ago amid reports of widespread fraud.
Riot police in balaclavas rounded up demonstrators and packed them into minibuses and police vans, according to RFE/RL's Belarus Service. A number of journalists were among them.
The detentions began soon after the women, many dressed in white and carrying red and white flowers and waving red-and-white opposition flags, gathered to march through the capital.
The march, which Minsk residents called the "people's inauguration" of Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours.
The march took place three days after Lukashenka held a secretive inauguration in Minsk amid a police lockdown in the city and Internet blackout.
Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in response to protests, including thousands of arrests, beatings, and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters, and the expulsions of foreign journalists. He has denied accusations that the presidential election on August 9 was rigged.
Rallies were reported elsewhere in Belarus, including Hrodna. People were detained in Brest, Homel, and Zaslavl, the Vyasna rights group said.
Vyasna published a list of 106 people it said had been detained in Minsk during the march. Late in the day, a group of street musicians was detained after drawing a crowd while playing Soviet-era rock star Viktor Tsoi's "We Want Changes" in an underground passage, Vyasna said.
Among the women taken into custody was 73-year-old Nina Bahinskaya, a frail but resolute figure who has been a regular participant of the anti-Lukashenka protests.
A security officer in a balaclava grabbed the red-and-white flag from Bahinskaya’s hands before dragging her into a minibus. She was later released, but the flag was not returned.
WATCH: Dozens Arrested In Minsk
A group of women chanted "Our president is Sveta!" -- referring to opposition politician Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who they say won the vote -- before riot police dragged many of them into vans.
Tsikhanouskaya, who appeared as a guest on the BBC radio program Global Questions on September 26, spoke about the role women have played in the demonstrations.
“I’m really proud of all the Belarusian people who are in the demonstrations now but am extremely proud of the women,” she said.
They have no other choice than to participate in the demonstrations because they know that they are fighting for the future of their children, she said.
“They don’t want our children to be the slaves of this system, to be the slaves of this regime.”
Tsikhanouskaya, now in Lithuania, also commented on the secret inauguration, saying it revealed Lukashenka's weakness.
"He behaves as if he is afraid of his people, but if he is sure that he has won this election he wouldn’t be afraid of his nation," she said, adding that the inauguration doesn’t mean anything.
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
Lukashenka was "illegitimate in the eyes of the Belarusian people and he didn’t become legitimate because of his inauguration -- absolutely not," she said on the BBC radio program.
Tsikhanouskaya called for Belarusians to demonstrate on September 27 for the “goal of new, honest elections and, as a result, an official, lawful inauguration.”
Tsikhanouskaya, who joined the presidential race at the last moment after her husband’s own bid was ended after he was jailed, said she won the August 9 poll with 60 to 70 percent of the vote.
The EU and United States have increased contacts with Tsikhanouskaya, a former English teacher and translator. Asked about the support the opposition has received from Western countries thus far, Tsikhanouskaya said she was not disappointed because she believes other countries are doing what they can, but she added: "Maybe they can be more brave in their decisions. They can be more pushy."


rferl--2020-09-26--People In Khabarovsk Protest For 78th Straight Day For Arrested Governor

People in the Far Eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk have taken to the streets for the 78th consecutive day to protest the arrest in July of the region ’ s popular former governor .
Crowd estimates for the September 26 rally ranged from some 500 to over 2,000 .
Former Khabarovsk Krai Governor Sergei Furgal was arrested on July 9 and taken to Moscow .
He faces charges in connection with several killings that happened in the mid-2000s .
In a closed-door hearing , a court in Moscow on September 18 extended Furgal ’ s pretrial detention to December 9 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 chanted `` Long live Belarus '' in Belarusian .
Belarus has been rocked by mass protests since Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed he won the country 's August 9 presidential election despite reports of widespread fraud .
Western countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the country 's rightful leader .
Furgal , of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia , was elected in 2018 in a runoff that he won handily against the region ’ s longtime United Russia incumbent .
Supporters believe the charges against him were fabricated in a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the region .
The protests highlight growing discontent in the Far East over what demonstrators see as Moscow-dominated policies that often neglect their views and interests .
President Vladimir Putin 's popularity has been declining as the Kremlin tries to deal with an economy suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and years of ongoing international sanctions .

People in the Far Eastern Russian city of Khabarovsk have taken to the streets for the 78th consecutive day to protest the arrest in July of the region’s popular former governor.
Crowd estimates for the September 26 rally ranged from some 500 to over 2,000.
Former Khabarovsk Krai Governor Sergei Furgal was arrested on July 9 and taken to Moscow. He faces charges in connection with several killings that happened in the mid-2000s.
In a closed-door hearing, a court in Moscow on September 18 extended Furgal’s pretrial detention to December 9.
Some protesters in Khabarovsk on September 26 chanted "Long live Belarus" in Belarusian.
Belarus has been rocked by mass protests since Alyaksandr Lukashenka claimed he won the country's August 9 presidential election despite reports of widespread fraud. Western countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the country's rightful leader.
Furgal, of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, was elected in 2018 in a runoff that he won handily against the region’s longtime United Russia incumbent. Supporters believe the charges against him were fabricated in a bid to reestablish United Russia’s control over the region.
The protests highlight growing discontent in the Far East over what demonstrators see as Moscow-dominated policies that often neglect their views and interests.
President Vladimir Putin's popularity has been declining as the Kremlin tries to deal with an economy suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and years of ongoing international sanctions.