rferl--2020-08-12--U.S. Seeks More Support On Extending UN Arms Embargo Against Iran

The United States has circulated a revised draft resolution that seeks to indefinitely extend a United Nations arms embargo against Iran .
The move on August 11 by the United States is aimed at gaining more support in the 15-member UN Security Council .
But it is seen as unlikely to overcome opposition from the Security Council ’ s veto-wielding permanent members Russia and China .
U.S .
Ambassador Kelly Craft said the new draft “ takes council views into account and simply does what everyone knows should be done -- extend the arms embargo to prevent Iran from freely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is only common sense that the world ’ s # 1 state sponsor of terror not be given the means of unleashing even greater harm on the world , ” Craft said in a statement .
Reuters reports that the new text is just four paragraphs and would extend a weapons ban on Iran `` until the Security Council decides otherwise . ''
It also states that indefinite extension of the arms embargo is `` essential to the maintenance of international peace and security . ''
The 13-year-old arms embargo is due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear deal that Iran made with Russia , China , Germany , Britain , France , and the United States -- a deal for sanctions relief in exchange for security guarantees aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons .
The previous U.S. draft resolution was more than a dozen pages long and was described by diplomats and analysts as `` maximalist . ''
It would have required countries to inspect cargo going to or coming from Iran .
It also included an annex of individuals and entities for targeted sanctions .
Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the International Crisis Group , says there is a good chance the U.S. draft resolution will “ fail ” by August 14 .
`` Do n't let the brevity of the new U.S. draft fool you , ” Gowan said on Twitter .
“ The key point is that it authorizes an indefinite extension of the Iran arms embargo ... and China and Russia will *not* like that . ''
The United States has asked council members for comments by the morning of August 12 .
The council is operating virtually -- so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have 24 hours to submit their response .
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

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


rferl--2020-08-12--Armenian Leader Criticized For 'Hasty' Congratulations To Lukashenka

YEREVAN -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is receiving criticism in his country for issuing `` hasty '' congratulations to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka after the Central Election Commission ( CEC ) in Minsk announced he 'd won a landslide reelection victory .
With widespread complaints of electoral fraud in Belarus , the preliminary official tally announced on August 10 by the CEC has spawned protests across Belarus that have been met by a harsh police crackdown .
Pashinian , in his message to Lukashenka on August 10 , said he was confident that “ through our joint efforts we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our peoples , to expand mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries , both bilaterally and within the framework of international organizations and integration associations.
” According to the CEC 's preliminary official tally , Lukashenka won more than 80 percent of the vote , compared to less than 10 percent for his main rival , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya .
Tsikhanouskaya , who drew tens of thousands of people to her campaign rallies , refused to recognize the CEC 's results , saying that she considers herself the victor .
She has since left Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her campaign team saying she was forced out of the country by Belarusian law enforcement authorities after she visited the CEC headquarters in Minsk to file a formal complaint about the official vote count .
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned the violent crackdown against protesters in Belarus , calling on the Belarusian government to “ accurately ” count and publish the poll ’ s results .
In Yerevan , human rights activist Artur Sakunts said the Armenia prime minister 's `` hasty congratulatory message '' to Lukashenka was `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Pashinian who came to power as a result of widespread anti-government protests .
Sakunts , who heads the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens ’ Assembly , drew parallels between current events in Belarus and Armenia ’ s postelection protests of 2008 .
Armenia 's former president , Robert Kocharian , is currently on trial in Yerevan over his alleged role in the deaths of 10 protesters during the 2008 crackdown against protesters by Armenian police .
In a message on Facebook , Sakunts wrote : “ How can a state whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kocharian for the same ?
This is a complete anachronism of values and principles ... .
This is just absurd.
” Sakunts said the leader of a democratic country should not send congratulatory messages to authoritarian dictators , at least until the final official results are published .
“ If he wants to show his attitude in any way , he should at least express his concern over the fact of human rights violations and call for the resolution of all issues within the framework of the rule of law , ” Sakunts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edmon Marukian also says Pashinian was too quick to congratulate Lukashenka .
Marukian said he saw a “ conflict of values ” between the track record of Armenia ’ s current government and the prime minister ’ s congratulatory message .
“ I would wait for the processes of disputing the election results by the opposition to go through at least internal instances and only then make a decision on that , '' Marukian said .
`` In this regard , the prime minister took a hasty step , ” Marukian said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus in clashes with police ] .
More than 3,000 people have been detained .
Opposition leaders are in jail , media leaders and journalists are in jail .
And the prime minister is putting it all aside and hurrying to congratulate [ Lukashenka ] .
” Pashinian 's spokesperson Mane Gevorkian refused to comment on the criticism but said she was aware of it .
Ruben Rubinian , a member of Pashinian ’ s My Step alliance and the head of the parliament ’ s Foreign Relations Committee , dismissed the criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pashinian 's congratulatory message to Lukashenka .
“ In general , international relations are different from domestic politics , '' Rubinian said .
`` International partnerships , relations between the heads of state , have a different level and have other components.
” Armenia is a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization , which both include Belarus .
Other leaders from those groups , including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan ’ s President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev , quickly sent congratulations to Lukashenka after preliminary official results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting from Yerevan by Narine Ghalechian

YEREVAN -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is receiving criticism in his country for issuing "hasty" congratulations to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka after the Central Election Commission (CEC) in Minsk announced he'd won a landslide reelection victory.
With widespread complaints of electoral fraud in Belarus, the preliminary official tally announced on August 10 by the CEC has spawned protests across Belarus that have been met by a harsh police crackdown.
Pashinian, in his message to Lukashenka on August 10, said he was confident that “through our joint efforts we will continue to strengthen the friendship between our peoples, to expand mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries, both bilaterally and within the framework of international organizations and integration associations.”
According to the CEC's preliminary official tally, Lukashenka won more than 80 percent of the vote, compared to less than 10 percent for his main rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Tsikhanouskaya, who drew tens of thousands of people to her campaign rallies, refused to recognize the CEC's results, saying that she considers herself the victor.
She has since left Belarus apparently under duress, with members of her campaign team saying she was forced out of the country by Belarusian law enforcement authorities after she visited the CEC headquarters in Minsk to file a formal complaint about the official vote count.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has condemned the violent crackdown against protesters in Belarus, calling on the Belarusian government to “accurately” count and publish the poll’s results.
In Yerevan, human rights activist Artur Sakunts said the Armenia prime minister's "hasty congratulatory message" to Lukashenka was "unacceptable" -- particularly from a leader like Pashinian who came to power as a result of widespread anti-government protests.
Sakunts, who heads the Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, drew parallels between current events in Belarus and Armenia’s postelection protests of 2008.
Armenia's former president, Robert Kocharian, is currently on trial in Yerevan over his alleged role in the deaths of 10 protesters during the 2008 crackdown against protesters by Armenian police.
In a message on Facebook, Sakunts wrote: “How can a state whose prime minister congratulates dictator Lukashenka later prosecute Kocharian for the same? This is a complete anachronism of values and principles.... This is just absurd.”
Sakunts said the leader of a democratic country should not send congratulatory messages to authoritarian dictators, at least until the final official results are published.
“If he wants to show his attitude in any way, he should at least express his concern over the fact of human rights violations and call for the resolution of all issues within the framework of the rule of law,” Sakunts said.
Opposition Bright Armenia party leader Edmon Marukian also says Pashinian was too quick to congratulate Lukashenka.
Marukian said he saw a “conflict of values” between the track record of Armenia’s current government and the prime minister’s congratulatory message.
“I would wait for the processes of disputing the election results by the opposition to go through at least internal instances and only then make a decision on that," Marukian said.
"In this regard, the prime minister took a hasty step,” Marukian said. “One protester already died [in Belarus in clashes with police]. More than 3,000 people have been detained. Opposition leaders are in jail, media leaders and journalists are in jail. And the prime minister is putting it all aside and hurrying to congratulate [Lukashenka].”
Pashinian's spokesperson Mane Gevorkian refused to comment on the criticism but said she was aware of it.
Ruben Rubinian, a member of Pashinian’s My Step alliance and the head of the parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, dismissed the criticism.
Rubinian said he sees nothing unacceptable in Pashinian's congratulatory message to Lukashenka.
“In general, international relations are different from domestic politics," Rubinian said. "International partnerships, relations between the heads of state, have a different level and have other components.”
Armenia is a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization, which both include Belarus.
Other leaders from those groups, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakhstan’s President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, quickly sent congratulations to Lukashenka after preliminary official results were announced on August 10.
With reporting from Yerevan by Narine Ghalechian


rferl--2020-08-12--Kazakh Court Convicts Activist Charged With Assaulting Police

ALMATY , Kazakhstan -- A court in Kazakhstan 's largest city , Almaty , has found civil rights activist Asya Tulesova guilty of assaulting and verbally insulting law enforcement officers and sentenced her to 18 months of freedom limitation -- a sentence with parole-like restrictions .
Tulesova was released right away after the Medeu District Court pronounced the ruling on August 12 .
The court also ordered Tulesova to pay a 41,000 tenge ( $ 100 ) fine .
A day earlier , prosecutor Erlan Qulanbaev had asked the court to sentence Tulesova to one year in prison .
Tulesova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the verdict and the sentence will be appealed .
Tulesova has rejected the charges as politically motivated .
But she has offered apologies to the six police officers who were involved in an altercation with her .
Tulesova , 36 , was arrested two days after she took part in an unsanctioned demonstration in Almaty on June 6 .
Investigators say Tulesova knocked the hat off of one police officer and verbally insulted his colleagues while they were forcibly detaining protesters at the rally .
More than 100 protesters were arrested at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after calls for peaceful , nationwide gatherings were made by two opposition groups : the unregistered Democratic Party of Kazakhstan and the banned Democratic Movement of Kazakhstan .
Tulesova , known for her civic engagement and environmental activism , gained broad notoriety in Kazakhstan in April 2019 when she held up a protest banner during a marathon race in Almaty with the words , `` You ca n't run from the truth . ''
Tulesova and her friend Beibarys Tolymbekov were later sentenced to 15 days in jail over that protest on charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Human Rights Watch has urged Kazakh authorities to drop all charges against Tulesova and immediately release her from custody .

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- A court in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, has found civil rights activist Asya Tulesova guilty of assaulting and verbally insulting law enforcement officers and sentenced her to 18 months of freedom limitation -- a sentence with parole-like restrictions.
Tulesova was released right away after the Medeu District Court pronounced the ruling on August 12.
The court also ordered Tulesova to pay a 41,000 tenge ($100) fine.
A day earlier, prosecutor Erlan Qulanbaev had asked the court to sentence Tulesova to one year in prison.
Tulesova's lawyer, Dzhokhar Otebekov, said the verdict and the sentence will be appealed.
Tulesova has rejected the charges as politically motivated. But she has offered apologies to the six police officers who were involved in an altercation with her.
Tulesova, 36, was arrested two days after she took part in an unsanctioned demonstration in Almaty on June 6.
Investigators say Tulesova knocked the hat off of one police officer and verbally insulted his colleagues while they were forcibly detaining protesters at the rally.
More than 100 protesters were arrested at the June 6 rally, which took place after calls for peaceful, nationwide gatherings were made by two opposition groups: the unregistered Democratic Party of Kazakhstan and the banned Democratic Movement of Kazakhstan.
Tulesova, known for her civic engagement and environmental activism, gained broad notoriety in Kazakhstan in April 2019 when she held up a protest banner during a marathon race in Almaty with the words, "You can't run from the truth."
Tulesova and her friend Beibarys Tolymbekov were later sentenced to 15 days in jail over that protest on charges of violating Kazakhstan's restrictive public-assembly law.
Human Rights Watch has urged Kazakh authorities to drop all charges against Tulesova and immediately release her from custody.


rferl--2020-08-12--Russia, Germany Highlight Shared Interest, Despite Frictions

Germany 's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Russian counterpart , Sergei Lavrov , have emphasized their nations ' shared interests despite lingering frictions .
During a visit to Moscow on August 11 to discuss wide-ranging issues , Maas reaffirmed Berlin 's interest in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline intended to carry Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea .
The pipeline , under construction in the Baltic Sea , would double Russia 's direct natural gas exports to Germany while bypassing Ukraine , which stands to lose billions of dollars in gas transit fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nord Stream 2 , which has increasingly become a source of friction between Berlin and Washington .
The United States argues the project will endanger European security by making Germany overly dependent on Russian gas .
The United States already has imposed sanctions aimed at companies working on the project , saying the pipeline will increase the European Union 's dependence on Russia for natural gas .
German officials have condemned the U.S. sanctions , and some critics argue that behind U.S. opposition to the pipeline project is its own desire to sell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maas noted the importance of Germany 's strong ties with Washington , but criticized the U.S. approach as inappropriate .
“ This [ transatlantic relationship ] goes deeper than just day-to-day developments , yet we must make it very clear that sanctions between partners are definitely the wrong way , and ultimately it remains our sovereign decision where we get our energy from , ” he said .
`` No state has the right to dictate Europe ’ s energy policy with threats , and this also will not work.
” Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of further U.S. sanctions against the project in a phone call with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .
Lavrov said that the pipeline stands to be completed this year despite U.S. efforts to derail the project .
Maas emphasized Russia 's global role but also the irritants that have strained relations between the two countries .
Maas described Russia as an essential partner in resolving “ the many conflicts and crises in the world.
” But Maas said the two countries must also be able to discuss issues that directly involve them both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a Russian accused of killing a Georgian man in Berlin a year ago and the accusations leveled at another Russian over his alleged role in the hacking of the German parliament .
`` It is important that we communicate well bilaterally , ” Maas said after the talks .
“ Wherever needed , it ’ s important that we talk openly .
That ’ s how we did it in the past as well , ” he said .
German prosecutors have filed murder charges against the Russian man accused of killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chechen ethnicity who fought against Russian troops in Chechnya .
The prosecutors said the suspect had acted on orders from the Russian authorities .
Khangoshvili was shot dead in Berlin in August last year .
The case prompted Germany to expel two Russian diplomats in December , citing a lack of cooperation with the investigation .
Moscow denied involvement and insisted it has remained ready to cooperate .
In the 2015 parliament hacking incident , German prosecutors have issued a warrant for Dmitry Badin , who is allegedly an officer with Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was already being sought by U.S. authorities and is believed to be part of the hacker group known as APT28 , or Fancy Bear .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cited “ hard evidence ” that correspondence from her parliamentary office was among the documents targeted in the attack .
“ We don ’ t have any interest that the German-Russian relations hit rocky waters -- that ’ s not where we want to have it , ” Maas said on August 11 , but added , “ Germany will protect the security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromises.
” Russia has rejected Germany ’ s allegations over Moscow 's involvement in the attack as `` absurd ” and “ unfounded.
” With reporting by AP and dpa

Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, have emphasized their nations' shared interests despite lingering frictions.
During a visit to Moscow on August 11 to discuss wide-ranging issues, Maas reaffirmed Berlin's interest in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline intended to carry Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea.
The pipeline, under construction in the Baltic Sea, would double Russia's direct natural gas exports to Germany while bypassing Ukraine, which stands to lose billions of dollars in gas transit fees.
The United States has long opposed Nord Stream 2, which has increasingly become a source of friction between Berlin and Washington. The United States argues the project will endanger European security by making Germany overly dependent on Russian gas.
The United States already has imposed sanctions aimed at companies working on the project, saying the pipeline will increase the European Union's dependence on Russia for natural gas.
German officials have condemned the U.S. sanctions, and some critics argue that behind U.S. opposition to the pipeline project is its own desire to sell its liquefied natural gas to Europe.
Maas noted the importance of Germany's strong ties with Washington, but criticized the U.S. approach as inappropriate.
“This [transatlantic relationship] goes deeper than just day-to-day developments, yet we must make it very clear that sanctions between partners are definitely the wrong way, and ultimately it remains our sovereign decision where we get our energy from,” he said.
"No state has the right to dictate Europe’s energy policy with threats, and this also will not work.”
Last week, Maas voice discontent over the threat of further U.S. sanctions against the project in a phone call with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Lavrov said that the pipeline stands to be completed this year despite U.S. efforts to derail the project.
Maas emphasized Russia's global role but also the irritants that have strained relations between the two countries.
Maas described Russia as an essential partner in resolving “the many conflicts and crises in the world.”
But Maas said the two countries must also be able to discuss issues that directly involve them both, such as charges brought in Germany against a Russian accused of killing a Georgian man in Berlin a year ago and the accusations leveled at another Russian over his alleged role in the hacking of the German parliament.
"It is important that we communicate well bilaterally,” Maas said after the talks.
“Wherever needed, it’s important that we talk openly. That’s how we did it in the past as well,” he said.
German prosecutors have filed murder charges against the Russian man accused of killing Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity who fought against Russian troops in Chechnya. The prosecutors said the suspect had acted on orders from the Russian authorities.
Khangoshvili was shot dead in Berlin in August last year.
The case prompted Germany to expel two Russian diplomats in December, citing a lack of cooperation with the investigation. Moscow denied involvement and insisted it has remained ready to cooperate.
In the 2015 parliament hacking incident, German prosecutors have issued a warrant for Dmitry Badin, who is allegedly an officer with Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency.
Badin was already being sought by U.S. authorities and is believed to be part of the hacker group known as APT28, or Fancy Bear.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has cited “hard evidence” that correspondence from her parliamentary office was among the documents targeted in the attack.
“We don’t have any interest that the German-Russian relations hit rocky waters -- that’s not where we want to have it,” Maas said on August 11, but added, “Germany will protect the security of the people online and offline without compromises.”
Russia has rejected Germany’s allegations over Moscow's involvement in the attack as "absurd” and “unfounded.”
With reporting by AP and dpa


rferl--2020-08-12--Iran Jails Two For Alleged Spying, Arrests Several Others On Espionage Charges

Iran said it arrested what it called “ a number of spies ” and jailed two men over alleged espionage for Britain , Germany , and Israel .
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said on August 11 that Iranian-Austrian citizen Masud Mosaheb had been sentenced to 10 years in prison .
Esmaili charged that Mosaheb , who served as chairman of the Iran-Austrian Friendship Society , was connected to German and Israeli intelligence and provided `` foreigners with information on military , nuclear , nanotechnology , and health-care projects.
” Austria ’ s Kurier newspaper reported that the 73-year-old Mosaheb had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a delegation to Iran for a medicine project .
The Austrian Foreign Ministry said it had no access to Mosaheb because Iran does not recognize dual nationals and considers dual nationals as subject to Iranian laws .
Esmaili claimed that the second jailed man , identified as Shahram Shirkhani , had been working for British intelligence .
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison .
The Iranian judiciary spokesman alleged that Shirkhani had sought to `` corrupt authorities and recruit '' people as well as give away information on `` contracts related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the Defense Ministry.
” Esmaili said five more people had been arrested recently for what authorities claim was espionage , but he did not provide names or elaborate on the charges against the accused .
Separately , Iran 's Intelligence Ministry said `` a number of spies related to foreign intelligence services were identified and arrested . ''
The ministry claims they `` sought to spy on sensitive and vital centers in the economic , nuclear , infrastructure , military , and political areas ” for U.S. , Israeli , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced several arrests , and in some cases executions , of people who 've been convicted by the Iranian courts on espionage charges .
With reporting by by AFP , Kurier , and Reuters


rferl--2020-08-11--Belarus Shaken By Third Night Of Postelection Protests

MINSK -- Belarus witnessed a third night of postelection protests on August 11 after top presidential challenger Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya left for Lithuania amid a widening government crackdown on the opposition .
Riot police fired tear gas , rubber bullets , and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital , Minsk , where livestreamed video and social media showed people being detained by police at multiple locations .
RFE/RL ’ s Belarus Service reported authorities were enforcing a de facto curfew , detaining people walking on the streets , stopping cars and detaining some drivers , and limiting public transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked people , journalists , and cars honking horns .
Security forces sought to prevent people gathering in central squares and near administrative buildings .
Several protesters were detained at the Pushkin subway station , which is expected to become a center of protest as people leave flowers and white ribbons to honor a man who died there on August 10 .
Demonstrations and clashes with police were also reported in several towns across the Eastern European country .
The protests appeared to be smaller than on previous nights when tens of thousands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge the results of what the opposition says was a rigged August 9 election extending President Alyaksandr Lukashenka ’ s 26-year rule .
Observers said the lower turnout may reflect the decentralized nature of the protests , part of a strategy of action at multiple locations in the capital to spread out security forces .
Internet service has also been down , depriving protesters of information about where to congregate .
The harsh crackdown – with more than 5,000 people detained , some 200 hospitalized , and one dead since the election – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenka a landslide victory with more than 80 percent of the vote while the official tally for his main rival , Tsikhanouskaya , was less than 10 percent .
The latest demonstrations took place after Tsikhanouskaya surfaced in Lithuania on August 11 following reports that a day earlier she had visited Belarus 's Central Election Commission ( CEC ) headquarters to file a complaint about the official outcome of the vote .
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told RFE/RL that his country took in Tsikhanouskaya to ensure her safety `` because there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can only judge that she did n't have much choice : either leave the country or the other consequences would not be good , ” Linkevicius said .
Appearing visually shaken in a video released on August 11 and uploaded on her husband 's -- Syarhey Tskihanouski -- YouTube channel , Tsikhanouskaya was shown reading a prepared statement in which she said she 'd made the decision to leave Belarus on her own .
The Lithuanian foreign minister told RFE/RL that Tsikhanouskaya had not recorded any videos in Lithuania , suggesting she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus when she made the remarks .
`` Well , you understand that when a person makes a decision under pressure , all the words said [ by her ] can not be accepted word-for-word , '' Linkevicius said .
`` I made a very difficult decision , '' Tsikhanouskaya said in the video shared by her husband after she 'd safely arrived in Lithuania .
`` That decision I made by myself .
Neither friends , relatives , the campaign team , nor Syarhey could affect it in any way .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many will judge me , and many will hate me .
But , you know , God forbid , [ you have to ] face the dilemma I had to face . ''
An ally of Tsikhanouskaya , Maryya Kalesnikava , said on August 11 that the video statement was made under duress while Tsikhanouskaya was being held without a lawyer for three hours by `` high-ranking law enforcement '' officers at the election commission headquarters in Minsk after she tried to register a formal complaint about the official election results .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Kalesnikava said .
`` The recent video is the result of these three hours . ''
A second video clip -- released on August 11 on the pro-government Belarusian Telegram channel Zhyoltye Slivy -- showed Tsikhanouskaya wearing the same clothing and sitting on a green couch that appeared strikingly similar to furniture in the office of the CEC chief .
In that video clip , Tsikhanouskaya unenthusiastically read a statement from a piece of paper without looking into the video camera -- calling on all Belarusians to exercise `` good judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to show `` respect for the law . ''
`` I do not want blood and violence , '' Tsikhanouskaya said in the 37-second video clip .
`` I ask you not to stand against police .
Do not go out to the squares so that you do not put your lives in danger .
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones . ''
Meanwhile , Tsikhanouskaya 's spokesperson , Volha Kavalkova , said on August 11 that Belarusian authorities had taken Tsikhanuskaya out of the country .
`` Svyatlana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is important that she is free and alive .
She left along with her campaign chief Maryya Maroz .
But part of Svyatlana ’ s team continues to be held hostage here ” in Belarus .
Kavalkova said Tsikhanouskaya 's campaign team now has two main goals -- to defend the choice of the Belarusian people and to stop violence and bloodshed .
Tsikhanouskaya entered the race after her husband , a popular vlogger and potential opposition candidate , was jailed .
The international community continues to weigh in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaring on August 11 that the vote was `` neither free nor fair '' and threatening to impose sanctions against those responsible for the violence against peaceful protesters and the falsification of election results .
If the EU were to impose sanctions on Belarus over its human rights record , it would unravel a rapprochement with Brussels in the wake of Brussels lifting sanctions on Minsk in 2016 .
The United States has similarly expressed concern over the election results and use of force against protesters .
With reporting by Current Time And @ @ @ @

MINSK -- Belarus has witnessed a fourth night of protests in Minsk and elsewhere against the reelection of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a vote that protesters say was rigged.
In several parts of Minsk, groups of hundreds of people formed human chains on August 12 to protest as people in cars honked horns and slowed to a crawl to block police vehicles.
Similar protests were held in at least five other cities, according to the Belarusian rights NGO Vyasna (Spring).
On Minsk's Dzerzhinsky Avenue, people stood on balconies, clapping in an expression of support, AP reported. A group of riot police arrived and fired rubber bullets at them.
An RFE/RL journalist and his wife were stopped as they were driving in that area by police. Vitaly Tsyhankov was pulled from the car by police, beaten, and thrown to the ground, before being detained, his wife said. She was also detained.
Earlier, Belarusian authorities admitted for the first time on August 12 using live ammunition against people protesting against the presidential election that handed the 65-year-old Lukashenka a sixth term as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed U.S. action to ensure a "good outcome for the Belarusian people."
At least one person has been killed and thousands detained after the August 9 poll that saw Lukashenka, in power since 1994, declared winner. His top challenger, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has left the country and is now in Lithuania.
Earlier in the day, women joined hands in Minsk and other towns and cities in Belarus on August 12 to protest the postelection crackdown.
This came after the Belarusian Interior Ministry said that a man was wounded in the western city of Brest overnight after law enforcement opened fire at a group of people who, police said, attacked them with iron bars.
It was the first such admittance by the authorities that live ammunition had been used against protesters.
The Investigative Committee also admitted a 25-year-old man detained at a street protest in Homel died after being transferred to a prison and then a hospital, making him the second person killed in the unrest.
The victim's mother told RFE/RL that her son had not participated in protests and was going to see his girlfriend when he was rounded up by police. She said her son had heart problems and believed he had been beaten.
Meanwhile, in an interview with RFE/RL during a visit to Prague on August 12, Pompeo said that "we've watched the violence and the aftermath, peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated."
The vote has resulted in three straight evenings of mass protests marred by police violence and thousands of detentions.
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response, but would work with Washington's European partners to determine what action to take.
According to the Belarusian Interior Ministry, protests were held in 25 towns and cities across Belarus on August 11.
"More than 1,000 people were detained for taking part in unsanctioned mass events. According to the Health Ministry, 51 people turned to medical institutions for help. Fourteen police and Interior Ministry troops sustained injuries of different degrees of severity, some of whom were hospitalized," the statement said.
WATCH: More footage of the crackdown overnight by RFE/RL's Belarus Service
Riot police have fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital, Minsk, and other cities since August 10.
Belarusian authorities said a day earlier that more than 5,000 people had been detained, some 200 hospitalized, and at least one death after protests erupted after the August 9 poll.
The demonstrations on August 11 took place after Tsikhanouskaya surfaced in Lithuania that day following reports that she had visited Central Election Comission headquarters on August 10 to file a complaint about the official outcome of the vote.
On August 12, hundreds of relatives of detained people gathered in front of the central detention center in Minsk in an attempt to get information about their loved ones.
They said that they could hear the screams of people apparently being beaten inside the detention center.
They chanted "Shame!" and "Fascists!" when an ambulance and four military vehicles came out of the detention center. They also loudly announced the time in the hope that it would help incarcerated people realize how long had passed since they were detained, as Belarusian law allows suspects to be kept in custody for 72 hours without access to a lawyer and family.
RFE/RL correspondents noticed individuals in military uniforms resembling snipers on the roofs of detention center buildings.
Human rights activists say all detention centers, police stations, and jails across the country are overcrowded with detained protesters and journalists.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAZh) issued a statement on August 12 calling on the authorities to stop targeted violence against media representatives.
According to the statement, 12 journalists detained by police while they were covering the protests across the country remain in custody. It remains unknown what they are accused of.
The BAZh said security forces deliberately used violence against journalists on August 11, intentionally damaging their equipment and confiscating memory cards.
The group demanded that the authorities stop the violence against reporters and immediately release all detained journalists.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers will discuss the developments in Belarus at their meeting on August 14, the 27-member bloc's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, announced on Twitter.
"We will discuss urgent issues and address the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Belarus presidential elections as well as developments in Lebanon," Borrell's tweet said.
In his earlier statement on Twitter Borrell called the election in Belarus "neither free nor fair."
"EU calls on [Belarusian] leadership to initiate genuine dialogue w/ broader society & stop unacceptable violence and crackdown on freedoms of assembly, media and expression. We will conduct in-depth review of our relations," Borrell tweeted.
Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich condemned the police violence against protesters, telling RFE/RL that "the authorities have declared war on their people" and Lukashenka should step down to prevent a bloody civil war.
"Leave before it's too late, before you have plunged the people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," the 72-year-old author said in her first remarks since the election.
"Nobody wants blood. Only you want power. And it's your desire for power that requires blood."


rferl--2020-08-13--France's Macron Holds Talks With Russian and Iranian Leaders Over Lebanon, Belarus

French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss post-election violence in Belarus and the situation in Lebanon following a devastating blast in Beirut .
Macron on August 12 also spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart , Hassan Rohani , urging Tehran to avoid interfering in Lebanon or escalating tensions .
Iran wields influence in Lebanon through the militant Shia Hizballah group , whose political wing was a major bloc in the outgoing Lebanese government and has an alliance with President Michel Aoun , a Maronite Christian .
Lebanon 's government under Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days of demonstrations in the wake of an explosion at the Beirut port on August 4 that devastated entire neighborhoods of the city and left 171 people dead .
In his talks with Rohani , Macron emphasized the `` necessity for all the powers concerned ... to avoid any outside interference and to support the putting in place of a government which can manage the emergency , '' the Elysee said .
The blast has been blamed on a large stock of ammonium nitrate allowed to sit for years at the port in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the political elite ’ s negligence and corruption .
Analysts say the political fallout from the blast may put pressure on Hizballah , the country ’ s strongest faction with a militant wing considered more powerful than the Lebanese army .
Macron visited Beirut in the wake of the blast and offered broad support for the former French protectorate , organizing an international donor conference that raised some $ 295 million in pledges to help Beirut .
In his talks with Putin , Macron urged Russia to cooperate with the international community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested that Russia should support Lebanon via collective efforts at the UN Security Council .
Putin and Macron also discussed Belarus , where protesters have faced a harsh crackdown following the August 9 presidential vote that the opposition says was rigged to grant strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth-straight term .
Macron told Putin he is `` very worried about the situation in Belarus and the violence that citizens have faced during the elections , '' the Elysee said in a statement .
`` He emphasized the need to find again the path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP , AP , dpa , and Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss postelection violence in Belarus and the situation in Lebanon following a devastating blast in Beirut.
Macron on August 12 also spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rohani, urging Tehran to avoid interfering in Lebanon or escalating tensions.
Iran wields influence in Lebanon through the militant Shi'ite Hizballah group, whose political wing was a major bloc in the outgoing Lebanese government and has an alliance with President Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian.
Lebanon's government under Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned this week following days of demonstrations in the wake of an explosion at the Beirut port on August 4 that devastated entire neighborhoods of the city and left 171 people dead.
In his talks with Rohani, Macron emphasized the "necessity for all the powers concerned...to avoid any outside interference and to support the putting in place of a government which can manage the emergency," the Elysee said.
The blast has been blamed on a large stock of ammonium nitrate allowed to sit for years at the port in what many in Lebanon consider another example of the political elite's negligence and corruption.
Analysts say the political fallout from the blast may put pressure on Hizballah, the country’s strongest faction with a militant wing considered more powerful than the Lebanese Army.
Macron visited Beirut in the wake of the blast and offered broad support for the former French protectorate, organizing an international donor conference that raised some $295 million in pledges to help Beirut.
In his talks with Putin, Macron urged Russia to cooperate with the international community in restoring stability to Lebanon.
Macron suggested that Russia should support Lebanon via collective efforts at the UN Security Council.
Putin and Macron also discussed Belarus, where protesters have faced a harsh crackdown following the August 9 presidential vote that the opposition says was rigged to grant strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth-straight term.
Macron told Putin he was "very worried about the situation in Belarus and the violence that citizens have faced during the elections," the Elysee said in a statement. "He emphasized the need to find again the path of dialogue."
With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters


rferl--2020-08-12--Belarusians Brave Beatings And Detentions As Post-Election Pressure Piles On Lukashenka

Belarusians defied a harsh crackdown in a fourth day of protests on August 12 that spilled into the night as pressure mounts on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka over a weekend vote the opposition says was rigged to extend the strongman ’ s 26-year rule .
Thousands of protesters hit the streets in Minsk and elsewhere across the Eastern European nation , braving the threat of beating and detention as Belarusian authorities admitted on August 12 to using live ammunition against protesters and news emerged that a second person had died in the unrest .
The spontaneous protests took many forms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 disputed election have used tear gas , rubber bullets , and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital and other cities .
In an interview with RFE/RL during a visit to Prague , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that `` we ’ ve watched the violence and the aftermath , peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated . ''
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response , but would work with Washington 's European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
EU foreign ministers are expected to meet on August 14 to discuss imposing sanctions on Belarus , which were previously lifted in 2016 .
In several parts of Minsk on August 12 , groups of hundreds of people formed human chains to protest as people in cars honked horns and slowed to a crawl to block police vehicles .
Similar protests were held in at least five other cities , according to the Belarusian rights NGO Vyasna ( Spring ) .
More than 130 doctors took part in an action against violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Dzerzhinsky Avenue near the medical university with flowers and posters .
According to the doctors , they came out to show that `` we are all together . ''
On Dzerzhinsky Avenue , people stood on balconies , clapping in an expression of support for protesters .
A group of riot police arrived and fired rubber bullets .
In Minsk and other towns , women dressed in white joined hands to form a human chain to protest the post-election crackdown .
The latest protests came as authorities said more than 6,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests since the August 9 vote , which the electoral body said Lukashenka won with 80 percent of the vote while the official tally for his main rival , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , was less than 10 percent .
Tsikhanouskaya has left the country and is now in Lithuania .
Hundreds of relatives of detained people gathered in front of the central detention center in Minsk on August 12 , trying to get information about their loved ones .
Human rights activists say detention centers , police stations , and jails across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Belarusian Interior Ministry said that a man was wounded in the western city of Brest overnight after law enforcement opened fire at a group of people who , police said , attacked them with iron bars .
It was the first such admittal by Belarusian authorities that live ammunition had been used against protesters .
The Investigative Committee also admitted a 25-year-old man detained at a street protest in Gomel died after being transferred to a prison , making him the second person killed in the unrest .
Meanwhile , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by police in Minsk as they were driving .
Vitaly Tsyhankov was pulled from the car by police , beaten , and thrown to the ground , before being detained , his wife said .
She was also detained .
The assault on the RFE/RL journalist came as the Belarusian Association of Journalists issued a statement on August 12 calling on the authorities to stop targeted violence against media representatives .
The journalist group said security forces have deliberately used violence against the media , intentionally damaged their equipment , and detained at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich condemned the police violence against protesters , telling RFE/RL that “ authorities have declared war on their people ” and Lukashenka should step down to prevent a bloody civil war .
“ Leave before it 's too late , before you have plunged the people into a terrible abyss , into the abyss of civil war , ” the 72-year-old author said in her first remarks since the election .
“ Nobody wants blood .
Only you want power .
And it ’ s your desire for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Current Time and RFE/RL 's Belarus Service

MINSK -- Belarusians have defied a harsh crackdown in a fourth day of protests that spilled into the night as pressure mounts on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka over a weekend vote the opposition says was rigged to extend the strongman’s 26-year rule.
Thousands of protesters hit the streets in Minsk and elsewhere across the country, braving the threat of beating and detention as Belarusian authorities admitted on August 12 to using live ammunition against protesters and news emerged that a second person had died in the unrest.
The spontaneous protests took many forms and came as riot police since the August 9 disputed election have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital and other cities.
In an interview with RFE/RL during a visit to Prague, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that "we’ve watched the violence and the aftermath, peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated."
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response, but would work with Washington's European partners to determine what action to take.
EU foreign ministers are expected to meet on August 14 to discuss imposing sanctions on Belarus, which were previously lifted in 2016.
In several parts of Minsk on August 12, groups of hundreds of people formed human chains to protest as people in cars honked horns and slowed to a crawl to block police vehicles. Similar protests were held in at least five other cities, according to the Belarusian rights NGO Vyasna (Spring).
More than 130 doctors took part in an action against violence in Minsk, gathering in white coats on Dzerzhinsky Avenue near the medical university with flowers and posters. According to the doctors, they came out to show that "we are all together."
On Dzerzhinsky Avenue, people stood on balconies, clapping in an expression of support for protesters. A group of riot police arrived and fired rubber bullets.
In Minsk and other towns, women dressed in white joined hands to form a human chain to protest the postelection crackdown.
The latest protests came as authorities said more than 6,000 people had been detained and hundreds injured in protests since the August 9 vote, which the election commission said Lukashenka won with 80 percent of the vote while the official tally for his main rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was less than 10 percent.
Tsikhanouskaya has left the country and is now in Lithuania.
Hundreds of relatives of detained people gathered in front of the central detention center in Minsk on August 12, trying to get information about their loved ones.
Human rights activists say detention centers, police stations, and jails across the country are overcrowded.
Earlier on August 12, the Belarusian Interior Ministry said that a man was wounded in the western city of Brest overnight after law enforcement opened fire at a group of people who, police said, attacked them with iron bars.
Belarus Votes For President Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
It was the first such admittance by the authorities that live ammunition had been used against protesters.
The Investigative Committee also admitted a 25-year-old man detained at a street protest in Homel died after being transferred to a prison and then a hospital, making him the second person killed in the unrest.
The victim's mother told RFE/RL that her son had not participated in protests and was going to see his girlfriend when he was rounded up by police. She said her son had heart problems and believed he had been beaten.
Meanwhile, an RFE/RL journalist was beaten and detained after being stopped with his wife by police in Minsk as they were driving. Vitaly Tsyhankov was pulled from the car by police, beaten, and thrown to the ground, before being detained, his wife said. She was also detained.
The assault on the RFE/RL journalist came as the Belarusian Association of Journalists on August 12 called on authorities to stop targeted violence against media representatives.
The journalist association said security forces had deliberately used violence against the media, intentionally damaged their equipment, and detained at least 12 journalists covering the unrest.
Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich condemned the police violence against protesters, telling RFE/RL that "the authorities have declared war on their people" and Lukashenka should step down to prevent a bloody civil war.
"Leave before it's too late, before you have plunged the people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," the 72-year-old author said in her first remarks since the election. "Nobody wants blood. Only you want power. And it's your desire for power that requires blood."
With reporting by Current Time and RFE/RL's Belarus Service


rferl--2020-08-12--Russian Vlogger Detained On Charges Of Violating State Secrecy

A Russian YouTuber who filmed industrial sites and abandoned facilities has been arrested on charges of illegally obtaining and disseminating @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow said on August 12 .
Andrei Pyzh , whose YouTube channel has nearly @ @ @ @ @ up to eight years in jail if found guilty .
It was not immediately clear @ @ @ @ @ accusation or not .
In his videos , Pyzh visited sites including abandoned bunkers and @ @ @ @ @ for Russia 's nuclear strike early-warning system , Russia 's Kommersant newspaper reported .
Details @ @ @ @ @ state secrets or treason seldom are publicized because authorities say they are classified .
That @ @ @ @ @ it nearly impossible to monitor them .
A court in Moscow told Reuters it had @ @ @ @ @ in custody on August 6 until October pending trial .
Based on reporting by Reuters @ @

A Russian YouTuber who filmed industrial sites and abandoned facilities has been arrested on charges of illegally obtaining and disseminating state secrets, a court in Moscow said on August 12.
Andrei Pyzh, whose YouTube channel has nearly 800,000 followers, could face up to eight years in jail if found guilty. It was not immediately clear whether he had denied the accusation or not.
In his videos, Pyzh visited sites including abandoned bunkers and a functioning radar station used for Russia's nuclear strike early-warning system, Russia's Kommersant newspaper reported.
Details of criminal cases involving Russian state secrets or treason seldom are publicized because authorities say they are classified. That, critics say, makes it nearly impossible to monitor them.
A court in Moscow told Reuters it had ordered Pyzh to be held in custody on August 6 until October pending trial.
Based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax


rferl--2020-08-12--Women Protest In Minsk, Elsewhere In Belarus To Protest Postelection Crackdown

Women in Minsk and elsewhere across Belarus on August 12 wore white and carried flowers as they formed human chains to protest against the massive security crackdown since the country ’ s presidential election .
Alyaksandr Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , won a sixth term in the country ’ s presidential election on August 9 amid opposition allegations the vote was rigged .
Lukashenka ’ s main competitor , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , has left Belarus and is now in neighboring Lithuania .
No vote under Lukashenka has been deemed free or fair by the West .
Thousands poured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on August 9 and a state-sponsored exit poll showed Lukashenka winning in a landslide over Tsikhanouskaya whose campaign gained momentum as the vote neared .
She attracted huge crowds at rallies across the country .
The West , including Washington , has condemned the election and the crackdown that has followed .
The European Union has said it is considering placing fresh sanctions on Belarus .
In the Belarusian capital , some 250 joined hands outside a market .
“ Stop beating us .
We just want a fair count of the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other peaceful protesters .
Violence is only being carried out by one side , ” the participants said .
When police arrived to disperse the gathering , the women lay their flowers down and walked off with their hands over their heads .
The independent Belarusian news site Tut.by said similar protests were held elsewhere on August 12 in Belarus .
According to RFE/RL ’ s Belarus Service , 15 women were briefly detained at the demonstration in Vitebsk .
It said four women were detained at a similar protest in Mahileu @

Women in Minsk and elsewhere across Belarus on August 12 wore white and carried flowers as they formed human chains to protest against the massive security crackdown since the country’s presidential election.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in power since 1994, won a sixth term in the country’s presidential election on August 9 amid opposition allegations the vote was rigged. Lukashenka’s main competitor, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has left Belarus and is now in neighboring Lithuania.
No vote under Lukashenka has been deemed free or fair by the West.
Thousands poured into the streets soon after polls closed on August 9 and a state-sponsored exit poll showed Lukashenka winning in a landslide over Tsikhanouskaya whose campaign gained momentum as the vote neared. She attracted huge crowds at rallies across the country.
The West, including Washington, has condemned the election and the crackdown that has followed. The European Union has said it is considering placing fresh sanctions on Belarus.
Belarus Votes For President Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
In the Belarusian capital, some 250 joined hands outside a market.
“Stop beating us. We just want a fair count of the votes. We came here unarmed just like the other peaceful protesters. Violence is only being carried out by one side,” the participants said.
When police arrived to disperse the gathering, the women lay their flowers down and walked off with their hands over their heads.
The independent Belarusian news site Tut.by said similar protests were held elsewhere on August 12 in Belarus.
Fifteen women were briefly detained at the demonstration in Vitebsk, while four women were detained at a similar protest in Mahilyou.


rferl--2020-08-12--Exclusive: Pompeo Vows U.S. Action To Ensure 'Good Outcome' For Belarusian People

PRAGUE -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , speaking about the contentious Belarusian presidential election and the ensuing police crackdown against peaceful protesters , says that `` we want good outcomes for the Belarusian people , and we 'll take actions consistent with that . ''
Pompeo , who earlier condemned the conduct of the election that handed authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth-straight term by a landslide , said in a wide-ranging interview with RFE/RL in Prague on August 12 that `` we 've watched the violence and the aftermath , peaceful protesters being treated in ways that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated . ''
The August 9 vote , which the opposition has called `` rigged , '' has resulted in three-straight evenings of mass protests marred by police violence and thousands of detentions .
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response , but would work with Washington 's European partners to determine what action to take .
Asked whether the election and its aftermath would affect the future of U.S.-Belarus relations , including the promised delivery of U.S. oil , Pompeo said : `` We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... we were incredibly troubled by the election and deeply disappointed that it was n't more free and more fair . ''
Pompeo , who was in Prague at the start of a five-day trip to Europe that will also take him to Slovenia , Austria , and Poland , discussed a number of other issues , including allegations that Russia was involved in offering Taliban militants bounties to attack U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan ; expectations that Washington will seek to extend the UN arms embargo against Iran ; and the effect violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have on Washington 's image abroad .
The U.S. secretary of state declined to comment on whether he believed U.S. intelligence reports that reportedly said Russia had offered money to the Taliban and their proxies in Afghanistan to kill U.S. soldiers , saying he never commented on U.S. intelligence matters .
`` What we 've said is this : If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans or for that matter , other Westerners as well , there will be an enormous price to pay , '' Pompeo said .
`` That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] Foreign Minister [ Sergei ] Lavrov .
I know our military has talked to their senior leaders as well .
We wo n't brook that .
We wo n't tolerate that . ''
WATCH : Pompeo Says He Warned Lavrov Over Bounties On U.S .
Troops Regarding the prospect of resistance among European allies to U.S. efforts to extend the expiring arms embargo on Iran indefinitely , Pompeo said it `` makes no sense for any European country to support the Iranians being able to have arms . ''
`` I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , '' he said of the U.S. proposal , a draft resolution of which is reportedly currently being floated in the 15-member Security Council .
`` And I hope that they will vote that way at the United Nations .
I hope they will see . ''
`` The resolution that we 're going to present is simply asking for a rollover of the extension of the arms embargo , '' Pompeo said .
`` It 's that straightforward.
” Asked specifically about the prospect that Iranian allies Russia and China could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary of state said : `` We 're going to make it come back .
We have the right to do it under 2231 and we 're going to do it . ''
UN Resolution 2231 was passed unanimously by the United Nations in 2015 , endorsing the Iran nuclear deal , known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) The United States withdrew from the deal , which offered sanctions relief to Tehran in exchange for security guarantees aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Russia to target foreign media operating there , which the secretary of state earlier warned would `` impose new burdensome requirements '' on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice Of America .
In an August 10 statement , Pompeo said that the two U.S.-funded media outlets already faced `` significant and undue restrictions '' in Russia , and that a recent draft order by Russia 's state media regulator requiring all media registered as `` foreign agents '' to label their content as such or face fines of up to 5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington `` deeply concerned . ''
In Prague , home of RFE/RL 's headquarters , on August 12 , Pompeo said that he believed that `` we think we can put real pressure and convince them that the right thing to do is to allow press freedom . ''
`` We 've condemned it .
We 've also imposed enormous sanctions on Russia for other elements of their malign activity , '' Pompeo said .
`` We hope that the rest of the world will join us in this .
We hope that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press , who want independent reporters to be able to ask questions , even if sometimes leaders do n't like them , will join with us . ''
Asked whether the recent handling of protests against social injustice in the United States , which has included the use of police force against civilians and journalists , had harmed Washington 's image and weakened its moral authority in scolding authoritarian regimes , Pompeo called the question `` insulting . ''
He said that the `` difference between the United States and these authoritarian regimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have the rule of law , we have the freedom of press , every one of those people gets due process .
When we have peaceful protesters , we create the space for them to say their mind , to speak their piece , '' he said .
`` Contrast that with what happens in an authoritarian regime .
To even begin to compare them , to somehow suggest that America 's moral authority is challenged by the amazing work that our police forces , our law enforcement people do all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just find the question itself incomprehensible and insulting . ''

PRAGUE -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, speaking about the contentious Belarusian presidential election and the ensuing police crackdown against peaceful protesters, says that "we want good outcomes for the Belarusian people, and we'll take actions consistent with that."
Pompeo, who earlier condemned the conduct of the election that handed authoritarian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth-straight term by a landslide, said in a wide-ranging interview with RFE/RL in Prague on August 12 that "we've watched the violence and the aftermath, peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated."
The August 9 vote, which the opposition has called "rigged," has resulted in three-straight evenings of mass protests marred by police violence and thousands of detentions.
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response, but would work with Washington's European partners to determine what action to take.
Asked whether the election and its aftermath would affect the future of U.S.-Belarus relations, including the promised delivery of U.S. oil, Pompeo said: "We're going to have to work through that...we were incredibly troubled by the election and deeply disappointed that it wasn't more free and more fair."
U.S. Troops In Afghanistan
Pompeo, who was in Prague at the start of a five-day trip to Europe that will also take him to Slovenia, Austria, and Poland, discussed a number of other issues, including allegations that Russia was involved in offering Taliban militants bounties to attack U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan; expectations that Washington will seek to extend the UN arms embargo against Iran; and the effect violence against protesters in the United States might have on Washington's image abroad.
The U.S. secretary of state declined to comment on whether he believed U.S. intelligence reports that reportedly said Russia had offered money to the Taliban and their proxies in Afghanistan to kill U.S. soldiers, saying he never commented on U.S. intelligence matters.
"What we've said is this: If the Russians are offering money to kill Americans or for that matter, other Westerners as well, there will be an enormous price to pay," Pompeo said. "That's what I shared with [Russian] Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov. I know our military has talked to their senior leaders as well. We won't brook that. We won't tolerate that."
WATCH: Pompeo Says He Warned Lavrov Over Bounties On U.S. Troops
Regarding the prospect of resistance among European allies to U.S. efforts to extend the expiring arms embargo on Iran indefinitely, Pompeo said it "makes no sense for any European country to support the Iranians being able to have arms."
"I think they recognize it for exactly what it is," he said of the U.S. proposal, a draft resolution of which is reportedly currently being floated in the 15-member Security Council. "And I hope that they will vote that way at the United Nations. I hope they will see."
"The resolution that we're going to present is simply asking for a rollover of the extension of the arms embargo," Pompeo said. "It's that straightforward.”
Asked specifically about the prospect that Iranian allies Russia and China could veto such a proposal, the U.S. secretary of state said: "We're going to make it come back. We have the right to do it under 2231 and we're going to do it."
UN Resolution 2231 was passed unanimously by the United Nations in 2015, endorsing the Iran nuclear deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
The United States withdrew from the deal, which offered sanctions relief to Tehran in exchange for security guarantees aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, in 2018.
Russian Media Pressure
Pompeo also discussed recent efforts by Russia to target foreign media operating there, which the secretary of state earlier warned would "impose new burdensome requirements" on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice Of America.
In an August 10 statement, Pompeo said that the two U.S.-funded media outlets already faced "significant and undue restrictions" in Russia, and that a recent draft order by Russia's state media regulator requiring all media registered as "foreign agents" to label their content as such or face fines of up to 5 million rubles ($70,000) had left Washington "deeply concerned."
In Prague, home of RFE/RL's headquarters, on August 12, Pompeo said that he believed that "we think we can put real pressure and convince them that the right thing to do is to allow press freedom."
"We've condemned it. We've also imposed enormous sanctions on Russia for other elements of their malign activity," Pompeo said. "We hope that the rest of the world will join us in this. We hope that those nations that value the freedom of press, who want independent reporters to be able to ask questions, even if sometimes leaders don't like them, will join with us."
(WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW)
Asked whether the recent handling of protests against social injustice in the United States, which has included the use of police force against civilians and journalists, had harmed Washington's image and weakened its moral authority in scolding authoritarian regimes, Pompeo called the question "insulting."
He said that the "difference between the United States and these authoritarian regimes couldn't be more clear."
"We have the rule of law, we have the freedom of press, every one of those people gets due process. When we have peaceful protesters, we create the space for them to say their mind, to speak their piece," he said.
"Contrast that with what happens in an authoritarian regime. To even begin to compare them, to somehow suggest that America's moral authority is challenged by the amazing work that our police forces, our law enforcement people do all across America -- I, frankly, just find the question itself incomprehensible and insulting."


rferl--2020-08-12--Armenian Prosecutor Demands Lengthy Jail Terms For Armed Group Members

A prosecutor in a high-profile trial in Armenia has demanded lengthy prison terms for members of an armed group that seized a police base in the capital Yerevan in 2016 and made political demands .
A majority of the more than two dozen members of Sasna Tsrer , a fringe opposition group involving a number of prominent Karabakh war veterans , were set free pending the outcome of their ongoing trial after the change of government in Armenia in 2018 .
Many of them were released under personal guarantees of parliament members .
After seizing the police compound in Yerevan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gunmen led by retired army Colonel Varuzhan Avetisian demanded that then-President Serzh Sarkisian free jailed nationalist politician Zhirayr Sefilian and step down .
They laid down their weapons after a two-week standoff with security forces which left three police officers dead and was accompanied by hostage-taking .
In his closing arguments in court on August 12 , prosecuting attorney Artur Chakhoian requested that Avetisian and another leader of the group , Pavel Manukian , be sentenced to 8 years and 9 months , and 9 years , respectively .
The prosecutor demanded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sasna Tsrer members Smbat Barseghian and Armen Bilian , respectively , accusing them of committing the murders of police officers .
He sought between 8 and 9 years in prison for other members of the group on trial .
During the trial , Sasna Tsrer members have defied the case for the prosecution , claiming that they exercised their right to uprising against what they viewed as an oppressive regime .
A political party formed around the Sasna Tsrer movement and , led by Avetisian , took part in Armenia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The party failed to clear the 5-percent threshold to enter the legislature by polling less than 2 percent of the vote .

A prosecutor in a high-profile trial in Armenia has demanded lengthy prison terms for members of an armed group that seized a police base in the capital Yerevan in 2016 and made political demands.
A majority of the more than two dozen members of Sasna Tsrer, a fringe opposition group involving a number of prominent Karabakh war veterans, were set free pending the outcome of their ongoing trial after the change of government in Armenia in 2018. Many of them were released under personal guarantees of parliament members.
After seizing the police compound in Yerevan’s Erebuni district in July 2016 the gunmen led by retired army Colonel Varuzhan Avetisian demanded that then-President Serzh Sarkisian free jailed nationalist politician Zhirayr Sefilian and step down.
They laid down their weapons after a two-week standoff with security forces which left three police officers dead and was accompanied by hostage-taking.
In his closing arguments in court on August 12, prosecuting attorney Artur Chakhoian requested that Avetisian and another leader of the group, Pavel Manukian, be sentenced to 8 years and 9 months, and 9 years, respectively.
The prosecutor demanded life imprisonment and 21 years in jail for Sasna Tsrer members Smbat Barseghian and Armen Bilian, respectively, accusing them of committing the murders of police officers.
He sought between 8 and 9 years in prison for other members of the group on trial.
During the trial, Sasna Tsrer members have defied the case for the prosecution, claiming that they exercised their right to uprising against what they viewed as an oppressive regime.
A political party formed around the Sasna Tsrer movement and, led by Avetisian, took part in Armenia’s early parliamentary elections in December 2018. The party failed to clear the 5-percent threshold to enter the legislature by polling less than 2 percent of the vote.


rferl--2020-08-12--Indigenous Peoples Of Russia's Far North March Against Nornickel

NORILSK , Russia -- Representatives of the indigenous peoples of Russia 's far northern Taimyr Peninsula have marched against operations of the world 's largest palladium and nickel producer -- Nornickel .
Dozens of members of the Nenets , Nganasans , Dolgans , and Enets communities marched in traditional dress across the industrial Arctic city of Norilsk on August 12 , saying their rights are being violated by local officials and large businesses -- including Nornickel -- operating in the region .
The protest lasted for more than an hour with many residents of the city joining the protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ world as the Day of Indigenous Peoples , but we have nothing to celebrate .
We are deprived of our rights to fish and hunt on the territories that we inherited from our ancestors and that are currently being exploited by companies that have enormous sums of money to ‘ win ’ tenders on our lands , '' one of the leaders of the group , Valeria Bolgova , told RFE/RL .
The protesters also charge that the authorities have blocked indigenous people from areas that have been designated as industrial zones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nornickel have fouled the local environment with their operations , impacting their traditional way of life .
Police briefly stopped the marchers on the grounds the event was not sanctioned but let them continue after deeming it to be peaceful and not an anti-government demonstration .
In early August , indigenous peoples of Russia 's North , Siberia , and Far East wrote a letter to the founder of SpaceX , Elon Musk , urging him to postpone plans to purchase nickel from Nornickel until an environmental impact study of the company ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published .
On May 29 , some 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into a river and Pyasino Lake near Norilsk from the reservoir of Nornickel 's thermal power plant .
Russia 's ecology watchdog , Rosprirodnadzor , has estimated the damage from the spill at $ 2 billion .
Last month , Nornickel reported that another 45 tons of fuel spilled into the local waters in the Arctic from its aviation fuel pipeline .

NORILSK, Russia -- Representatives of the indigenous peoples of Russia's far northern Taimyr Peninsula have marched against operations of the world's largest palladium and nickel producer -- Nornickel.
Dozens of members of the Nenets, Nganasans, Dolgans, and Enets communities marched in traditional dress across the industrial Arctic city of Norilsk on August 12, saying their rights are being violated by local officials and large businesses -- including Nornickel -- operating in the region.
The protest lasted for more than an hour with many residents of the city joining the protesters.
"August 9 was marked in the world as the Day of Indigenous Peoples, but we have nothing to celebrate. We are deprived of our rights to fish and hunt on the territories that we inherited from our ancestors and that are currently being exploited by companies that have enormous sums of money to ‘win’ tenders on our lands," one of the leaders of the group, Valeria Bolgova, told RFE/RL.
The protesters also charge that the authorities have blocked indigenous people from areas that have been designated as industrial zones.
They also complain that industrial companies like Nornickel have fouled the local environment with their operations, impacting their traditional way of life.
Police briefly stopped the marchers on the grounds the event was not sanctioned but let them continue after deeming it to be peaceful and not an anti-government demonstration.
In early August, indigenous peoples of Russia's North, Siberia, and Far East wrote a letter to the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, urging him to postpone plans to purchase nickel from Nornickel until an environmental impact study of the company’s activities on the local environment is published.
On May 29, some 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into a river and Pyasino Lake near Norilsk from the reservoir of Nornickel's thermal power plant.
Russia's ecology watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, has estimated the damage from the spill at $2 billion.
Last month, Nornickel reported that another 45 tons of fuel spilled into the local waters in the Arctic from its aviation fuel pipeline.


rferl--2020-08-12--Armenia To Extend State Of Emergency Over Coronavirus

YEREVAN -- The Armenian government has proposed the extension of the state of emergency related to the coronavirus pandemic by another month , citing the need to maintain the current positive trend in its fight against the outbreak .
At a special government meeting on August 12 , Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that he hoped that the fifth extension of the state of emergency will be the last , urging citizens to continue to follow anti-pandemic measures set by the authorities .
At the same time , the Armenian authorities have removed certain prohibitions and restrictions introduced in March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The monthly extensions of the state of emergency have increasingly been criticized by Armenian opposition groups in recent months .
Some of them claimed that Pashinian was exploiting the coronavirus crisis to ward off anti-government street protests .
Pashinian stressed that all bans and restrictions , including on political assembly , were based on the epidemiological situation and that their removal is also conditional on that .
“ If , God forbid , as a result of removing these restrictions we will see numbers climbing again , we will be forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned .
“ Going through hell today and having had 806 deaths caused by the novel coronavirus and 234 deaths among coronavirus patients due to their other preexisting conditions , we have a chance to get to a totally new situation in the fall , in fact overcoming [ the pandemic ] regardless of what will be happening in the [ rest of the ] world , ” Pashinian said .
Pashinian reiterated that wearing face masks in all public spaces , which has been mandatory in Armenia since June , will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s strategy .
“ If we show exceptional discipline in wearing face masks , we can consider that we -- I mean all of us , all our citizens -- have practically solved the coronavirus problem .
If not , we will get back to the July situation , ” Pashinian said , referring to the apparent peak of the pandemic in the first part of last month when more than 700 new coronavirus cases and about 15 deaths were reported in Armenia on a daily basis .
Since the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases have been recorded in the South Caucasus country , which has a population of about 3 million .
According to Armenia ’ s Ministry of Health , more than 33,000 people with the coronavirus have recovered from COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
Meanwhile , Justice Minister Rustam Badasian announced that Armenia will allow foreigners to come into the country by air but will require that they either self-isolate for 14 days or produce a negative coronavirus test before being allowed to move freely .
The decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 is scheduled to be discussed later on August 12 in parliament , where Pashinian ’ s My Step alliance has a commanding majority .

YEREVAN -- The Armenian government has proposed the extension of the state of emergency related to the coronavirus pandemic by another month, citing the need to maintain the current positive trend in its fight against the outbreak.
At a special government meeting on August 12, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that he hoped that the fifth extension of the state of emergency will be the last, urging citizens to continue to follow anti-pandemic measures set by the authorities.
At the same time, the Armenian authorities have removed certain prohibitions and restrictions introduced in March, including a ban on political assembly.
The monthly extensions of the state of emergency have increasingly been criticized by Armenian opposition groups in recent months. Some of them claimed that Pashinian was exploiting the coronavirus crisis to ward off anti-government street protests.
Pashinian stressed that all bans and restrictions, including on political assembly, were based on the epidemiological situation and that their removal is also conditional on that.
“If, God forbid, as a result of removing these restrictions we will see numbers climbing again, we will be forced to reintroduce them,” the prime minister warned.
“Going through hell today and having had 806 deaths caused by the novel coronavirus and 234 deaths among coronavirus patients due to their other preexisting conditions, we have a chance to get to a totally new situation in the fall, in fact overcoming [the pandemic] regardless of what will be happening in the [rest of the] world,” Pashinian said.
Pashinian reiterated that wearing face masks in all public spaces, which has been mandatory in Armenia since June, will continue to be the cornerstone of his government’s strategy.
“If we show exceptional discipline in wearing face masks, we can consider that we -- I mean all of us, all our citizens -- have practically solved the coronavirus problem. If not, we will get back to the July situation,” Pashinian said, referring to the apparent peak of the pandemic in the first part of last month when more than 700 new coronavirus cases and about 15 deaths were reported in Armenia on a daily basis.
Since the start of the pandemic in March, over 40,000 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the South Caucasus country, which has a population of about 3 million. According to Armenia’s Ministry of Health, more than 33,000 people with the coronavirus have recovered from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Rustam Badasian announced that Armenia will allow foreigners to come into the country by air but will require that they either self-isolate for 14 days or produce a negative coronavirus test before being allowed to move freely.
The decision to extend the state of emergency until September 11 is scheduled to be discussed later on August 12 in parliament, where Pashinian’s My Step alliance has a commanding majority.