rferl--2020-04-17--Former Ukrainian Lawmaker Under House Arrest On Suspicion Of Murder

KYIV -- A court in Kyiv has placed former lawmaker Tetyana Chornovol under house arrest on suspicion of murder during deadly antigovernment protests known as Euromaidan in February 2014 .
The Pechera district court ruled late on April 16 that Chornovol , a member of the European Solidarity party led by former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko , will stay under house arrest until June 8 .
Police searched Chornovol 's home in Kyiv on April 10 , and later she was officially informed that she was a suspect in the murder of an employee of the office of the pro-Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the party 's office in downtown Kyiv was set on fire .
Investigators say Chornovol led a group of people who set the building on fire , which the former lawmaker rejects .
Poroshenko last week criticized the State Bureau of Investigations ( DBR ) for launching the probe against Chornovol , a former investigative journalist well-known for her anti-Kremlin stance , calling it `` an attempt to rewrite the history under Moscow 's orders . ''
Ukraine 's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov also criticized the DBR for the investigation and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resign .
Avakov publicly recalled that Babikov used to be a lawyer of Russia-friendly former President Viktor Yanukovych , who led the Party of Regions before winning presidential election in February 2010 .
Yanukovych was toppled by the Euromaidan protests in February 2014 and has been residing in Russia ever since .
Weeks after he fled the country in late February 2014 , Russia illegally annexed Ukraine ’ s Black Sea Crimea peninsula and threw support to pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine 's east , where some 13,200 people were killed in the @ @ @

KYIV -- A court in Kyiv has placed former lawmaker Tetyana Chornovol under house arrest on suspicion of murder during deadly antigovernment protests known as Euromaidan in February 2014.
The Pechera district court ruled late on April 16 that Chornovol, a member of the European Solidarity party led by former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, will stay under house arrest until June 8.
Police searched Chornovol's home in Kyiv on April 10, and later she was officially informed that she was a suspect in the murder of an employee of the office of the pro-Russia Party of Regions.
The man died after the party's office in downtown Kyiv was set on fire. Investigators say Chornovol led a group of people who set the building on fire, which the former lawmaker rejects.
Poroshenko last week criticized the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) for launching the probe against Chornovol, a former investigative journalist well-known for her anti-Kremlin stance, calling it "an attempt to rewrite the history under Moscow's orders."
Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov also criticized the DBR for the investigation and called on the DBR's chief Oleksandr Babikov to resign.
Avakov publicly recalled that Babikov used to be a lawyer of Russia-friendly former President Viktor Yanukovych, who led the Party of Regions before winning presidential election in February 2010.
Yanukovych was toppled by the Euromaidan protests in February 2014 and has been residing in Russia ever since.
Weeks after he fled the country in late February 2014, Russia illegally annexed Ukraine’s Black Sea Crimea peninsula and threw support to pro-Moscow separatists in Ukraine's east, where some 13,200 people were killed in the ongoing conflict.


rferl--2020-04-17--RFE/RL Chief Welcomes Almaty Court Ruling Over Police Inaction Over Attack On RFE/RL Reporters

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has welcomed a Kazakh court ruling that an investigation should continue into the failure of police to act against individuals who attacked the broadcaster 's reporters and hindered their professional activities .
The Almaty City Investigation Court on April 15 agreed with a lawsuit filed by Aiman Omarova , a lawyer for RFE/RL , against police and asked for a deeper investigation of the incident .
`` We welcome the court 's ruling that an investigation should continue into inaction by Kazakh law enforcement during a series of attacks against RFE/RL journalists last year , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement on April 17 .
`` Police inaction , on numerous occasions , abetted physical attacks against our reporters and lent impunity to people who sought to interfere with our reporting and the duties of an independent press .
I once again call upon the Kazakh government to take this issue seriously and to prosecute those responsible , ” he added .
During mass antigovernment rallies in Almaty last March , several unknown people aggressively covered RFE/RL cameras with newspapers and began physically and verbally abusing them .
RFE/RL correspondents in Almaty filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking them to identify the attackers and bring them to justice .
Omarova subsequently filed a lawsuit against police , accusing them of inaction when the case failed to develop .
Tamara Kaleyeva , chairwoman of the Adil Soz ( A Just Word ) group that protects journalists ' rights , told RFE/RL on April 15 that reporters in Kazakhstan rarely file lawsuits against police in such cases because `` they almost never reach the courts . ''
Kazakhstan ranked 158th out of 179 countries in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has welcomed a Kazakh court ruling that an investigation should continue into the failure of police to act against individuals who attacked the broadcaster's reporters and hindered their professional activities.
The Almaty City Investigation Court on April 15 agreed with a lawsuit filed by Aiman Omarova, a lawyer for RFE/RL, against police and asked for a deeper investigation of the incident.
"We welcome the court's ruling that an investigation should continue into inaction by Kazakh law enforcement during a series of attacks against RFE/RL journalists last year," RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said in a statement on April 17.
"Police inaction, on numerous occasions, abetted physical attacks against our reporters and lent impunity to people who sought to interfere with our reporting and the duties of an independent press. I once again call upon the Kazakh government to take this issue seriously and to prosecute those responsible,” he added.
During mass antigovernment rallies in Almaty last March, several unknown people aggressively covered RFE/RL cameras with newspapers and began physically and verbally abusing them.
RFE/RL correspondents in Almaty filed an official request with local police, asking them to identify the attackers and bring them to justice.
Omarova subsequently filed a lawsuit against police, accusing them of inaction when the case failed to develop.
Tamara Kaleyeva, chairwoman of the Adil Soz (A Just Word) group that protects journalists' rights, told RFE/RL on April 15 that reporters in Kazakhstan rarely file lawsuits against police in such cases because "they almost never reach the courts."
Kazakhstan ranked 158th out of 179 countries in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index published by the rights group Reporters Without Borders.


rferl--2020-04-17--Gunmen Kill Six Local Contractors Near Main U.S. Base In Afghanistan

Gunmen have shot dead six local contractors who worked at the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan .
Wahida Shahkar @ @ @ @ @ governor of Parwan Province , said the incident occurred late April 16 some 500 meters @ @ @ @ @ of Kabul .
Shahkar said the contractors , most of them cleaners , were in @ @ @ @ @ gunmen `` affiliated with the Taliban '' fired on them .
He said the gunmen @ @ @ @ @ any involvement in the attack .
Similar attacks in the past have been blamed on @ @ @ @ @ IS ) militants .
IS militants claimed responsibility for firing five rockets from a vehicle @ @ @ @ @ 9 , but there were no casualties .
Taliban militants have been carrying out attacks @ @ @ @ @ with the United States in February aimed at ending the 18-year war .
Based on @ @ @ @ @ AP

The education of girls and women is universally accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, including nearly 50 Muslim-majority nations.
But Afghanistan’s hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers have banned teenage girls from attending school after the sixth grade since they returned to power two years ago. The ban was extended in December to women in universities.
Countless protests by Afghans inside the country, pressure from the international community, and lobbying by Muslim scholars and clerics have failed to convince the fundamentalist Taliban leaders to reopen schools.
Experts are divided over whether the ban is rooted in how the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam is shaped by conservative Pashtun tribal customs and cultural practices or if it is prompted by how senior Taliban ideologues interpret Islamic teachings.
Most Taliban leaders are ethnic Pashtun, Sunni Muslim clerics. Many were educated in Deobandi madrasahs in neighboring Pakistan. Deobandism emerged as a puritanical Islamic revivalist movement in 19-century British Colonial India. Based on the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is a prominent strain among Islamists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tribal Influences
Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, argues that the Taliban restrictions against women are linked to social customs and cultural practices in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
Most Taliban leaders come from various Pashtun rural tribal communities in these regions bordering Pakistan.
"They believe that a woman's place is either inside a house or in a grave," Yousafzai said of the basic Taliban belief influenced by the status of women in the families of clerics and religious leaders in these Pashtun regions.
“Women living in the households of the current Taliban policymakers were never educated and never left their homes,” said Yousafzai, who has tracked the Islamist group since it emerged as a ragtag militia in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar in late 1994. “These women never performed any government or nongovernmental jobs.”
Yousafzai says the Taliban backs policies shaped by this worldview by leaning on Islamic teachings supporting such ideas. He says Taliban leaders rely on sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that discourage women from leaving their homes.
“Their primary belief is that pubescent girls should not leave home under any circumstance,” he said. “This is why they view women leaving home for education or work as engaging in moral corruption.”
In Afghanistan, a Muslim nation of some 40 million people, activists and rights advocates accuse the Taliban of implementing "gender apartheid" by denying women education, work, freedom of movement, and deciding how they can appear in public.
Most Muslims agree that Islam allows women to get an education. Yet the Taliban publicly says that it will allow girls access to education only after ensuring complete gender segregation and other unspecified conditions.
Almost all Afghan secondary schools were gender segregated and universities imposed a strict separation between men and women after the Taliban takeover.
Yousafzai says in conservative and traditional Muslim societies around the world, some clerics also favor restrictions on women's education, work, and their role in public life. But the governments in those countries usually oppose or limit such ideas.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia -- one of the most conservative Sunni Muslim nations -- has allowed women to drive and granted them freedom of movement without a male guardian. These steps are part of a reform and modernity drive by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
The Taliban ban on education has invited universal condemnation from Muslims globally.
“The Taliban's ban on women's education is not rooted in [the Islamic] Shari’a law but rather reflects cultural biases that contradict the teachings of Islam,” said Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the United States.
He said that contrary to Taliban practices, “Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and encourages all individuals, regardless of gender, to acquire an education.”
Historical Conflict
But Islamic scholars and those who have attempted to convince the Taliban about reopening girls schools offer a different explanation.
John Mohammad Butt, an Islamic scholar and former BBC broadcaster who is the only Westerner to graduate from India’s Darul Uloom Deoband, argues that the Taliban's policy on girls' education is not tribal but shaped by the century-old conflict over modern education.
“The problem is that girls' education in Afghanistan -- indeed, contemporary education in general -- has generally been introduced in Afghanistan in line with a secular agenda,” he said.
In the 1920s, a coalition of conservative clerics and tribal and community leaders deposed reformist King Amanullah Khan. He wanted to modernize Afghanistan along Turkish leader Kamal Ataturk's secular lines and championed modern education and rights for women.
This opposition to modernity and secularism continued, and conservative clerics opposed women's education and work. It became a key part of the Islamist opposition to the pro-Soviet Afghan communist governments after the April 1978 military coup that ended the Afghan monarchy. The mujahedin accused the communists of spreading immorality by promoting women’s education and empowerment.
“This has led to particular wariness on the part of conservative circles in Afghanistan with regard to girls' education,” Butt said.
'Deep Ideological Conviction'
Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, became part of an effort to rescind the ban by talking to the Taliban last year.
But he says the effort failed because “the ban is a matter of deep ideological conviction” for the current supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.
Baheer says that the most prominent Taliban leaders have studied in Pakistani madrasahs and were thus disconnected from village and tribal life.
“They have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought so that they now enforce the strictest version of Islam on the Afghan population,” he said.
He argues that the ban on girls’ schools is a deliberate policy championed by Akhundzada, who he says has endorsed Taliban Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani's Arabic language book The Islamic Emirate And Its System. In this book, Haqqani supports a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.
Baheer says Haqqani ignores his other wives and other female companions that played an active role in many sectors of society and how they served as students and teachers for men.
“This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of,” he said.
Butt says that even Haqqani has acknowledged the principle that if there is something that women need to act upon, then that is also something that women need to learn about.
“I hope the Taliban authorities will come to realize in the not-too-distant future that education for women will make Afghan women into better Muslims,” he says. “It will enable them to make a stronger contribution to the well-being of their country.”
Two years after grappling with the issue, Western diplomats appear to be encouraging Afghan conservative and clerical circles to find ways to end the ban.
Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, recently tweeted that Afghan women must be educated and contribute to the economy to help their country stand on its own two feet.
“If change to policies is made, it will be because Afghans have asked for it, not a result of foreign requests,” he wrote.


rferl--2020-04-17--U.S.-Russian Crew Lands Safely In Kazakhstan After More Than 200 Days In Space

Three members of the U.S.-Russian crew have returned to Earth after spending several months at the International Space Station ( @ @ @ @ @ s Roskosmos space agency said the Soyuz MS-15 capsule carrying the crew chief , Russian @ @ @ @ @ NASA Flight Engineers Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan landed safely on April 17 in Kazakhstan @ @ @ @ @ 205 days in orbit , while Morgan ’ s time in space lasted 272 days @ @ @ @ @ by U.S. astronaut Christopher Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner , who @ @ @ @ @ April 10 .
Due to the coronavirus pandemic , instead of being brought to the @ @ @ @ @ Kazakhstan for traditional welcome ceremonies , the crew members were taken straight to the Baikonur @ @ @ @ @ of Qyzylorda .
The U.S. astronauts will fly aboard a NASA plane directly from Qyzylorda @ @ @ @ @ crew ’ s commander Skripochka will fly back to Russia .
The ISS , which @ @ @ @ @ Earth , is tasked with conducting scientific experiments .

Three members of the U.S.-Russian crew have returned to Earth after spending several months at the International Space Station (ISS).
Russia’s Roskosmos space agency said the Soyuz MS-15 capsule carrying the crew chief, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, and NASA Flight Engineers Jessica Meir and Andrew Morgan landed safely on April 17 in Kazakhstan.
Skripochka and Meir spent 205 days in orbit, while Morgan’s time in space lasted 272 days.
The crew was replaced by U.S. astronaut Christopher Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, who docked with the ISS on April 10.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, instead of being brought to the city of Qaraghandy in central Kazakhstan for traditional welcome ceremonies, the crew members were taken straight to the Baikonur space complex near the city of Qyzylorda.
The U.S. astronauts will fly aboard a NASA plane directly from Qyzylorda to Houston, while the crew’s commander Skripochka will fly back to Russia.
The ISS, which orbits about 400 kilometers above Earth, is tasked with conducting scientific experiments.


rferl--2020-04-17--Well-Known Turkmen Actor 'Under Arrest' For Allegedly Being Gay

ASHGABAT -- A well-known Turkmen entertainer has reportedly been arrested on charges of being gay , which is a crime @ @ @ @ @ nation .
The Turkmen.news website cited several sources in the Turkmen capital , Ashgabat , @ @ @ @ @ and showman , whose identity was not disclosed , was arrested along with about a @ @ @ @ @ his partner , in late March .
According to the report , some of those @ @ @ @ @ they paid bribes .
A source in Ashgabat confirmed to RFE/RL that the man was @ @ @ @ @ has been impossible to obtain any clarification of the situation from the authorities .
The @ @ @ @ @ Code envisions up to two years in prison for homosexual relations .
The issue is @ @ @ @ @ sentiment among many Turkmens is very strong .
Last year , a young doctor in @ @ @ @ @ and members of his family faced pressure after he came out as gay and spoke @ @ @ @ @ by homosexuals in Turkmenistan .

ASHGABAT -- A well-known Turkmen entertainer has reportedly been arrested on charges of being gay, which is a crime in the tightly-controlled Central Asian nation.
The Turkmen.news website cited several sources in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, as saying that the actor and showman, whose identity was not disclosed, was arrested along with about a dozen other people, including his partner, in late March.
According to the report, some of those arrested were later released after they paid bribes.
A source in Ashgabat confirmed to RFE/RL that the man was under arrest, but it has been impossible to obtain any clarification of the situation from the authorities.
The former Soviet republic's Criminal Code envisions up to two years in prison for homosexual relations.
The issue is a social taboo and anti-gay sentiment among many Turkmens is very strong.
Last year, a young doctor in Ashgabat, Kasymberdy Garayev, and members of his family faced pressure after he came out as gay and spoke to RFE/RL about problems faced by homosexuals in Turkmenistan.
With reporting by Turkmen.news


rferl--2020-04-17--Detained Iranian Instagram Celebrity On Ventilator After Contracting Coronavirus

A detained Iranian Instagram celebrity has been placed on a ventilator in a hospital in Tehran after contracting the coronavirus while in prison .
Fatemeh Khishvand , 18 , known as Sahar Tabar , has been detained since October 2019 amid a judiciary crackdown on Instagram celebrities .
Khishvand 's lawyer , Payam Derafshan , said that revolutionary court judge Mohammad Moghiseh , who in charge of her case , has refused to release her despite the deadly coronavirus pandemic in the country .
Moghiseh is known for issuing harsh sentences to activists , dissidents and others .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has now caught the coronavirus in these circumstances while her detention order has been extended during all this time in jail , '' Derafshan told the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran ( CHRI ) on April 15 .
Iran has the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East with a death toll nearing 5,000 and and some 78,000 infections , according to official figures .
Real figures are believed to be significantly higher .
“ We went to Moghiseh ’ s office many times and asked him to cancel the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Derafshan told the Center for Human Rights in Iran .
`` All of the other people accused in this case have been released and our client is the only one who has remained in detention… But the judge said no , '' he added .
Khishvand has been charged with `` corruption on Earth , '' `` incitement to corruption by encouraging youth to engage in lunacy , '' `` insulting the sacred , '' and `` acquiring illicit income , '' the Center for Human Rights in Iran reported .
Khishvand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page where she would drastically alter her appearance to resemble what has been described as a zombie version of actress Angelina Jolie .
Her Instagram page was deleted following her arrest .
Instagram is the only major global social media service accessible in Iran , which has banned Facebook , Twitter , and the Telegram messenger service .
Many Iranians use it to share news and information and conduct business .
Derafshan called on Iranian authorities to release Khishvand and other prisoners detained on nonviolent charges .
`` We want the authorities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoners to be temporarily released .
In the absence of judges who are sick or not coming to work , this is the only solution , '' he said .
In recent weeks , thousands of prisoners have been temporarily released in Iran in an effort to combat the spread of the virus in overcrowded prisons .
A judiciary spokesman said last month that inmates had been released on bail after testing negative for COVID-19 .
Many , however , remain in jail , including prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh , rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Siamak Namazi .

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--2020-04-17--Arrested Top Ukrainian Security Officer 'Planned Interior Minister's Assassination'

A top security official in Ukraine who was arrested for alleged collaboration with Russia 's Federal Security Service ( FSB ) is suspected in plotting the assassination of Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov .
Avakov 's deputy , Anton Herashchenko , said in a televised interview late on April 16 that Major General Valeriy Shaytanov of the Security Service of Ukraine ( SBU ) is suspected in planning to murder Avakov and Adam Osmayev , the leader of Chechen volunteers who fought alongside Ukrainian soldiers against Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine ’ s east .
Earlier in the day , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer also suspected of collaborating with the FSB along with Shaytanov .
Shaytanov was detained on April 14 on suspicion of high treason and terrorism .
A day later , the FSB announced that it detained a Russian servicewoman and a Ukrainian national in the annexed Crimea region for alleged espionage for Ukraine .
Ukrainian-Russian relations have been strained since 2014 , when Russia seized Crimea after sending in troops and staging a referendum deemed illegitimate by at least 100 countries .
In April that year , Russia threw its support behind armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Donetsk and Luhansk , where some 13,200 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict .
Based on reporting by Ukrayina 24 , Ukrayinska Pravda , and UNIAN

A top security official in Ukraine who was arrested for alleged collaboration with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) is suspected in plotting the assassination of Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.
Avakov's deputy, Anton Herashchenko, said in a televised interview late on April 16 that Major General Valeriy Shaytanov of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is suspected in planning to murder Avakov and Adam Osmayev, the leader of Chechen volunteers who fought alongside Ukrainian soldiers against Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine’s east.
Earlier in the day, the SBU said it detained an unidentified former officer also suspected of collaborating with the FSB along with Shaytanov.
Shaytanov was detained on April 14 on suspicion of high treason and terrorism.
A day later, the FSB announced that it detained a Russian servicewoman and a Ukrainian national in the annexed Crimea region for alleged espionage for Ukraine.
Ukrainian-Russian relations have been strained since 2014, when Russia seized Crimea after sending in troops and staging a referendum deemed illegitimate by at least 100 countries.
In April that year, Russia threw its support behind armed separatists in Ukraine’s eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, where some 13,200 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Based on reporting by Ukrayina 24, Ukrayinska Pravda, and UNIAN


rferl--2020-04-17--Taliban Says It Released 20 More Afghan Government Prisoners

The Taliban says it has released a second group of Afghan security forces it has been holding captive as part of a delayed swap considered key to paving the way for peace talks between the two sides .
Suhail Shaheen , the spokesman for the Taliban ’ s political office in Qatar , said on Twitter late on April 16 that 20 Afghan soldiers and police officers were set free in the eastern province of Laghman earlier in the day .
Another Taliban spokesman , Zabihullah Mujahid , said in a tweet on April 16 that the prisoners were handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Red Cross ( ICRC ) .
Neither the ICRC nor the Afghan government have confirmed the release .
If confirmed , it would bring the total number of prisoners released by the militants to 40 .
The Taliban released 20 Afghan troops in the southern province of Kandahar on April 12 .
The Kabul government has released a total of 300 Taliban inmates since April 8 .
A pact signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks aimed at ending the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan .
The Taliban has vowed to release some 1,000 Afghan government troops and civilian workers it is holding .
The prisoner swap was scheduled to be completed by March 10 , before the start of intra-Afghan peace talks .
But it has been delayed by disputes between the sides .


rferl--2020-04-17--COVID-19: IMF Approves $1.39 Billion In Emergency Pandemic Aid For Pakistan

The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 145,000 with over 2.1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
The International Monetary Fund 's ( IMF ) Executive Board on April 16 approved $ 1.39 billion in emergency financing to Pakistan to help it address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
The funds will help Pakistan meet the “ urgent balance of payment needs ” stemming from the outbreak , the IMF said in a news release .
Geoffrey Okamoto , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , is having a significant impact on the Pakistani economy .
The urgent balance of payments needs have been created by domestic containment measures coupled with the global economic downturn , Okamoto said .
These are “ severely affecting growth and straining external financing , ” he said .
The funds will help Pakistan deal with a decline in international reserves and allow it to fund temporary spending aimed at containing the pandemic and mitigating its economic impact , the IMF said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the authorities have swiftly put in place measures to contain the impact of the shock and support economic activity , ” the IMF said .
“ Crucially , health spending has been increased and social support strengthened.
” Pakistan 's government on April 14 announced an extension of the nationwide shutdown and restrictions on public gatherings for another two weeks .
Educational institutions will also remain shut during that period .
The government has said , however , that a number of industries would be allowed to operate if they adhere to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction industry .
Pakistan has already been in lockdown for three weeks , prompting warnings that a prolonged economic halt could push half of the country ’ s population into poverty .
Pakistan has reported about 7,000 coronavirus cases and 128 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Bulgaria has banned traffic entering and leaving Sofia starting on April 17 and lasting through the Orthodox Easter holiday in a move to strengthen measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
The ban is necessary because of a “ massive departure ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week ahead of the four-day holiday weekend , according to Interior Minister Mladen Marinow .
General Ventsislav Mutafchiiski , the chief of Bulgaria 's National Operations Headquarters , said the departures were very worrying because Sofia is the center of the outbreak in the country and the movement will lead to a worsening of the coronavirus spread .
Mutafchiiski did not rule out even stricter measures to crack down on the movements of some Bulgarians .
The order was issued by Health Minister Kiril Ananiev late on April 16 at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ananiev said exceptions are allowed for police cars , ambulances , delivery trucks , and telecommunications company vehicles .
Traffic inside the city will not be restricted .
The number of coronavirus infections in Bulgaria jumped to 800 on April 16 , with 38 deaths recorded in the country , according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
Around 4,000 churches in Bulgaria will remain open during the Orthodox Easter weekend , but the parishioners have been asked not to go out and instead to pray at home because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and petrol stations are the only businesses open in Bulgaria .
The country ’ s state of emergency has been extended until May 13 .
With reporting by dpa and RFE/RL 's Bulgarian Service

The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 145,000 with over 2.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Central Asia
Uzbek authorities have temporarily banned the use of bicycles in the country except as transportation for workers between their jobs and their homes.
Interior Ministry spokesman Shohrukh Ghiyosov told reporters on April 17 that individuals traveling to their jobs on bicycles must carry three documents -- their Uzbek identification card, a document confirming their employment, and a letter from their employer confirming that their presence at work during the coronavirus lockdown is essential.
Uzbek health authorities said early on April 17 that the number of coronavirus infections in the country was 1,390, with four deaths.
In neighboring Tajikistan, religious leaders announced on April 17 that no daily "tarawih" prayers will be performed in mosques during the month of Ramadan, which starts next week.
Religious leaders in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan announced similar fatwas days earlier.
Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have not officially declared any coronavirus cases. But experts are skeptical of the claims, given the lack of transparency within those governments and a lack of independent media.
In Kazakhstan, health officials said on April 17 that 1,498 people had tested positive for coronavirus and that 17 had died. Those infected in Kazakhstan include 423 medical personnel.
In Kyrgyzstan, the latest coronavirus tally on April 17 was 489 infections, including five deaths.
Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) executive board has approved $1.39 billion in emergency financing to Pakistan to help it address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The funds will help Pakistan meet the "urgent balance-of-payment needs" stemming from the outbreak, the IMF said in a news release.
Geoffrey Okamoto, first deputy managing director, said the outbreak of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, is having a significant impact on the Pakistani economy.
The urgent balance-of-payments needs have been created by domestic containment measures coupled with the global economic downturn, Okamoto said. These are “severely affecting growth and straining external financing,” he said.
The funds will help Pakistan deal with a decline in international reserves and allow it to fund temporary spending aimed at containing the pandemic and mitigating its economic impact, the IMF said.
“With the near-term outlook deteriorating sharply, the authorities have swiftly put in place measures to contain the impact of the shock and support economic activity,” the IMF said. “Crucially, health spending has been increased and social support strengthened.”
Pakistan's government on April 14 announced an extension of the nationwide shutdown and restrictions on public gatherings for another two weeks. Educational institutions will also remain shut during that period.
The government has said, however, that a number of industries would be allowed to operate if they adhere to safety guidelines. Among them is the construction industry.
Pakistan has already been in lockdown for three weeks, prompting warnings that a prolonged economic halt could push half of the country’s population into poverty.
Pakistan has reported about 7,000 coronavirus cases and 128 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Serbia/Kosovo
Health officials in Belgrade and Pristina have confirmed that Serbia has delivered 1,000 coronavirus test kits to Kosovo.
A Serbian health official described the April 17 delivery as a sign of "solidarity" -- despite trade frictions, a recent history of conflict, and Belgrade's refusal to recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia.
A Serbian official familiar with the test-kit delivery said Belgrade dispatched the kits without any political conditions. He said the reason for the delivery was "solely the desire to help overcome this virus problem."
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the coronavirus pandemic had been "a stark reminder that we can only resolve many problems together."
Meanwhile, Kosovar Health Ministry spokesman Faik Hoti confirmed that Serbia had made the donation.
Hoti said on Facebook that the donation would be added to about 3,100 test kits in stock.
Pristina is also expected to soon announce the winner of a tender for 13,000 more test kits, Hoti said.
Kosovo has reported 449 infections, including of 17 health workers, and 11 deaths.
Serbia has so far reported 5,790 confirmed cases and 110 deaths from the coronavirus infection.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has banned traffic entering and leaving Sofia starting on April 17 and lasting through the Orthodox Easter holiday in a move to strengthen measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The ban is necessary because of a “massive departure” of Bulgarians from the capital in cars earlier this week ahead of the four-day holiday weekend, according to Interior Minister Mladen Marinov.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
General Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, the chief of Bulgaria's National Operations Headquarters, said the departures were very worrying because Sofia is the center of the outbreak in the country and the movement will lead to a worsening of the coronavirus spread.
Mutafchiiski did not rule out even stricter measures to crack down on the movements of some Bulgarians.
The order was issued by Health Minister Kiril Ananiev late on April 16 at an extraordinary briefing of the Council of Ministers.
Ananiev said exceptions are allowed for police cars, ambulances, delivery trucks, and telecommunications company vehicles. Traffic inside the city will not be restricted.
The number of coronavirus infections in Bulgaria jumped to 800 on April 16, with 38 deaths recorded in the country, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University.
Around 4,000 churches in Bulgaria will remain open during the Orthodox Easter weekend, but the parishioners have been asked not to go out and instead to pray at home because of the infection risk.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, and petrol stations are the only businesses open in Bulgaria. The country’s state of emergency has been extended until May 13.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan, Bulgarian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek services, Reuters, and dpa


rferl--2020-04-17--Firefighters Sent To Battle New Blazes Near Chernobyl In Ukraine

More than 1,000 firefighters have been sent to extinguish new fires that broke out in the radiation-contaminated area around the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant .
Three new fires broke out on April 16 but were `` not large-scale and not threatening , ” Ukrainian officials said .
Gusty winds fanning the flames have made it harder to put them out .
Volodymyr Demchuk , director of the Emergency Response Department , said in a video statement the “ radioactive background ” in Kyiv and the Kyiv region “ is within normal limits . ''
Emergency workers aided by rain on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning in the forests near the plant , which has a structure covering its destroyed section .
The earlier fires began on April 3 in the western part of the uninhabited exclusion zone and spread into the forest .
They posed no threat to facilities holding radioactive waste , the emergency service said in a statement .
Environmental experts feared that the fires could stir up radioactive ash in the ground , potentially blowing contamination-laden smoke into Kyiv , about 100 kilometers to the north .
Emergency workers used planes and helicopters to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , but heavy winds prevented them from doing so on April 16 , Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying .
The reactor meltdown and explosion at the Chernobyl plant in 1986 sent clouds of nuclear material across much of Europe .
It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history .

More than 1,000 firefighters have been sent to extinguish new fires that broke out in the radiation-contaminated area around the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant.
Three new fires broke out on April 16 and were continuing to burn on April 17 but were "not large-scale and not threatening," Ukrainian officials said. Gusty winds fanning the flames have made it harder to put them out.
Volodymyr Demchuk, director of the Emergency Response Department, said in a video statement the “radioactive background” in Kyiv and the Kyiv region “is within normal limits."
Emergency workers aided by rain on April 14 were able to extinguish wildfires burning in the forests near the plant, which has a structure covering its destroyed section.
The earlier fires began on April 3 in the western part of the uninhabited exclusion zone and spread into the forest. They posed no threat to facilities holding radioactive waste, the emergency service said in a statement.
Environmental experts feared that the fires could stir up radioactive ash in the ground, potentially blowing contamination-laden smoke into Kyiv, about 100 kilometers to the north.
But two senior Ukrainian officials on April 17 denied that smoke from forest fires in the radiation-contaminated Chernobyl exclusion zone was blowing into Kyiv, contradicting an earlier statement by the city government.
The head of Ukraine's State Emergency Service, Mykola Chechotkin, told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on April 17 that "this smell of smoke in Kyiv is in no way related to the fires in the Chernobyl zone."
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov echoed Chechotkin's assessment, saying smoke in Kyiv was not from the vicinity of the devastated Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Avakov said that 90 percent of the smoke in Kyiv was from the Zhytomyr region, near the Chernobyl zone.
Emergency workers used planes and helicopters to help put out the fires earlier this week, but heavy winds prevented them from doing so on April 16, Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
The reactor meltdown and explosion at the Chernobyl plant in 1986 sent clouds of nuclear material across much of Europe. It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AP, AFP, Reuters, TASS, and Interfax


rferl--2020-04-18--U.S. Embassy In Tbilisi Troubled By Reports Of 'Borderization' Activity On South Ossetia Boundary Li

U.S. Embassy In Tbilisi Troubled By Reports Of 'Borderization' Activity On South Ossetia Boundary Line

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi on April 17 said it was “ deeply troubled ” by reports that Russian-led “ security actors ” have resumed “ borderization ” activities along the administrative boundary line of the Georgian-breakaway region of South Ossetia .
A statement from the embassy said the activities were reported near the village of Takhtisdziri .
“ We condemn any actions by the de facto authorities in Tskhinvali that aggravate tensions and distract from urgent efforts to safeguard the lives and health of the affected populations , particularly during the Orthodox Easter weekend and against the backdrop of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said .
The embassy called for an immediate halt to the construction of any signs , structures , fencing , or barriers intended to strengthen or expand the “ borderization ” of the administrative boundary line .
The United States has previously expressed concern over reports that Russian-backed authorities in the breakaway region were erecting structures near the administrative boundary line and called for a halt to the construction .
U.S.State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in August that the process of borderization “ indiscriminately and disproportionately affects civilians living in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , family , livelihoods , and critical infrastructure.
” Only a handful of countries have recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway region , Abkhazia , which together comprise around 20 percent of Georgian territory , and Moscow ’ s backing of the regions has drawn broad international condemnation .
The statement issued on April 17 by the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi again called on Russia to end its occupation of the territories .
Russia has maintained troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia since a five-day war in August 2008 between @ @ @ @

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi said on April 17 it was "deeply troubled" by reports that Russian-led “security actors” have resumed “borderization” activities along the administrative boundary line of the Georgian-breakaway region of South Ossetia.
A statement from the embassy said the activities were reported near the village of Takhtisdziri.
“We condemn any actions by the de facto authorities in Tskhinvali that aggravate tensions and distract from urgent efforts to safeguard the lives and health of the affected populations, particularly during the Orthodox Easter weekend and against the backdrop of the global pandemic crisis,” the statement said.
The embassy called for an immediate halt to the construction of any signs, structures, fencing, or barriers intended to strengthen or expand the “borderization” of the administrative boundary line.
The United States has previously expressed concern over reports that Russia-backed authorities in the breakaway region were erecting structures near the administrative boundary line and it called for a halt to the construction.
U.S.State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in August that the process of borderization "indiscriminately and disproportionately affects civilians living in the area, separating them from their farmlands, family, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure."
Only a handful of countries have recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, which together comprise around 20 percent of Georgian territory, and Moscow’s backing of the regions has drawn broad international condemnation.
The statement issued on April 17 by the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi again called on Russia to end its occupation of the territories.
Russia has maintained troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia since a five-day war in August 2008 between Russia and Georgia.


rferl--2020-04-17--EU's New Serbia-Kosovo Envoy Dismisses Talk Of U.S. Rivalry

The European Union 's newly appointed special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks says he is committed to resolving all of the Balkan neighbors ' outstanding disputes .
In statements to RFE/RL on April 17 , Ambassador Miroslav Lajcak stressed there was only one EU-moderated Pristina-Belgrade dialogue but said he would also continue to work closely with his U.S. counterparts .
`` The U.S. has been the main partner of the EU in the Western Balkans and the main partner of the EU in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina , '' Lajcak said .
The EU-brokered talks on normalizing relations between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 after Pristina imposed a 100 percent import tax on Serbian and Bosnian goods .
The import tax was Pristina 's response to a campaign by Belgrade aimed at convincing other countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo 's independence .
The United States has intensified its push for Serbia and its former province to return to so-called normalization talks since U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell as his special representative in October .
Grenell recently suspended projects in Kosovo worth millions of dollars in an effort to spur a restart of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Washington could withdraw hundreds of troops stationed there .
U.S. officials on April 17 had no comment to RFE/RL regarding Lajcak 's statements or whether a final agreement would best be reached under U.S. leadership versus European leadership .
Lajcak told RFE/RL that he understood Kosovo 's frustration over the lack of progress in the visa-liberalization process so far .
`` This is a message Lajcak is bringing to the EU member states ' capitals : 'If we demand from our partners to fulfill their obligations , we must also fulfill our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The European Commission stated very clearly that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria .
The question is not 'if ' but 'when ' will visa liberalization happen .
So , it will come ; I have no doubts . ''
Lajcak said achievements in the nine-year-old dialogue included the movement of goods and people between Kosovo and Serbia , an international dialing code for Kosovo , elections in Kosovo that include its predominantly ethnic Serb region , and integration of Serbs within the Kosovar justice and law enforcement systems .

The European Union's newly appointed special envoy to Serbia-Kosovo talks says he is committed to resolving all of the Balkan neighbors' outstanding disputes.
In statements to RFE/RL on April 17, Ambassador Miroslav Lajcak stressed there was only one EU-moderated Pristina-Belgrade dialogue but said he would also continue to work closely with his U.S. counterparts.
"The U.S. has been the main partner of the EU in the Western Balkans and the main partner of the EU in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina," Lajcak said.
The EU-brokered talks on normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina broke off in late 2018 after Pristina imposed a 100 percent import tax on Serbian and Bosnian goods.
The import tax was Pristina's response to a campaign by Belgrade aimed at convincing other countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo's independence.
The United States has intensified its push for Serbia and its former province to return to so-called normalization talks since U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell as his special representative in October.
Grenell recently suspended projects in Kosovo worth millions of dollars in an effort to spur a restart of talks. Other U.S. officials have suggested that Washington could withdraw hundreds of troops stationed there.
U.S. officials on April 17 had no comment to RFE/RL regarding Lajcak's statements or whether a final agreement would best be reached under U.S. leadership versus European leadership.
Lajcak told RFE/RL that he understood Kosovo's frustration over the lack of progress in the visa-liberalization process so far.
"This is a message Lajcak is bringing to the EU member states' capitals: 'If we demand from our partners to fulfill their obligations, we must also fulfill our obligations,'" Lajcak's statement said. "The European Commission stated very clearly that Kosovo has fulfilled all the criteria. The question is not 'if' but 'when' will visa liberalization happen. So, it will come; I have no doubts."
Lajcak said achievements in the nine-year-old dialogue included the movement of goods and people between Kosovo and Serbia, an international dialing code for Kosovo, elections in Kosovo that include its predominantly ethnic Serb region, and integration of Serbs within the Kosovar justice and law enforcement systems.


rferl--2020-04-17--Moscow Protests Norway's Detention Of Russian Fishing Boat In Arctic

Officials in Moscow say they have filed a formal protest to Oslo over the detention of a Russian fishing boat in the Arctic by Norway 's coast guard near a remote chain of Norwegian islands .
The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard , about 850 kilometers north of mainland Norway , is seen as a potential flashpoint between Moscow and the West , as climate change has opened up the resource-rich region .
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on April 17 that Moscow was seriously concerned about the detention of the Russian fishing vessel , named Borey , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within Norway 's fishery-protection zone , which Russia considers illegal .
`` We believe the practice of detaining foreign vessels by the Norwegian coast guard in the so-called fish-protection zone is in line with Norway 's policy of illegally expanding its rights in the archipelago region , '' Zakharova told TASS .
Norway 's Foreign Ministry confirmed the Borey had been detained by its coast guard , saying the fishing boat was suspected of violating Norwegian regulations in the protection zone .
`` The case was solved under normal procedure at sea and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norwegian ministry said in a statement .
The ministry also confirmed it received Moscow 's diplomatic protest but reiterated that the fishery zone was established legally .
Previous incidents of Russian vessels being detained in the area were reported in 2003 , 2011 , and 2016 .
Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS

Officials in Moscow say they have filed a formal protest to Oslo over the detention of a Russian fishing boat in the Arctic by Norway's coast guard near a remote chain of Norwegian islands.
The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, about 850 kilometers north of mainland Norway, is seen as a potential flashpoint between Moscow and the West, as climate change has opened up the resource-rich region.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on April 17 that Moscow was seriously concerned about the detention of the Russian fishing vessel, named Borey, on April 2.
The ship was stopped within Norway's fishery-protection zone, which Russia considers illegal.
"We believe the practice of detaining foreign vessels by the Norwegian coast guard in the so-called fish-protection zone is in line with Norway's policy of illegally expanding its rights in the archipelago region," Zakharova told TASS.
Norway's Foreign Ministry confirmed the Borey had been detained by its coast guard, saying the fishing boat was suspected of violating Norwegian regulations in the protection zone.
"The case was solved under normal procedure at sea and the vessel was released," the Norwegian ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also confirmed it received Moscow's diplomatic protest but reiterated that the fishery zone was established legally.
Previous incidents of Russian vessels being detained in the area were reported in 2003, 2011, and 2016.
Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS


rferl--2020-04-17--U.S. Lawmakers Urge Tajik Leader To End Harassment Of RFE/RL

Two prominent U.S. congressmen have addressed a bipartisan letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon about `` continued threats '' and other mistreatment of RFE/RL journalists .
The lawmakers urge the Tajik authorities to let RFE/RL 's operations `` continue unabated . ''
The April 16 letter , signed by Representative Adam Schiff ( Democrat-California ) and Representative Steve Chabot ( Republican-Ohio ) , is a follow-up to a previous appeal made in October .
Schiff and Chabot said they 'd recently learned of further threats to reporters from RFE/RL 's Tajik Service , known as Radio Ozodi .
They cited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some RFE/RL correspondents and the outright refusal by the authorities to renew the press accreditation of others .
The U.S. lawmakers also expressed concern that authorities in Tajikistan have placed other RFE/RL employees `` under review . ''
`` At this time of uncertainty and crisis as we confront a global pandemic , trustworthy , reliable , and independent sources of news are at an even greater premium , '' Schiff and Chabot wrote .
Just 10 out of 18 RFE/RL journalists who applied for accreditation in February have been granted credentials , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said they were `` alarmed to hear '' that Tajik authorities had placed the credentials of both the acting bureau chief and bureau administrator `` under review . ''
They said a denial of their applications `` would essentially close Radio Ozodi 's operations in Tajikistan . ''
`` It is our hope that your government will take swift action to reconsider these decisions and allow Radio Ozodi to continue its important work , '' the letter said .
It was unclear on April 17 whether Rahmon had seen the letter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media .
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 's representative on media freedom , Harlem Desir , had urged Tajik authorities in 2019 to investigate allegations of authorities intimidating the family of RFE/RL journalist Humayra Bakhtiyar to pressure her to return to the former Soviet republic .
The Committee to Protect Journalists in late October called on Rahmon to take urgent action to ensure that Tajik journalists , including RFE/RL correspondents like Bakhtiyar , can work unhindered .
The group also implored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to independent sources of information ahead of parliamentary elections in March that were dominated by Rahmon 's allies and found to be woefully undemocratic by Western observers .
Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) ranked Tajikistan 161st among 180 countries in its 2019 World Press Freedom Index .
The media rights group warned that Rahmon `` increasingly indulges his authoritarian tendencies , thereby threatening the fragile national consensus '' that helped end Tajikistan 's civil war in 1997 .
`` We appreciate your concerns regarding Radio Ozodi ’ s coverage .
A free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dislike , '' Schiff and Chabot wrote in their letter .
`` This , however , is the nature of independent journalism . ''
They noted that Tajikistan is a signatory of the United Nations ' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights , which has been in force since 1976 .
They also noted that the Tajik Constitution has language that `` defends media freedoms . ''
They expressed hope that Rahmon `` will agree that upholding freedom of the press remains imperative . ''

Two prominent U.S. congressmen have addressed a bipartisan letter to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon about "continued threats" and other mistreatment of RFE/RL journalists.
The lawmakers urge the Tajik authorities to let RFE/RL's operations "continue unabated."
The April 16 letter, signed by Representative Adam Schiff (Democrat-California) and Representative Steve Chabot (Republican-Ohio), is a follow-up to a previous appeal made in October.
Schiff and Chabot said they'd recently learned of further threats to reporters from RFE/RL's Tajik Service, known as Radio Ozodi.
They cited unduly short extensions of press credentials for some RFE/RL correspondents and the outright refusal by the authorities to renew the press accreditation of others.
The U.S. lawmakers also expressed concern that authorities in Tajikistan have placed other RFE/RL employees "under review."
"At this time of uncertainty and crisis as we confront a global pandemic, trustworthy, reliable, and independent sources of news are at an even greater premium," Schiff and Chabot wrote.
Just 10 out of 18 RFE/RL journalists who applied for accreditation in February have been granted credentials, the congressmen said.
The U.S. lawmakers also said they were "alarmed to hear" that Tajik authorities had placed the credentials of both the acting bureau chief and bureau administrator "under review."
They said a denial of their applications "would essentially close Radio Ozodi's operations in Tajikistan."
"It is our hope that your government will take swift action to reconsider these decisions and allow Radio Ozodi to continue its important work," the letter said.
It was unclear on April 17 whether Rahmon had seen the letter.
Writing on Twitter earlier in the week, James Risch, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was disappointed that the Tajik authorities had not yet corrected the issue:
RFE/RL is funded by the U.S. Congress and overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's representative on media freedom, Harlem Desir, had urged Tajik authorities in 2019 to investigate allegations of authorities intimidating the family of RFE/RL journalist Humayra Bakhtiyar to pressure her to return to the former Soviet republic.
The Committee to Protect Journalists in late October called on Rahmon to take urgent action to ensure that Tajik journalists, including RFE/RL correspondents like Bakhtiyar, can work unhindered.
The group also implored the Tajik administration to ensure citizens had access to independent sources of information ahead of parliamentary elections in March that were dominated by Rahmon's allies and found to be woefully undemocratic by Western observers.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Tajikistan 161st among 180 countries in its 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
The media rights group warned that Rahmon "increasingly indulges his authoritarian tendencies, thereby threatening the fragile national consensus" that helped end Tajikistan's civil war in 1997.
"We appreciate your concerns regarding Radio Ozodi’s coverage. A free press often results in coverage that policymakers dislike," Schiff and Chabot wrote in their letter. "This, however, is the nature of independent journalism."
They noted that Tajikistan is a signatory of the United Nations' International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been in force since 1976.
They also noted that the Tajik Constitution has language that "defends media freedoms." They expressed hope that Rahmon "will agree that upholding freedom of the press remains imperative."


rferl--2020-04-17--Pakistani Pashtun Rights Activist Arrested On Hate-Speech Charge

Pakistani police have arrested an ethnic Pashtun rights activist and charged him with hate speech after he spoke during a visit to neighboring Afghanistan .
Police official Usman Wazir said Sardar Arif Wazir , a member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement ( PTM ) , was arrested on April 17 in South Waziristan , a tribal region located along the border with Afghanistan .
The police official said Wazir was accused of delivering an `` anti-Pakistan '' speech during his visit to Afghanistan .
He did not provide any further details .
Jamal Malyar , a local leader of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was `` baseless . ''
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan ( HRCP ) has said the authorities have made allegations of anti-state activities `` an expedient label for human rights defenders , particularly those associated with the PTM . ''
The PTM has campaigned for civil rights for Pashtuns , the country 's largest ethnic minority , since 2018 .
The group has attracted tens of thousands of people to public rallies to denounce the powerful Pakistani Army 's heavy-handed operations in the militancy-hit tribal regions and the military 's alleged connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been calling for the removal of military checkpoints in tribal areas and an end to `` enforced disappearances , '' in which suspects are detained by security forces without due process .
Pakistan 's government rejects allegations that its security forces and intelligence agents are responsible for forced disappearances .
Since the movement was formed in January 2018 , international rights groups say authorities have banned peaceful rallies organized by the PTM and some of its leading members have been arbitrarily detained and prevented from traveling within the country .
Some members have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities in January arrested PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen on charges including sedition , hate speech , incitement against the state , and criminal conspiracy .
Pashteen was later released on bail .

Pakistani police have arrested an ethnic Pashtun rights activist and charged him with hate speech after he spoke during a visit to neighboring Afghanistan.
Police official Usman Wazir said Sardar Arif Wazir, a member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was arrested on April 17 in South Waziristan, a tribal region located along the border with Afghanistan.
The police official said Wazir was accused of delivering an "anti-Pakistan" speech during his visit to Afghanistan. He did not provide any further details.
Jamal Malyar, a local leader of the PTM, said the charge against Wazir was "baseless."
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has said the authorities have made allegations of anti-state activities "an expedient label for human rights defenders, particularly those associated with the PTM."
The PTM has campaigned for civil rights for Pashtuns, the country's largest ethnic minority, since 2018.
The group has attracted tens of thousands of people to public rallies to denounce the powerful Pakistani Army's heavy-handed operations in the militancy-hit tribal regions and the military's alleged connection with Islamist militants.
The PTM has been calling for the removal of military checkpoints in tribal areas and an end to "enforced disappearances," in which suspects are detained by security forces without due process.
Pakistan's government rejects allegations that its security forces and intelligence agents are responsible for forced disappearances.
Since the movement was formed in January 2018, international rights groups say authorities have banned peaceful rallies organized by the PTM and some of its leading members have been arbitrarily detained and prevented from traveling within the country. Some members have also faced charges of sedition and cybercrimes.
Authorities in January arrested PTM leader Manzoor Pashteen on charges including sedition, hate speech, incitement against the state, and criminal conspiracy.
Pashteen was later released on bail.


rferl--2020-04-17--Tajik President's Son Becomes Chairman Of Parliament's Upper Chamber

DUSHANBE -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon 's eldest son has become the chairman of the parliament 's upper chamber , @ @ @ @ @ .
Lawmakers on April 17 approved the appointment of Rustam Emomali , who is also @ @ @ @ @ Dushanbe .
The move technically turns the president 's son into the second-highest-ranking political figure @ @ @ @ @ Asian country .
According to Tajikistan 's constitution , the Majlisi Milli chairman takes over @ @ @ @ @ is not capable of carrying out his duties or resigns .
The president 's son @ @ @ @ @ country prepares to hold a presidential election later this year .
Emomali Rahmon , who @ @ @ @ @ than a quarter of a century , enjoys special powers under a May 2016 referendum @ @ @ @ @ seek as many terms in office as he wants .
Rahmon has been criticized by @ @ @ @ @ recent years over the increasing disregard for religious freedoms , civil society , and political @ @ @ @ @ republic .

DUSHANBE -- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's eldest son has become the chairman of the parliament's upper chamber, known as the Majlisi Milli.
Lawmakers on April 17 approved the appointment of Rustam Emomali, who is also mayor of the capital, Dushanbe. The move technically turns the president's son into the second-highest-ranking political figure in the tightly controlled Central Asian country.
According to Tajikistan's constitution, the Majlisi Milli chairman takes over the country if the president is not capable of carrying out his duties or resigns.
The president's son obtained the position as the country prepares to hold a presidential election later this year.
Emomali Rahmon, who has ruled Tajikistan for more than a quarter of a century, enjoys special powers under a May 2016 referendum -- including the right to seek as many terms in office as he wants.
Rahmon has been criticized by international human rights group in recent years over the increasing disregard for religious freedoms, civil society, and political pluralism in the former Soviet republic.


rferl--2020-04-17--Pakistani Journalists Protest Arrest Of Media Mogul, Demand His Release

Pakistani journalists and activists have staged protests in several cities to demand the owner and editor in chief of the country ’ s biggest independent media group is released from pretrial detention .
Mir Shakilur Rehman of the Jang group of newspapers and TV stations was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore on March 12 by the National Accountability Bureau ( NAB ) in connection with allegations of tax evasion in a real-estate purchase 34 years ago .
The Jang group , which has been critical of the government and the activities of NAB , has rejected the allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ an attack on the freedom of expression.
” Protesters holding banners and placards staged sit-ins on April 17 in Lahore , the capital Islamabad , the northwestern city of Peshawar , capping a week of rallies in cities across the South Asian nation of 220 million .
International human rights and media-freedom watchdogs have urged Pakistani authorities to release Rehman .
Daniel Bastard , the head of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders ’ ( RSF ) Asia-Pacific desk , said on March 12 that Rehman ’ s arrest is “ not based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in order to bring the Jang group into line.
” The Pakistani authorities “ have shown tremendous creativity in intimidating journalists who try to do their jobs independently , ” Bastard said in a statement .
Brad Adams , Asia director at Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) , on March 12 called Rehman ’ s detention “ just the latest case of harassment against Pakistan ’ s beleaguered media.
” “ The space for dissent in Pakistan is shrinking fast , and anyone who criticizes government actions can become a target , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media operates in “ a climate of fear , ” the New York-based watchdog said , adding : “ Media outlets are under pressure from authorities not to criticize the government.
” The statement also said that the NAB has been “ widely criticized for being used for political purposes.
” Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF ’ s 2019 World Press Freedom Index .
With reporting by Geo TV and The News

Pakistani journalists and activists have staged protests in several cities to demand the owner and editor in chief of the country’s biggest independent media group is released from pretrial detention.
Mir Shakilur Rehman of the Jang group of newspapers and TV stations was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore on March 12 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in connection with allegations of tax evasion in a real-estate purchase 34 years ago.
The Jang group, which has been critical of the government and the activities of NAB, has rejected the allegations against Rehman and described his arrest as “an attack on the freedom of expression.”
Protesters holding banners and placards staged sit-ins on April 17 in Lahore, the capital Islamabad, the northwestern city of Peshawar, capping a week of rallies in cities across the South Asian nation of 220 million.
International human rights and media-freedom watchdogs have urged Pakistani authorities to release Rehman.
Daniel Bastard, the head of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Asia-Pacific desk, said on March 12 that Rehman’s arrest is “not based on anything legal, and is clearly harassment in order to bring the Jang group into line.”
The Pakistani authorities “have shown tremendous creativity in intimidating journalists who try to do their jobs independently,” Bastard said in a statement.
Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), on March 12 called Rehman’s detention “just the latest case of harassment against Pakistan’s beleaguered media.”
“The space for dissent in Pakistan is shrinking fast, and anyone who criticizes government actions can become a target,” Adams added.
Pakistan’s media operates in “a climate of fear,” the New York-based watchdog said, adding: “Media outlets are under pressure from authorities not to criticize the government.”
The statement also said that the NAB has been “widely criticized for being used for political purposes.”
Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
With reporting by Geo TV and The News


rferl--2020-04-17--Top Ukrainian Security Officer Accused Of Plotting Minister's 'Assassination'


rferl--2020-04-17--COVID-19: Uzbekistan Bans Bicycles Except For 'Essential' Work; Serbia Donates Test Kits To Kosovo

The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 145,000 with over 2.1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Uzbek authorities have temporarily banned the use of bicycles in the country except as transportation for workers between their jobs and their homes .
Interior Ministry spokesman Shohrukh Ghiyosov told reporters on April 17 that individuals traveling to their jobs on bicycles must carry three documents -- their Uzbek identification card , a document confirming their employment , and a letter from their employer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus lockdown is essential .
Uzbek health authorities said early on April 17 that the number of coronavirus infections in the country was 1,390 , with four deaths .
In neighboring Tajikistan , religious leaders announced on April 17 that no daily `` tarawih '' prayers will be performed in mosques during the month of Ramadan , which starts next week .
Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have not officially declared any coronavirus cases .
But experts are skeptical of the claims , given the lack of transparency within those governments and a lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials said on April 17 that 1,498 people had tested positive for coronavirus and that 17 had died .
Those infected in Kazakhstan include 423 medical personnel .
In Kyrgyzstan , the latest coronavirus tally on April 17 was 489 infections , including five deaths .
The International Monetary Fund 's ( IMF ) executive board has approved $ 1.39 billion in emergency financing to Pakistan to help it address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic .
The funds will help Pakistan meet the `` urgent balance-of-payment needs '' stemming from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a news release .
Geoffrey Okamoto , first deputy managing director , said the outbreak of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus , is having a significant impact on the Pakistani economy .
The urgent balance-of-payments needs have been created by domestic containment measures coupled with the global economic downturn , Okamoto said .
These are “ severely affecting growth and straining external financing , ” he said .
The funds will help Pakistan deal with a decline in international reserves and allow it to fund temporary spending aimed at containing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the IMF said .
“ With the near-term outlook deteriorating sharply , the authorities have swiftly put in place measures to contain the impact of the shock and support economic activity , ” the IMF said .
“ Crucially , health spending has been increased and social support strengthened.
” Pakistan 's government on April 14 announced an extension of the nationwide shutdown and restrictions on public gatherings for another two weeks .
Educational institutions will also remain shut during that period .
The government has said , however , that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate if they adhere to safety guidelines .
Among them is the construction industry .
Pakistan has already been in lockdown for three weeks , prompting warnings that a prolonged economic halt could push half of the country ’ s population into poverty .
Pakistan has reported about 7,000 coronavirus cases and 128 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University .
Health officials in Belgrade and Pristina have confirmed that Serbia has delivered 1,000 coronavirus test kits to Kosovo .
A Serbian health official described the April 17 delivery as a sign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a recent history of conflict , and Belgrade 's refusal to recognize Kosovo 's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia .
A Serbian official familiar with the test-kit delivery said Belgrade dispatched the kits without any political conditions .
He said the reason for the delivery was `` solely the desire to help overcome this virus problem . ''
The official , speaking on condition of anonymity , told Reuters the coronavirus pandemic had been `` a stark reminder that we can only resolve many problems together . ''
Meanwhile , Kosovar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serbia had made the donation .
Hoti said on Facebook that the donation would be added to about 3,100 test kits in stock .
Pristina is also expected to soon announce the winner of a tender for 13,000 more test kits , Hoti said .
Kosovo has reported 449 infections , including of 17 health workers , and 11 deaths .
Serbia has so far reported 5,790 confirmed cases and 110 deaths from the coronavirus infection .
Bulgaria has banned traffic entering and leaving Sofia starting on April 17 and lasting through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strengthen measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
The ban is necessary because of a “ massive departure ” of Bulgarians from the capital in cars earlier this week ahead of the four-day holiday weekend , according to Interior Minister Mladen Marinov .
General Ventsislav Mutafchiiski , the chief of Bulgaria 's National Operations Headquarters , said the departures were very worrying because Sofia is the center of the outbreak in the country and the movement will lead to a worsening of the coronavirus spread .
Mutafchiiski did not rule out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movements of some Bulgarians .
The order was issued by Health Minister Kiril Ananiev late on April 16 at an extraordinary briefing of the Council of Ministers .
Ananiev said exceptions are allowed for police cars , ambulances , delivery trucks , and telecommunications company vehicles .
Traffic inside the city will not be restricted .
The number of coronavirus infections in Bulgaria jumped to 800 on April 16 , with 38 deaths recorded in the country , according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
Around 4,000 churches in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Easter weekend , but the parishioners have been asked not to go out and instead to pray at home because of the infection risk .
Supermarkets , pharmacies , and petrol stations are the only businesses open in Bulgaria .
The country ’ s state of emergency has been extended until May 13 .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Balkan , Bulgarian , Kazakh , Kyrgyz , Tajik and Uzbek services , Reuters , and dpa


rferl--2020-04-17--Firefighters Battle New Blazes In Ukraine's Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

More than 1,000 firefighters have been sent to extinguish new fires that broke out in the radiation-contaminated area around the defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant .
Three new fires broke out on April 16 and were continuing to burn on April 17 but were `` not large-scale and not threatening , '' Ukrainian officials said .
Gusty winds fanning the flames have made it harder to put them out .
Volodymyr Demchuk , director of the Emergency Response Department , said in a video statement the “ radioactive background ” in Kyiv and the Kyiv region “ is within normal limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 14 were able to extinguish wildfires burning in the forests near the plant , which has a structure covering its destroyed section .
The earlier fires began on April 3 in the western part of the uninhabited exclusion zone and spread into the forest .
They posed no threat to facilities holding radioactive waste , the emergency service said in a statement .
Environmental experts feared that the fires could stir up radioactive ash in the ground , potentially blowing contamination-laden smoke into Kyiv , about 100 kilometers to the north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 17 denied that smoke from forest fires in the radiation-contaminated Chernobyl exclusion zone was blowing into Kyiv , contradicting an earlier statement by the city government .
The head of Ukraine 's State Emergency Service , Mykola Chechotkin , told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on April 17 that `` this smell of smoke in Kyiv is in no way related to the fires in the Chernobyl zone . ''
Interior Minister Arsen Avakov echoed Chechotkin 's assessment , saying smoke in Kyiv was not from the vicinity of the devastated Chernobyl nuclear power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the smoke in Kyiv was from the Zhytomyr region , near the Chernobyl zone .
Emergency workers used planes and helicopters to help put out the fires earlier this week , but heavy winds prevented them from doing so on April 16 , Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying .
The reactor meltdown and explosion at the Chernobyl plant in 1986 sent clouds of nuclear material across much of Europe .
It is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history .
With reporting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP , Reuters , TASS , and Interfax


rferl--2020-04-18--Pandemic Restrictions Weigh Heavily On Orthodox Easter Celebrations

Orthodox churches throughout Eastern Europe and Russia are prepared to celebrate Easter Sunday on April 19 amid coronavirus restrictions that will curtail ceremonies normally steeped in symbolism and tradition .
The Easter holiday is the most significant date on the calendar for the world ’ s 300 million Orthodox Christians .
Patriarch Bartholomew I , spiritual leader of the world ’ s Orthodox Christians , has urged the faithful to adhere to government measures and World Health Organization guidelines to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
But keeping people out of churches has n't proved easy .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on April 18 that President Vladimir Putin will not attend a traditional Orthodox Easter vigil at Christ The Savior Church because of the pandemic .
Peskov said Putin would stay home instead and light a candle at a chapel .
The Russian Orthodox Church , which observes Easter Sunday on April 19 , ordered churches to close their doors to large groups during the week leading up to the holiday .
While church leaders in Romania and Serbia have accepted bans on public gatherings , prominent Orthodox figures in both countries have implored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clergy members in Serbia balked at restrictions after authorities extended a curfew to run for 84 hours starting on April 17 -- an attempt to limit contacts during the weekend .
Following the announcement , the conservative Serbian Orthodox Church ( SPC ) Synod requested a five-hour break in the curfew to allow believers to attend the morning liturgy .
That forced Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to telephone the head of the SPC , Patriarch Irinej , and press him to make the clergy comply with restrictions .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of concern that the disease that has killed 133 people in the country will spread further .
Most church leaders in Ukraine have complied , agreeing to broadcast their services online and on television .
The government has not opted to close churches but effectively barred attendance by not allowing services with more than 10 people and by only allowing people to travel in public places alone or in pairs .
The Bulgarian government has urged people not to attend services though it hasn ’ t banned them .
Churches remain open in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from entering and leaving the capital Sofia .
The most contentious debate over Orthodox Easter has occurred in Georgia , where church leaders and the government agreed to allow parishioners to attend dusk-to-dawn Easter vigil services .
The agreement provides worshippers a way around a curfew and other restrictive measures .
Worshippers in Georgia are allowed to attend services in large cathedrals on April 18 and April 19 , provided they maintain a distance of two meters .
Those who attend small churches are to remain outside their church building .
The agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 p.m. on April 18 and leave after 6 a.m. on April 19 .
With reporting by Reuters , AP and dpa .

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


rferl--2020-04-18--Afghans Among Unaccompanied Children Evacuated From Greek Refugee Camps To Germany

A group of 47 unaccompanied children evacuated from refugee camps in Greece arrived in Germany on April 18 , German officials said .
The children come from Afghanistan , Syria , and Eritrea .
Four are girls and there are several siblings among the group .
Some of them have families waiting for them in Germany .
They were previously housed at refugee camps on the Greek islands of Lesbos , Samos , and Chios that have been criticized by rights activists as unsuitable for children .
Germany 's Interior Ministry said the children arrived in Hanover , Germany early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Athens .
The ministry said they were all tested for the coronavirus before departure and would remain in a two-week quarantine before moving on to other parts of Germany .
Germany 's interior minister , Horst Seehofer , said the evacuation was “ the result of months of preparation and intense talks with our European partners . ''
Seehofer expressed hope that other countries would also begin taking in refugee children soon .
`` The Greek government has been trying to sensitize other EU countries to the plight of the young children , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to find new families and start a new life , '' Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotsakis told reporters at the Athens airport where he met the departing children .
`` I ’ m glad this program is finally being implemented , ” Mitsotsakis said , adding that he hopes more than 1,500 children would be relocated from Greek refugee camps during the coming months .
Germany pledged in March to take in at least 350 children living in Greek refugee camps as part of a joint European effort .
But the plan has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The flight to Germany was the second airplane that carried unaccompanied refugee children to another European country .
On April 15 , 12 children traveled from Greece to Luxembourg .
Stephane Dujarric , the spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General , said in early April that there were more than 5,200 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Greece .
Dujarric said the children were “ in urgent need of durable solutions , including expedited registration , family reunification , and relocation . ''
With reporting by Reuters and AP