rferl--2020-01-10--Bulgaria Environment Minister Detained Over Town's Water Crisis

SOFIA -- Bulgarian authorities have detained the country ’ s minister of environment and water for 24 hours in relation to a criminal investigation over water shortages in and around the western town of Pernik that have led to anti-government protests .
Prosecutors did not say on what grounds Neno Dimov was detained on January 9 after being questioned .
The minister told reporters he would cooperate with the investigation as he was entering a police van .
Last month , prosecutor Krasimira Mincheva said that , with his inaction , Dimov `` did not take sufficient care of property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in `` damage to human health . ''
Anger in Pernik , a town of more than 70,000 located less than 40 kilometers west of Sofia , has been growing since November 18 when municipal authorities implemented water restrictions due to lack of supply from the Studena Dam .
Initially , water was made available for 10 hours a day , but lately residents have had access to water for only seven hours a day .
The restrictions , applied to another town and six nearby villages , were scheduled to stay in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rationing has led to protests and calls for the government to resign , amid allegations of mismanagement and malfeasance by local officials from the supply company and municipal administration .
The Prosecutor 's Office said that Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev visited Pernik on January 9 to coordinate actions in its investigation .
`` Evidence is being collected of crimes committed by officials that led to water supply problems in Pernik , '' it said in a statement .
On January 7 , Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov announced he was cancelling a popular annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this month , for the first time since 1966 .
Risks to human health and the spread of diseases due to the water shortages were cited for the cancellation .
The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party said it would on January 20 file a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Boyko Borrisov ’ s government over its environmental and water policies .
Since the government can secure a parliamentary majority with the support of a small populist party , the motion is unlikely to pass .
With reporting by The Sofia Globe and Reuters

SOFIA -- Bulgarian authorities have detained the country’s minister of environment and water for 24 hours in relation to a criminal investigation over water shortages in and around the western town of Pernik that have led to anti-government protests.
Prosecutors did not say on what grounds Neno Dimov was detained on January 9 after being questioned.
The minister told reporters he would cooperate with the investigation as he was entering a police van.
Last month, prosecutor Krasimira Mincheva said that, with his inaction, Dimov "did not take sufficient care of property management," which she said resulted in "damage to human health."
Anger in Pernik, a town of more than 70,000 located less than 40 kilometers west of Sofia, has been growing since November 18 when municipal authorities implemented water restrictions due to lack of supply from the Studena Dam.
Initially, water was made available for 10 hours a day, but lately residents have had access to water for only seven hours a day.
The restrictions, applied to another town and six nearby villages, were scheduled to stay in effect no more than five months.
The rationing has led to protests and calls for the government to resign, amid allegations of mismanagement and malfeasance by local officials from the supply company and municipal administration.
The Prosecutor's Office said that Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev visited Pernik on January 9 to coordinate actions in its investigation.
"Evidence is being collected of crimes committed by officials that led to water supply problems in Pernik," it said in a statement.
On January 7, Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov announced he was cancelling a popular annual folk festival, scheduled to take place later this month, for the first time since 1966.
Risks to human health and the spread of diseases due to the water shortages were cited for the cancellation.
The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party said it would on January 20 file a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Boyko Borrisov’s government over its environmental and water policies.
Since the government can secure a parliamentary majority with the support of a small populist party, the motion is unlikely to pass.
With reporting by The Sofia Globe and Reuters


rferl--2020-01-10--Libyan Warlord Vows To Continue Fight Amid Cease-Fire Call By Russia, Turkey

Forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar said they would not halt their campaign to drive the UN-backed government from Tripoli amid calls from Russia and Turkey for a cease-fire in the war-torn North Africa nation .
Ahmad al-Mesmari , a spokesman for Haftar 's self-styled Libyan National Army ( LNA ) , said the group welcomed moves to bring peace to the country but that it would continue its war to `` eradicate '' what it described as `` terrorist groups '' in the capital backed by the United Nations .
An adviser to Haftar -- who has received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general ’ s position did not amount to an outright rejection of the cease-fire calls but rather that `` conditions must be fulfilled '' before any truce could take place .
Libya has been torn by violence since longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 .
The country has two rival administrations , the UN-backed Government of National Accord ( GNA ) in Tripoli and Haftar 's in the city of Tobruk .
The GNA is supported by NATO-member Turkey and its ally Qatar .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dispatched military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA .
UN experts and diplomats say that Russian military contractors in recent months have deployed alongside Haftar 's LNA , which has also received air support from the United Arab Emirates and backing from Jordan and Egypt .
Turkey and Russia have both been criticized by UN and Western officials who say their efforts to arm their allies has led to an intensification of the violence .
After meeting in Istanbul on January 8 , Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessary measures to be taken for stabilizing the situation on the ground '' in the North African country .
The proposed truce would start from midnight on January 12 , according to the statement.. Haftar `` hailed ... President Vladimir Putin 's initiative , '' but he stressed that the `` efforts of the armed forces in the war against terrorists '' would continue , his spokesman said .
`` These groups have seized the capital and received the support of some countries and governments who supply them with military equipment , ammunition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` These countries also send terrorists all over the world to fight [ Haftar 's ] armed force , '' he said in an apparent reference to Ankara , which he accused of sending pro-Turkish Syrian fighters to Libya , along with Turkish regular forces .
The Tripoli-based GNA said it welcomed any serious call for a return to the political process .
`` The GNA urgently wants to restore peace , and until that is possible ... we will exercise our lawful right to enter into military alliances and defend our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Mohammed Ali Abdallah said on January 9 .
The GNA `` welcomes any credible cease-fire proposal , but we have a duty to protect the Libyan people '' from Haftar 's offensive , he said .
With reporting by AFP , Reuters , AP , and dpa

Forces loyal to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar said they would not halt their campaign to drive the UN-backed government from Tripoli amid calls from Russia and Turkey for a cease-fire in the war-torn North Africa nation.
Ahmad al-Mesmari, a spokesman for Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), said the group welcomed moves to bring peace to the country but that it would continue its war to "eradicate" what it described as "terrorist groups" in the capital backed by the United Nations.
An adviser to Haftar -- who has received Russian support in the past -- said the general’s position did not amount to an outright rejection of the cease-fire calls but rather that "conditions must be fulfilled" before any truce could take place.
Libya has been torn by violence since longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.
The country has two rival administrations, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and Haftar's in the city of Tobruk.
The GNA is supported by NATO-member Turkey and its ally Qatar. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced last week that he had dispatched military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA.
UN experts and diplomats say that Russian military contractors in recent months have deployed alongside Haftar's LNA, which has also received air support from the United Arab Emirates and backing from Jordan and Egypt.
Turkey and Russia have both been criticized by UN and Western officials who say their efforts to arm their allies has led to an intensification of the violence.
Proposed Truce
After meeting in Istanbul on January 8, Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a statement saying they supported "the necessary measures to be taken for stabilizing the situation on the ground" in the North African country.
The proposed truce would start from midnight on January 12, according to the statement..
Haftar "hailed...President Vladimir Putin's initiative," but he stressed that the "efforts of the armed forces in the war against terrorists" would continue, his spokesman said.
"These groups have seized the capital and received the support of some countries and governments who supply them with military equipment, ammunition...and drones," he added.
"These countries also send terrorists all over the world to fight [Haftar's] armed force," he said in an apparent reference to Ankara, which he accused of sending pro-Turkish Syrian fighters to Libya, along with Turkish regular forces.
The Tripoli-based GNA said it welcomed any serious call for a return to the political process.
"The GNA urgently wants to restore peace, and until that is possible...we will exercise our lawful right to enter into military alliances and defend our country from attack," senior GNA adviser Mohammed Ali Abdallah said on January 9.
The GNA "welcomes any credible cease-fire proposal, but we have a duty to protect the Libyan people" from Haftar's offensive, he said.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, AP, and dpa


rferl--2020-01-10--U.S. House Passes Nonbinding Resolution To Limit Trump’s Actions Against Iran

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives , as expected , on January 9 passed a nonbinding resolution limiting President Donald Trump 's ability to take military action against Iran .
The resolution passed by a margin of 224-194 in the Democratic-led chamber , where many lawmakers were unconvinced with the White House 's justification for the targeted killing last week of Major General Qasem Soleimani , Iran 's most prominent military commander .
Three Republicans voted for the measure , while eight Democrats voted against it .
Sponsored by Representative Elissa Slotkin ( Democrat-Michigan ) , a former CIA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraq , the War Powers Resolution directs Trump to `` terminate the use of the United States Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in or against Iran . ''
It also requires the president to consult with Congress `` in every possible instance '' before introducing the military in hostilities with Iran .
The military could also be deployed against Iran if Congress declares war .
Hours before the vote in the House , Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( Democrat-California ) said she did not believe Trump 's administration had made the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A day earlier , Pelosi said that `` members of the Congress have serious , urgent concerns about the administration 's decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward . ''
Pelosi said that , although the measure does not require Trump 's signature and is not binding , it `` has real teeth '' because it is `` a statement of the Congress of the United States . ''
Before the vote , Trump wrote on Twitter that he hoped `` all House Republicans will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powers Resolution . ''
The January 3 killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad has raised fears of a conflict between the United States and Iran .
The 62-year-old Soleimani , who helped orchestrate Tehran 's overseas clandestine and military operations , was designated a terrorist by the United States as was the secretive military unit he led – the Quds Force .
In response to the Iranian commander ’ s death , Iran on January 8 fired missiles at bases housing U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day said Tehran was `` standing down '' and made no mention of further military action .
However , the U.S. president announced further sanctions against Iran .
Speaking at the White House on January 9 , he said the additional sanctions had already been imposed .
`` It 's already been done ; we 've increased them , '' Trump said , without providing details .
Meanwhile , Vice President Mike Pence told Fox News : `` We continue to receive word that Iran is standing down , but at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain vigilant . ''
Pence also told CBS News that the United States was receiving `` encouraging intelligence that Iran is sending messages '' to its allied militias not to attack U.S. targets .
However , a senior Iranian commander said on January 9 that the firing of missiles at U.S. targets a day earlier was `` the start of a series of attacks across the region , '' according to state television .
With reporting by AP , AFP , and Reuters

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


rferl--2020-01-10--U.S. Focuses On 'How To Best Recommit' After Iraqi PM's Request For Plan On Withdrawal

The United States has seemingly dismissed an Iraqi government request to discuss plans for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq , saying the United States is `` a force for good in the Middle East '' and its focus and military presence in Iraq should be on fighting Islamic State ( IS ) militants and `` protecting Americans , Iraqis , and our coalition partners . ''
Caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi reportedly raised the idea of a road map for a U.S. exit in a January 9 phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo initiated by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air strike killed a top Iranian general and a senior leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia at Baghdad airport .
There are about 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq , along with other countries ' troops allied in an ongoing NATO mission .
`` At this time , any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership -- not to discuss troop withdrawal , but our right , appropriate force posture in the Middle East , '' the State Department said in a statement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be a conversation between the U.S. and Iraqi governments not just regarding security , but about our financial , economic , and diplomatic partnership , '' the statement added .
`` We want to be a friend and partner to a sovereign , prosperous , and stable Iraq . ''
Pompeo told a press conference in Washington later in the day that the U.S. administration was `` happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure '' of its presence is .
`` But as times change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where we can deliver on what I believe and the president believes is our right structure , with fewer resources dedicated to that mission , we will do so , ” Pompeo added .
Abdul-Mahdi had asked Pompeo to `` send delegates to Iraq to prepare a mechanism '' to follow through on an Iraqi parliamentary resolution from January 5 demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops , AP reported .
“ The prime minister said American forces had entered Iraq and drones are flying in its airspace without permission from Iraqi authorities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bilateral agreements , ” the statement by the Iraqi prime minister 's office said .
Iraq 's Foreign Ministry said this week it had summoned the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad to condemn U.S. strikes in Iraq on January 3 that killed Qasem Soleimani , an Iraqi militia commander , a senior leader of a pro-Iran militia in Iraq , and several others .
Thousands of Iraqis attended a funeral procession for Soleimani before his body was flown to Iran .
The strikes are “ a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-IS coalition presence in Iraq , an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement said .
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on January 10 that Pompeo had discussed a possibly beefed-up NATO presence in Iraq with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne .
Based on reporting by Reuters , AFP , and AP

The United States has seemingly dismissed an Iraqi government request to discuss plans for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq, saying the United States is "a force for good in the Middle East" and its focus and military presence in Iraq should be on fighting Islamic State (IS) militants and "protecting Americans, Iraqis, and our coalition partners."
Caretaker Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi reportedly raised the idea of a road map for a U.S. exit in a January 9 phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo initiated by the U.S. side six days after a U.S. air strike killed a top Iranian general and a senior leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia at Baghdad airport.
There are about 5,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, along with other countries' troops allied in an ongoing NATO mission.
"At this time, any delegation sent to Iraq would be dedicated to discussing how to best recommit to our strategic partnership -- not to discuss troop withdrawal, but our right, appropriate force posture in the Middle East," the State Department said in a statement on January 10.
"There does...need to be a conversation between the U.S. and Iraqi governments not just regarding security, but about our financial, economic, and diplomatic partnership," the statement added. "We want to be a friend and partner to a sovereign, prosperous, and stable Iraq."
Pompeo told a press conference in Washington later in the day that the U.S. administration was "happy to continue the conversation with the Iraqis about what the right structure" of its presence is.
"But as times change, and we get to a place where we can deliver on what I believe and the president believes is our right structure, with fewer resources dedicated to that mission, we will do so,” Pompeo added.
Abdul-Mahdi had asked Pompeo to "send delegates to Iraq to prepare a mechanism" to follow through on an Iraqi parliamentary resolution from January 5 demanding the withdrawal of foreign troops, AP reported.
“The prime minister said American forces had entered Iraq and drones are flying in its airspace without permission from Iraqi authorities, and this was a violation of the bilateral agreements,” the statement by the Iraqi prime minister's office said.
Iraq's Foreign Ministry said this week it had summoned the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad to condemn U.S. strikes in Iraq on January 3 that killed Qasem Soleimani, an Iraqi militia commander, a senior leader of a pro-Iran militia in Iraq, and several others.
Thousands of Iraqis attended a funeral procession for Soleimani before his body was flown to Iran.
The strikes are “a blatant violation of Iraqi sovereignty" and "contradict the agreed-upon missions” of the anti-IS coalition presence in Iraq, an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement said.
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on January 10 that Pompeo had discussed a possibly beefed-up NATO presence in Iraq with Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP


rferl--2020-01-10--Reports: U.S. Tried, But Failed, To Take Out Iranian Commander In Yemen

The United States carried out a secret operation in Yemen that targeted , but failed to kill , a senior @ @ @ @ @ , unidentified U.S. officials say .
The Washington Post , Reuters , and AP quoted @ @ @ @ @ January 10 that an air strike targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai , a senior officer in @ @ @ @ @ Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) .
They said the failed strike @ @ @ @ @ 3 -- the same day the leader of the Quds Force -- Major General Qasem @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad .
The killing has raised fears of a conflict @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
The Pentagon declined to discuss the classified operation in Yemen , where a @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia , a U.S. ally , has been fighting Iran-backed Shi ’ ite Huthi @ @ @ @ @ Quds Force was designated a terrorist organization by the United States .
Based on reporting @ @ @ @ @ AP , and Reuters


rferl--2020-01-10--Russian Navy Ship 'Aggressively Approached' U.S. Destroyer In Arabian Sea

The U.S. Navy says a Russian ship has `` aggressively approached '' an American destroyer that was conducting routine operations in the North Arabian Sea .
USS Farragut sounded five blasts to warn the Russian Navy ship of a possible collision and requested it change course , the U.S. Navy 's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said in a statement on January 10 .
The incident took place the previous day .
`` The Russian ship initially refused but ultimately altered course and the two ships opened distance from one another , '' it said .
Even though the Russian ship moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision.
” Russia denied the U.S. version of events .
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the U.S. Navy vessel crossed the Russian ship 's path , in an action described as `` unprofessional '' and deemed as `` an intentional violation of international maritime security norms , '' according to Russian news agencies .
The Farragut was in the region as part of the strike group attached to the USS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran .
There has been a rise in near-miss encounters between Russian and Western aircraft or warships since relations soured in 2014 .
With reporting by Reuters and AFP

The U.S. Navy says a Russian ship has "aggressively approached" an American destroyer that was conducting routine operations in the North Arabian Sea.
USS Farragut sounded five blasts to warn the Russian Navy ship of a possible collision and requested it change course, the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet said in a statement on January 10.
The incident took place the previous day.
"The Russian ship initially refused but ultimately altered course and the two ships opened distance from one another," it said.
Even though the Russian ship moved away, the statement said that “the initial delay in complying with international rules while it was making an aggressive approach increased the risk of collision.”
Russia denied the U.S. version of events.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the U.S. Navy vessel crossed the Russian ship's path, in an action described as "unprofessional" and deemed as "an intentional violation of international maritime security norms," according to Russian news agencies.
The Farragut was in the region as part of the strike group attached to the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, deployed late last year to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran.
There has been a rise in near-miss encounters between Russian and Western aircraft or warships since relations soured in 2014.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP


rferl--2020-01-10--Ukrainians Looking Closely At Missile, Terrorism Scenarios In Iran Air Crash

KYIV -- Ukrainian officials said on January 10 that they were focusing in particular on a missile strike or act of terrorism as two possible causes of the crash of a Ukrainian passenger airliner after takeoff from Tehran 's international airport , adding that they wanted to establish an international coalition to conduct an investigation into the January 8 tragedy .
The head of the Ukrainian Security Service ( SBU ) , Ivan Bakanov , told a press briefing that the missile strike and terror scenarios merited particular attention .
“ I can assure you that we will surely inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , '' he added .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko had said earlier in the day that Ukrainian investigators had been given access to pieces of the body of the plane and specialists were analyzing various videos around the crash .
Prystayko said Ukrainian officials were not discarding any possible version of what might have happened and they had so far found no evidence of a terror attack in fragments from the plane .
U.S. , Canadian , and British officials have said it is “ highly likely ” that Ukraine International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down , possibly in error , by an Iranian missile .
NATO 's secretary-general and Dutch officials have also hinted at a similar conclusion .
All 176 people aboard were killed in the predawn tragedy .
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on January 10 that he had spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , whose country lost 63 people in the tragedy , and that `` There should not be speculation about the tragedy .
Ukraine and Canada will use all possible means to advocate for an objective and comprehensive investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been given access to the black boxes that would have been collecting data of the Boeing 737-800 's flight .
As for a possible terrorist attack , Bakanov said , `` the topic is too important to draw any hasty conclusions.
” The air disaster came hours after Iran targeted two Iraqi bases that house U.S. troops with missiles on January 8 in response to a January 3 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad .
Prystayko added in his press conference on January 10 that Ukraine has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranian authorities do not want to work with Ukraine '' in investigating the cause of the crash .
Iranian officials have said they will download data from the black boxes .
`` We prefer to download the black boxes in Iran .
But if we see that we ca n't do that because the boxes are damaged , then we will seek help , '' Iran 's civil aviation chief , Ali Abedzadeh , told a news conference in Tehran on January 10 .
`` One thing is for certain , this airplane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Some videos have emerged from Iran that appeared to show an object or objects approaching an aircraft and an aircraft burning brightly well before impact with the ground .
WATCH : Investigator Explains Video Evidence A crew from U.S. television network CBS said there were no security or investigators at the crash site when they arrived on January 10 , and images were being shared that purported to show bulldozed earth at or near the scene of the disaster .
The Ukrainian-flagged plane was en route to Kyiv when it crashed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iranians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three Germans , and three Britons , in addition to 11 Ukrainians , including nine crew members .
Zelenskiy ’ s office said on January 10 that it was “ too early on in the investigation to reveal specific details.
” Iranian officials have called on Western governments to share any intelligence or evidence suggesting Iran had shot the plane down .
Some have speculated that Iranian air defenses might have been on high alert and mistakenly responded to spotting the jet .
Prystayko said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened [ but it is ] hard to say why . ''
If it turns out that Flight PS752 was shot down by a missile , Prystayko said , Ukraine will demand punishment of those responsible and compensation from Iran .
`` We do believe that it ’ s likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a January 10 press conference at which he and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced a fresh round of U.S. sanctions targeting eight senior Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination , '' Pompeo said .
`` When we get results of that investigation , I am confident we and the world will take appropriate actions in response . ''
In a reversal from its earlier stance , Iran said on January 10 it had invited the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB ) and the U.S. manufacturer Boeing to participate in the investigation .
Boeing said on January 10 it was working with U.S. regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crash .
Under U.S. sanctions law , the U.S. Treasury must grant approval for U.S. investigators or the company to take part and potentially travel to Iran .
`` Specialists must be given a chance to analyze the situation and make conclusions , '' Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Tokyo .
The sudden escalation follows more than a year of tightening U.S. sanctions under a `` maximum pressure '' policy aimed at changing Iranian behavior since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities in exchange for sanctions relief .
With reporting by Reuters , dpa , and AFP

KYIV -- Ukrainian officials said on January 10 that they were focusing in particular on a missile strike or act of terrorism as two possible causes of the crash of a Ukrainian passenger airliner after takeoff from Tehran's international airport, adding that they wanted to establish an international coalition to conduct an investigation into the January 8 tragedy.
The head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Ivan Bakanov, told a press briefing that the missile strike and terror scenarios merited particular attention.
“I can assure you that we will surely inform the public of all objective, verified information," he added.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko had said earlier in the day that Ukrainian investigators had been given access to pieces of the body of the plane and specialists were analyzing various videos around the crash.
Prystayko said Ukrainian officials were not discarding any possible version of what might have happened and they had so far found no evidence of a terror attack in fragments from the plane.
U.S., Canadian, and British officials have said it is “highly likely” that Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 was shot down, possibly in error, by an Iranian missile. NATO's secretary-general and Dutch officials have also hinted at a similar conclusion.
All 176 people aboard were killed in the predawn tragedy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on January 10 that he had spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country lost 63 people in the tragedy, and that "There should not be speculation about the tragedy. Ukraine and Canada will use all possible means to advocate for an objective and comprehensive investigation."
Prystayko said Ukrainian authorities have been given access to the black boxes that would have been collecting data of the Boeing 737-800's flight.
As for a possible terrorist attack, Bakanov said, "the topic is too important to draw any hasty conclusions.”
The air disaster came hours after Iran targeted two Iraqi bases that house U.S. troops with missiles on January 8 in response to a January 3 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Prystayko added in his press conference on January 10 that Ukraine has "no reason to say that the Iranian authorities do not want to work with Ukraine" in investigating the cause of the crash.
Iranian officials have said they will download data from the black boxes.
"We prefer to download the black boxes in Iran. But if we see that we can't do that because the boxes are damaged, then we will seek help," Iran's civil aviation chief, Ali Abedzadeh, told a news conference in Tehran on January 10. "One thing is for certain, this airplane was not hit by a missile."
Some videos have emerged from Iran that appeared to show an object or objects approaching an aircraft and an aircraft burning brightly well before impact with the ground.
WATCH: Investigator Explains Video Evidence
A crew from U.S. television network CBS said there were no security or investigators at the crash site when they arrived on January 10, and images were being shared that purported to show bulldozed earth at or near the scene of the disaster.
The Ukrainian-flagged plane was en route to Kyiv when it crashed.
On board were 63 Canadians, 82 Iranians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and three Britons, in addition to 11 Ukrainians, including nine crew members.
Zelenskiy’s office said on January 10 that it was “too early on in the investigation to reveal specific details.”
Iranian officials have called on Western governments to share any intelligence or evidence suggesting Iran had shot the plane down.
Some have speculated that Iranian air defenses might have been on high alert and mistakenly responded to spotting the jet.
Prystayko said the plane "turned around after something happened [but it is] hard to say why."
If it turns out that Flight PS752 was shot down by a missile, Prystayko said, Ukraine will demand punishment of those responsible and compensation from Iran.
"We do believe that it’s likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told a January 10 press conference at which he and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced a fresh round of U.S. sanctions targeting eight senior Iranian officials and companies in the metals sector.
"We're going to let the investigation play out before we make a final determination," Pompeo said. "When we get results of that investigation, I am confident we and the world will take appropriate actions in response."
In a reversal from its earlier stance, Iran said on January 10 it had invited the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. manufacturer Boeing to participate in the investigation.
Boeing said on January 10 it was working with U.S. regulators to assist in the investigation of the crash. Under U.S. sanctions law, the U.S. Treasury must grant approval for U.S. investigators or the company to take part and potentially travel to Iran.
"Specialists must be given a chance to analyze the situation and make conclusions," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in Tokyo.
The sudden escalation follows more than a year of tightening U.S. sanctions under a "maximum pressure" policy aimed at changing Iranian behavior since U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and other world powers to curb Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP


rferl--2020-01-10--U.S. Announces New Iran Sanctions On Senior Officials, Metals Industry

The United States has announced new sanctions on eight senior Iranian officials and that country 's steel and other metals industry , along with a presidential executive order that promises further moves to curb the Iranian leadership 's access to revenues .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced the sanctions at a press conference in Washington on January 10 , following this week 's Iranian missile strikes on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq .
The Iranian attack came days after a top Iranian commander was killed in a U.S. air strike in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our commitment to stop the Iranian regime 's global terrorist activities .
The president has been very clear -- we will continue to apply economic sanctions until Iran stops its terrorist activities and commits that it will never have nuclear weapons , ” Mnuchin said .
Among others , Iranian individuals targeted include : Ali Shamkhani , the secretary of Iran ’ s Supreme National Security Council ; Mohammad Reza Ashtiani , the deputy chief of staff of Iran 's armed forces ; and Gholamreza Soleimani , the head of the Basij @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( IRGC ) .
Mnuchin said these officials were advancing `` the regime 's destabilizing activity and were involved '' in the January 8 missile attack .
The sanctions also target 17 mining and metal-producing companies , a “ network of three China- and Seychelles-based entities , '' and a vessel involved in the metals trade .
`` As a result of these actions we will cut off billions of dollars of support to the Iranian regime and we will continue our enforcement of other entities , ” according to Mnuchin .
Mohsen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s influential Expediency Council and a military officer in the IRGC who was also targeted by the January 10 sanctions , tweeted : `` Imposing sanctions is symbolic for America and for me because this measure will have no economic impact . ''
A Treasury Department statement outlining the punitive measures cites an executive order from President Donald Trump `` expanding authorities to target additional sources of revenue used by the Iranian regime . ''
`` Concurrently with today ’ s designations , the President is signing a new Executive Order ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of revenue used by the Iranian regime to fund and support its nuclear program , missile development , terrorism and terrorist proxy networks , and malign regional influence , '' the statement said .
U.S. special representative for Iran Brian Hook said in a telephone call with reporters on January 10 that the U.S. exit from the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions ( JCPOA ) that traded curbs on Iran 's nuclear activities for relief from international sanctions has put Washington `` in a much better position to deny Iran a nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to then forcibly respond to Iran 's regional aggression , and that is what we have done with our sanctions , '' he said , according to Reuters .
The latest sanctions target exports that help keep the Iranian economy `` on life support , '' he added .
The new sanctions follow more than a year of tightening U.S. sanctions since Trump left the JCPOA in 2018 and with tensions high following a January 3 U.S. drone strike that killed IRGC Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad , prompting Iran 's targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops with missiles on January 8 .
Pompeo told reporters on January 10 that Soleimani was planning an imminent `` large-scale attack against American interests '' when he was killed .
He said the United States had `` specific information '' on threatened attacks against American facilities , `` including American embassies , [ and ] military bases throughout the region . ''
In an interview on Fox News that partially aired on January 10 , Trump said that he thinks Soleimani was planning attacks against four U.S. embassies .
`` Probably it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baghdad , '' he said .
The fresh sanctions also come with U.S. , Canadian , and British officials saying evidence suggested that a Ukraine International Airlines ( UIA ) flight that crashed in Iran hours after the January 8 missile attack had been hit by an Iranian surface-to-air missile , probably in error .
`` We do believe that it ’ s likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile , '' Pompeo said during the press conference .
`` We 're going to let the investigation play out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Pompeo added .
`` When we get results of that investigation , I am confident we and the world will take appropriate actions in response . ''
Mnuchin said the Treasury Department would grant sanctions waivers to allow any Americans or anyone else to participate in the investigation of the crash .
Under U.S. sanctions law , the U.S. Treasury must grant approval for U.S. nationals or entities to take part in an investigation in Iran and potentially travel there .
Iranian officials have flatly denied as `` impossible '' that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plane after takeoff from the Iranian capital .


rferl--2020-01-10--Kyrgyzstan Pressed To Thoroughly Probe Journalist Assault

BISHKEK -- The United States has joined media-freedom watchdogs in calling on Kyrgyz authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into this week ’ s assault of the editor in chief of an investigative website that has covered allegations of corruption .
The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek condemned the January 9 attack against Bolot Temirov of the website FactCheck , saying : `` Press can only be free when journalists are able to work without intimidation and threats , '' it said in a statement .
The previous day , unidentified assailants beat Temirov while he was on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bishkek , before stealing his mobile phone , his colleagues said .
In a Facebook post , Temirov labelled the incident `` an attempt to frighten '' him .
The journalist lost a tooth in the attack and suffered bruises to his face , one of his colleagues told the Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) .
Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov ’ s office denounced the attack and called for a prompt investigation .
OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir also condemned the attack and insisted that “ no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , the New York-based CPJ urged Kyrgyz authorities to determine whether the assault was related to Temirov ’ s work and to “ ensure that reporters can cover corruption allegations without fearing for their safety.
” Last month , FactCheck and several other news websites were hacked after they published reports on alleged corruption and the lavish lifestyles of a former custom official ’ s family members .

BISHKEK -- The United States has joined media-freedom watchdogs in calling on Kyrgyz authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into this week’s assault of the editor in chief of an investigative website that has covered allegations of corruption.
The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek condemned the January 9 attack against Bolot Temirov of the website FactCheck, saying: "Press can only be free when journalists are able to work without intimidation and threats," it said in a statement.
The previous day, unidentified assailants beat Temirov while he was on his way to work in the capital, Bishkek, before stealing his mobile phone, his colleagues said.
In a Facebook post, Temirov labelled the incident "an attempt to frighten" him.
The journalist lost a tooth in the attack and suffered bruises to his face, one of his colleagues told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov’s office denounced the attack and called for a prompt investigation.
OSCE Representative for Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir also condemned the attack and insisted that “no intimidation of journalists should be tolerated.”
Meanwhile, the New York-based CPJ urged Kyrgyz authorities to determine whether the assault was related to Temirov’s work and to “ensure that reporters can cover corruption allegations without fearing for their safety.”
Last month, FactCheck and several other news websites were hacked after they published reports on alleged corruption and the lavish lifestyles of a former custom official’s family members.
With reporting by RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service


rferl--2020-01-10--Kyiv Court Remands Suspect In Sheremet Murder Case In Custody

A court in Kyiv has remanded a suspect for one month in custody in connection with the 2016 killing of prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet , following what Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) called a “ flawed three-and-a-half-year investigation.
” The court of appeals in Kyiv ruled on January 10 that Andriy Antonenko must stay in pretrial detention until February 8 .
Antonenko 's supporters , who came to the hearing , chanted `` Shame ! ''
and `` Corrupt Judges ! ''
after the court handed down its ruling .
Antonenko and two women , Yulia Kuzmenko and Yana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspects in the high-profile case .
Two other suspects , Vladyslav and Inna Hryshchenko , were arrested and placed in pretrial detention in September and November respectively as suspects in another case .
All five took part in military operations in different capacities in Ukraine 's east , where government forces are fighting against Russia-backed separatists .
The Interior Ministry and the National Police said in December that the group 's goal was `` to destabilize the political and social situation in Ukraine '' by killing Sheremet .
Kuzmenko , a pediatrician and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bomb under the car the night before the murder with the help of Antonenko , a musician .
Sheremet , a Belarusian-born Russian citizen who had made Kyiv his permanent home , was leaving his apartment to head to the studio where he hosted a morning radio program when an improvised explosive device planted under the vehicle he was driving exploded on July 20 , 2016 , killing him instantly .
Sheremet 's killing underscored concerns of a climate of impunity for attacks on journalists and others who challenge the authorities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a perceived lack of progress in solving the case .
In a statement on January 10 , RSF raised concern about “ inconsistencies in the evidence for the Ukrainian authorities ’ claim to have solved [ Sheremet ’ s ] murder , ” and urged them to “ continue the investigation and to be more transparent as they do so.
” This investigation “ offers the opportunity to really begin combating impunity , ” said Jeanne Cavelier , the head of the Paris-based media freedom watchdog ’ s Eastern Europe and Central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perpetrators but also the instigators should be identified and brought to trial , ” Cavelier insisted .
Sheremet 's mother , Lyudmila Sheremet , told RFE/RL in December that she does not know if the suspects are guilty or not , but that she is afraid `` that innocent people may be hurt '' as officials try to show they 're making headway in the case .
`` Pavel is gone and nothing can bring him back .
Of course , I need the truth ...
But it is hard to judge how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she said in the interview .
With reporting by UNIAN and Ukrayinska Pravda

A court in Kyiv has remanded a suspect for one month in custody in connection with the 2016 killing of prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet, following what Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called a “flawed three-and-a-half-year investigation.”
The court of appeals in Kyiv ruled on January 10 that Andriy Antonenko must stay in pretrial detention until February 8.
Antonenko's supporters, who came to the hearing, chanted "Shame!" and "Corrupt Judges!" after the court handed down its ruling.
Antonenko and two women, Yulia Kuzmenko and Yana Duhar, were arrested in December as suspects in the high-profile case.
Two other suspects, Vladyslav and Inna Hryshchenko, were arrested and placed in pretrial detention in September and November respectively as suspects in another case.
All five took part in military operations in different capacities in Ukraine's east, where government forces are fighting against Russia-backed separatists.
The Interior Ministry and the National Police said in December that the group's goal was "to destabilize the political and social situation in Ukraine" by killing Sheremet.
Kuzmenko, a pediatrician and well-known volunteer, is suspected of placing the bomb under the car the night before the murder with the help of Antonenko, a musician.
Sheremet, a Belarusian-born Russian citizen who had made Kyiv his permanent home, was leaving his apartment to head to the studio where he hosted a morning radio program when an improvised explosive device planted under the vehicle he was driving exploded on July 20, 2016, killing him instantly.
Sheremet's killing underscored concerns of a climate of impunity for attacks on journalists and others who challenge the authorities, while the government has faced persistent criticism over a perceived lack of progress in solving the case.
In a statement on January 10, RSF raised concern about “inconsistencies in the evidence for the Ukrainian authorities’ claim to have solved [Sheremet’s] murder,” and urged them to “continue the investigation and to be more transparent as they do so.”
This investigation “offers the opportunity to really begin combating impunity,” said Jeanne Cavelier, the head of the Paris-based media freedom watchdog’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.
“Not just the perpetrators but also the instigators should be identified and brought to trial,” Cavelier insisted.
Sheremet's mother, Lyudmila Sheremet, told RFE/RL in December that she does not know if the suspects are guilty or not, but that she is afraid "that innocent people may be hurt" as officials try to show they're making headway in the case.
"Pavel is gone and nothing can bring him back. Of course, I need the truth... But it is hard to judge how close they got to the truth," she said in the interview.
With reporting by UNIAN and Ukrayinska Pravda


rferl--2020-01-10--Pakistan Mosque Blast Kills 15, Including Senior Police Officer

A senior police officer and 14 other people have been killed in a suicide bomb blast in the Pakistani southwestern city of Quetta , officials say .
Balochistan Province 's Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said 19 people were also wounded in the January 10 explosion , which took place during evening prayers at a mosque in a satellite town of Quetta , the provincial capital .
Some of the injured were said to be in a critical condition .
Langove said a suicide bomber detonated explosives attached to his body among the worshipers .
The Islamic State ( IS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it was a suicide attack .
A deputy superintendent of police was among those killed .
A cleric leading the prayers , as well as associates and relatives of a prominent Taliban leader also died in the explosion , reports said .
The mosque was said to be part of an Islamic seminary run by the Afghan Taliban .
Resource-rich Balochistan , which borders Afghanistan and Iran , has been plagued by sectarian violence , Islamist militant attacks , and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a bomb blast hit a paramilitary force vehicle , killing two troops .
Hizbul Ahrar , an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban , claimed responsibility for Tuesday 's attack .
That attack was claimed by Jamaat ul-Ahrar ( JuA ) , a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban .

A senior police officer and 14 other people have been killed in a suicide bomb blast in the Pakistani southwestern city of Quetta, officials say.
Balochistan Province's Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said 19 people were also wounded in the January 10 explosion, which took place during evening prayers at a mosque in a satellite town of Quetta, the provincial capital.
Some of the injured were said to be in a critical condition.
Langove said a suicide bomber detonated explosives attached to his body among the worshipers.
The Islamic State (IS) extremist group claimed responsibility for the bombing, saying it was a suicide attack.
A deputy superintendent of police was among those killed.
A cleric leading the prayers, as well as associates and relatives of a prominent Taliban leader also died in the explosion, reports said.
The mosque was said to be part of an Islamic seminary run by the Afghan Taliban.
Resource-rich Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by sectarian violence, Islamist militant attacks, and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since 2004.
On January 7 in Quetta, a bomb blast hit a paramilitary force vehicle, killing two troops.
Hizbul Ahrar, an offshoot of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack.
That attack was claimed by Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JuA), a breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban.
With reporting by dpa


rferl--2020-01-10--Kyrgyz PM Orders Increased Security After Incident Along Tajik Border

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has ordered security along the border with Tajikistan to be beefed up following an incident overnight where gunshots were fired .
The Kyrgyz Border Guard Service said in a statement on January 10 that gunshots were fired from the Tajik side , while regional authorities said they had moved 254 Kyrgyz nationals , including 139 children , from the village of Damkha , near the location of the clashes .
The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry added that it had summoned the Tajik ambassador over the incident , in which no casualties were reported .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the southern Batken region where the incident took place has seen similar clashes in the past , including at least 10 skirmishes last year .
The Tajik Border Guard Service blamed residents of Kyrgyzstan 's Kok-Tash village for provoking the January 10 clash .
In December , six Kyrgyz nationals and three Tajik nationals were wounded in clashes in the area , while violence in September claimed four lives .
Many border areas in Central Asian former Soviet republics have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley , where the borders of Tajikistan , Uzbekistan , and Kyrgyzstan meet .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has ordered security along the border with Tajikistan to be beefed up following an incident overnight where gunshots were fired.
The Kyrgyz Border Guard Service said in a statement on January 10 that gunshots were fired from the Tajik side, while regional authorities said they had moved 254 Kyrgyz nationals, including 139 children, from the village of Damkha, near the location of the clashes.
The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry added that it had summoned the Tajik ambassador over the incident, in which no casualties were reported.
The segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in the southern Batken region where the incident took place has seen similar clashes in the past, including at least 10 skirmishes last year.
The Tajik Border Guard Service blamed residents of Kyrgyzstan's Kok-Tash village for provoking the January 10 clash.
In December, six Kyrgyz nationals and three Tajik nationals were wounded in clashes in the area, while violence in September claimed four lives.
Many border areas in Central Asian former Soviet republics have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan meet.


rferl--2020-01-10--Kosovo President Again Asks Party Leader To Name Prime Minister

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has sent an open letter to Albin Kurti , the leader of the Self-Determination Movement ( Vetevendosje ) , asking him to name a candidate for prime minister or clarify whether his party refuses to do so .
“ As president , I am obligated to take action without further delay following all constitutional steps so that citizens of the Republic of Kosovo can have a government as soon as possible , '' Thaci wrote in a letter published by local media .
Kurti 's Vetevendosje party emerged with a plurality of 26 percent in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thaci , a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander , but still won only 29 seats in the 120-seat legislature .
Coalition talks with the second-place finisher , the center-right opposition Democratic League ( LDK ) with 28 seats , reportedly stalled over government posts and a unified choice to defeat Thaci 's likely reelection bid in 2021 .
Thaci and Kurti met on January 6 , but the Vetevendosje chief failed to propose a candidate to lead the government .
After the meeting , Thaci gave Kurti and his party “ 48 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kurti has said that his party will advance a name within days but that has n't happened so far .
The failure to form a government and Thaci 's warning of a `` constitutional crisis '' highlight the political stakes in Europe 's newest state since voters signaled a possible end to more than a decade of leadership from the ranks of former independence fighters .
Kosovo has been recognized by more than 110 states since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 , but continues to face diplomatic and institutional hurdles stemming from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a handful of European Union states .
Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations with Serbia were derailed in 2018 by Pristina 's imposition of 100-percent tariffs on Serbian goods in response to Belgrade 's continued lobbying for countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo .
International hopes on restarting those talks -- potentially leading to UN recognition for Kosovo and clearing other obstacles -- appear pinned on the next government .
Thaci said in November that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on normalizing ties should continue `` without any conditionality . ''

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has sent an open letter to Albin Kurti, the leader of the Self-Determination Movement (Vetevendosje), asking him to name a candidate for prime minister or clarify whether his party refuses to do so.
“As president, I am obligated to take action without further delay following all constitutional steps so that citizens of the Republic of Kosovo can have a government as soon as possible," Thaci wrote in a letter published by local media.
Kurti's Vetevendosje party emerged with a plurality of 26 percent in the October election that upset entrenched allies of Thaci, a former Kosovo Liberation Army commander, but still won only 29 seats in the 120-seat legislature.
Coalition talks with the second-place finisher, the center-right opposition Democratic League (LDK) with 28 seats, reportedly stalled over government posts and a unified choice to defeat Thaci's likely reelection bid in 2021.
Thaci and Kurti met on January 6, but the Vetevendosje chief failed to propose a candidate to lead the government.
After the meeting, Thaci gave Kurti and his party “48 hours” to nominate a prime minister. Kurti has said that his party will advance a name within days but that hasn't happened so far.
The failure to form a government and Thaci's warning of a "constitutional crisis" highlight the political stakes in Europe's newest state since voters signaled a possible end to more than a decade of leadership from the ranks of former independence fighters.
Kosovo has been recognized by more than 110 states since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, but continues to face diplomatic and institutional hurdles stemming from nonrecognition by Serbia, Russia, and a handful of European Union states.
Talks on normalizing diplomatic relations with Serbia were derailed in 2018 by Pristina's imposition of 100-percent tariffs on Serbian goods in response to Belgrade's continued lobbying for countries to reverse their recognition of Kosovo.
International hopes on restarting those talks -- potentially leading to UN recognition for Kosovo and clearing other obstacles -- appear pinned on the next government.
Thaci said in November that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on normalizing ties should continue "without any conditionality."


rferl--2020-01-10--Pakistani Shi'ites Protest Soleimani's Assassination

Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims on January 10 gathered in Pakistan 's northwestern city of Peshawar to protest the U.S. assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani , the commander of the Quds Force -- an elite unit in Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) .
Protesters chanted “ Death to America '' and held photos of Soleimani , who was killed January 3 in a U.S. air strike outside Baghdad .
They also chanted slogans against Israel , and burnt an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump .
The protests were organized by an alliance of Shi'ite Muslims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imran Khan 's government to back Shi'ite Iran in its dispute with the United States .
Protests were also held in other cities in Pakistan .
They followed similar protests by Shi'ite groups on January 3 and January 5 in the capital , Islamabad , and in the port city of Karachi .
Pakistan 's Foreign Ministry on January 5 issued a statement saying that Islamabad will not `` let its soil be used against any other state , '' and will not become part of `` any regional conflict . ''
Khan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to visit Iran , Saudi Arabia , and the United States to seek de-escalation in regional tensions .

Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims on January 10 gathered in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar to protest the U.S. assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force -- an elite unit in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Protesters chanted “Death to America" and held photos of Soleimani, who was killed January 3 in a U.S. air strike outside Baghdad. They also chanted slogans against Israel, and burnt an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The protests were organized by an alliance of Shi'ite Muslims in Peshawar that called on Prime Minister Imran Khan's government to back Shi'ite Iran in its dispute with the United States.
Protests were also held in other cities in Pakistan.
They followed similar protests by Shi'ite groups on January 3 and January 5 in the capital, Islamabad, and in the port city of Karachi.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on January 5 issued a statement saying that Islamabad will not "let its soil be used against any other state," and will not become part of "any regional conflict."
Khan later instructed Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to visit Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States to seek de-escalation in regional tensions.


rferl--2020-01-10--Ice Buildup Identified As Likely Cause Of Deadly Kazakh Plane Crash

NUR-SULTAN -- Ice buildup has been identified as the most possible cause of a crash that killed 12 of the 98 passengers and crew aboard a Fokker 100 aircraft on a flight operated by Kazakh airline Bek Air in Kazakhstan last month .
Roman Sklyar , deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan , told reporters in Nur-Sultan on January 10 that a special government commission ruled out technical malfunction , human error , or the influence of other aircraft in the crash .
Instead , the commission concluded that the most likely factor was an accumulation of ice on the plane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to take off from the Almaty airport en route to Nur-Sultan on December 27 .
`` The plane was stationed at the airport in frigid weather for two days and ice built up on it , which most likely caused the accident , '' Sklyar said , adding that the investigation continues .
The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development said earlier that the plane was unable to achieve significant altitude and crashed into a two-story building near the airport .
Sklyar said at the January 10 press conference that investigations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illegal permits '' issued by local authorities in the Talghar district to build houses near the airport .
Four foreigners were aboard the plane , officials said -- two from Ukraine and one each from China and Kyrgyzstan -- while the rest were Kazakh .
All four of the foreigners survived , Kazakh authorities said .

NUR-SULTAN -- Ice buildup has been identified as the most possible cause of a crash that killed 12 of the 98 passengers and crew aboard a Fokker 100 aircraft on a flight operated by Kazakh airline Bek Air in Kazakhstan last month.
Roman Sklyar, deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan, told reporters in Nur-Sultan on January 10 that a special government commission ruled out technical malfunction, human error, or the influence of other aircraft in the crash. Instead, the commission concluded that the most likely factor was an accumulation of ice on the plane's wings.
The plane crashed while trying to take off from the Almaty airport en route to Nur-Sultan on December 27.
"The plane was stationed at the airport in frigid weather for two days and ice built up on it, which most likely caused the accident," Sklyar said, adding that the investigation continues.
The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development said earlier that the plane was unable to achieve significant altitude and crashed into a two-story building near the airport.
Sklyar said at the January 10 press conference that investigations had been launched into what he called “illegal permits" issued by local authorities in the Talghar district to build houses near the airport.
Four foreigners were aboard the plane, officials said -- two from Ukraine and one each from China and Kyrgyzstan -- while the rest were Kazakh. All four of the foreigners survived, Kazakh authorities said.


rferl--2020-01-10--'Presidential Election' Results In Georgia's Breakaway Abkhazia Annulled

SUKHUMI , Abkhazia -- The de facto Supreme Court in Georgia 's breakaway region of Abkhazia has annulled the results of last year ’ s “ presidential election ” and ordered a rerun of the vote .
The self-styled judges on January 10 overturned a lower court ’ s decision to recognize the results of September `` presidential elections '' won by Raul Khajimba , following an appeal by opposition presidential candidate Alkhas Kvitsinia .
The de facto Supreme Court ordered the election authorities to set the date for the new vote .
TASS reported that Khajimba and his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came as hundreds of opposition activists for a second day gathered in front of the separatist leader 's office in the regional capital , Sukhumi , demanding him to resign .
On January 9 , Abkhazia 's de facto parliament called on Khajimba to step down , after demonstrators stormed the building housing his administration .
The self-styled lawmakers said in a resolution that the move aimed at avoiding “ further destabilization in society , ” which they said could have “ irreparable consequences.
” Khajimba 's office responded to the resolution with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` complicate the social and political situation , '' adding that `` all differences must be solved solely through negotiations . ''
Moscow has recognized Abkhazia and Georgia ’ s other separatist region , South Ossetia , as independent states after a five-day Georgia-Russia war in August 2008 .
Russian troops are now stationed in the two regions and Georgia and most of the international community consider both regions as occupied territories .

SUKHUMI, Abkhazia -- The de facto Supreme Court in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia has annulled the results of last year’s “presidential election” and ordered a rerun of the vote.
The self-styled judges on January 10 overturned a lower court’s decision to recognize the results of September "presidential elections" won by Raul Khajimba, following an appeal by opposition presidential candidate Alkhas Kvitsinia.
The de facto Supreme Court ordered the election authorities to set the date for the new vote.
TASS reported that Khajimba and his supporters plan to appeal the ruling, which came as hundreds of opposition activists for a second day gathered in front of the separatist leader's office in the regional capital, Sukhumi, demanding him to resign.
On January 9, Abkhazia's de facto parliament called on Khajimba to step down, after demonstrators stormed the building housing his administration.
The self-styled lawmakers said in a resolution that the move aimed at avoiding “further destabilization in society,” which they said could have “irreparable consequences.”
Khajimba's office responded to the resolution with a statement saying such a move may "complicate the social and political situation," adding that "all differences must be solved solely through negotiations."
Moscow has recognized Abkhazia and Georgia’s other separatist region, South Ossetia, as independent states after a five-day Georgia-Russia war in August 2008.
Russian troops are now stationed in the two regions and Georgia and most of the international community consider both regions as occupied territories.
With reporting by TASS


rferl--2020-01-10--Iran To Download Data From Crashed Plane Amid Suggestions Missile To Blame

Iran says it will download data from the black boxes recovered from the Ukrainian airliner that crashed near Tehran earlier this week , killing all 176 people on board , amid Western suggestions that a missile brought down the aircraft .
Iranian civil aviation officials on January 10 vehemently rejected assertions from the United States , Britain , and Canada , whose leaders all said intelligence data indicate a catastrophic error by Iranian air defense batteries was likely the cause of the accident .
`` We prefer to download the black boxes in Iran .
But if we see that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes are damaged , then we will seek help , '' Iran 's civil aviation chief Ali Abedzadeh told a news conference in Tehran .
`` One thing is for certain , this airplane was not hit by a missile , '' he added .
Later , Iran said it would on January 11 announce its findings on the cause of the crash .
The comments came hours after Tehran gave Ukrainian investigators access to the fragments of the airliner and invited plane maker Boeing and the U.S. accident-investigation agency to help in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ’ s office said DNA was being collected from relatives of Ukrainians who died in the crash of the Boeing 737-800 jet in order to identify the bodies .
The statement added that it was `` too early on in the investigation to reveal specific details.
” However , Ukraine 's top security official , Oleksiy Danilov , said he would like to see the investigation “ move faster ” and that Ukrainian officials were working to make the release of preliminary results of the investigation happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew from the U.S. television network CBS said that it encountered no security or investigators when it arrived at the crash site on January 10 .
“ Virtually all pieces of the plane were removed yesterday - say locals .
Scavengers now picking site clean , ” CBS correspondent Elizabeth Palmer said in a tweet .
The Ukrainian-flagged Boeing 737-800 was en route to Kyiv when it crashed on January 8 after taking off from the Iranian capital .
The victims were 63 Canadians , 82 Iranians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were also 11 Ukrainians on board , including nine crew .
Earlier on January 10 , in a reversal from its earlier stance , Iran said it had invited the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board ( NTSB ) and plane maker Boeing to participate in the crash investigation .
The decision came after U.S. , Canadian , and British officials said it was “ highly likely ” that the Ukraine International Airlines ( UIA ) flight had been shot down , probably in error , by an Iranian missile .
Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share any intelligence suggesting it did so .
Abedzadeh said that , along with NTSB and Boeing representatives , Tehran will allow experts from Ukraine , France , and Canada to participate in the crash investigation .
Under rules established by the UN aviation organization , the NTSB is entitled to participate in the investigation because the crash involved a Boeing jet that was designed and built in the United States .
France 's BEA air accident agency , which helped analyze data from the flight recorder of a Boeing plane that crashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be involved in the investigation .
The European Commission said on January 10 that an `` independent and credible '' investigation was needed .
`` We can only wait for the conclusive evidence that will come out of such independent investigation , '' Stefan de Keersmaecker , a spokesman for the EU 's executive arm , told journalists .
Amid tensions heightened by the killing of top Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. air strike in Baghdad last week , Iran earlier had said it would not give the plane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain flight data and cockpit voice recorders , to either U.S. authorities , nor to Boeing representatives .
Any involvement by the NTSB could be limited because of restrictions related to financial sanctions placed on Tehran by the American government .
The board , an independent U.S. government agency charged with probing civil aviation accidents , said it was evaluating its “ level of participation in the investigation.
” It confirmed it had received notification of the crash from Iran , the formal process that gives the U.S. agency the right to seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it has named an accredited representative to the case , but did not say when or if the person would be allowed to visit the site .
Earlier , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a news conference in Ottawa that evidence suggested an Iranian missile downed the Ukrainian passenger plane that was flying from Tehran to Kyiv .
`` We have intelligence from multiple sources , including our allies and our own intelligence .
The evidence indicates that the plane was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been unintentional , '' he told a press conference , calling for a `` complete and credible investigation '' into the cause of the crash .
The plane crash occurred hours after Iran fired missiles at bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq .
Trudeau 's comments came as video , which The New York Times says it has verified , emerged that may show the moment the airliner was hit .
The video shows a fast-moving object heading into the sky before a bright flash is seen .
Several seconds later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s words , British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said : “ There is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air Missile.
” `` This may well have been unintentional , '' Johnson added .
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had `` suspicions '' about the crash , saying the plane “ was flying in a pretty rough neighborhood and somebody could have made a mistake . ''
Unidentified U.S. officials said they were confident that Iranian air-defense systems downed the Boeing 737-800 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic data .
Newsweek magazine quoted a Pentagon and a senior U.S. intelligence official , as well as an Iraqi intelligence official , as saying they believed the Ukrainian plane was hit by a Russian-made Tor missile .
Iran 's Transport Ministry has also denied the suggestions of a missile being involved in the accident , saying `` this can not be correct at all . ''
`` Several internal and international flights were flying at the same time in Iranian airspace at the same altitude of 8,000 feet [ 2,440 meters ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting by AP , Reuters , Newsweek , CNN , AFP , and CBS , Fars , dpa , IRNA , and RFE/RL ’ s Radio Farda


rferl--2020-01-11--Merkel Set For Talks In Moscow Amid Rising Middle East Tensions

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that will likely focus on the raised tensions in the Middle East .
The Kremlin said the meeting will take place on January 11 and address the `` situation in Syria and Libya , as well as the escalation of tensions in the Middle East following a U.S. air strike at Baghdad 's airport on January 3 . ''
The U.S. air strike killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani , who commanded Iran ’ s Quds Force , the foreign arm of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , both of which have been designated as terror organizations by the United States .
The attack led to a retaliatory strike by Iran and raised fears of a new armed conflict in the region .
Adding to the tension was the crash of a Ukrainian airliner shortly after take-off near Tehran , killing all 176 on board .
The West suspects an Iranian missile knocked down the plane , likely in error .
Tehran early on January 11 admitted it had `` unintentionally '' shot the plane down after days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week said Merkel wants to discuss the `` current trouble spots '' in the Middle East .
`` Obviously , tensions between the U.S. and Iran , along with a number of other issues , can be the subject of the talks between the chancellor and President Putin in Moscow , '' Seibert said .
`` Russia is an important actor on the world stage .
And as a permanent member of the UN Security Council , it is also indispensable in terms of solving political conflicts , '' Seibert said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paris as part of efforts to forge a renewed cease-fire for war-torn eastern Ukraine , where Russia backs separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces .
Russia and Germany are also involved in efforts to bring about a cease-fire in Libya .
With reporting by dpa and TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country should be able to complete a gas-export pipeline to Germany that has been placed under sanctions by the United States by the first quarter of 2021, slightly later than previously announced.
Putin, speaking at a joint press conference in Moscow on January 11 with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Russia will "certainly" be able to complete Nord Stream 2 without foreign assistance.
The Russian leader said the project, which was expected to start in the first half of 2020, will be delayed "several months."
"I hope that by the end of this year or the first quarter of next year, the work will be completed and the gas pipeline will start," Putin said.
The United States last month sanctioned Western vessels laying the pipeline for Nord Stream 2, which consists of two parallel lines stretching 1,230 kilometers each from Russia to northern Germany, amid claims the project hurts European energy security and increases Moscow's influence over Kyiv.
Merkel said she did not agree with the U.S. approach to sanctions. She called the project legitimate and said it should be completed.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (Republican-Texas), one of the authors of the bill sanctioning Nord Stream 2, said Washington targeted the vessels amid the belief that Russia did not have the technology to lay deep sea pipelines.
Russian officials said last month they will send a ship currently in the Far East to complete the pipeline. However, the ship will first need to be upgraded, the officials said.
Iran Deal
Putin and Merkel also talked about salvaging the Iranian nuclear deal, bringing peace to Libya and rebuilding Syria during their meeting that lasted 3 1/2 hours.
The two leaders said the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- which eased sanctions against Iran in exchange for limits on its uranium-enrichment program -- should be adhered to.
The agreement was backed by the United States, Russia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and China.
However, Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, calling the deal signed by his predeccesor Barack Obama "terrible," and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran that have decimated its economy.
After months of complaining about the new sanctions, Tehran on January 5 said it would no longer abide by the terms of the JCPOA, putting the landmark agreement on the verge of collapse.
Merkel said the JCPOA is "certainly not perfect" but added she and Putin "agreed that we should do anything to preserve the deal."
Libya Peace
Russia and Germany are also involved in efforts to bring about a cease-fire in Libya, which Berlin has said could become a "second Syria."
Merkel and Putin expressed support for peace talks organized by the UN to be held in Berlin in the coming weeks.
Turmoil in the oil-rich North African nation has been escalating as Russia-backed warlord Khalifa Haftar seeks to take power from the UN-recognized government.
During a trip to Istanbul on January 8, Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a cease-fire in Libya starting January 12.
Turkey has sent troops to support the UN-backed government. Media have reported that Russian mercenaries from the Vagner paramilitary group are fighting alongside Haftar.
Putin said there are many mercenaries in Libya, including from Syria, but claimed he was unaware of Russian mercenaries.
"If there are Russian citizens there, they do not represent the interests of the Russian government and do not receive money from the Russian government," Putin said.


rferl--2020-01-11--Ukraine Wants Compensation After Iran Admits Downing Passenger Jet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says his country expects a full probe , a full admission of guilt , and compensation from Iran after Tehran admitted , after days of denial , it accidentally shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane , killing all 176 aboard .
Zelenskiy said `` Iran has pleaded guilty to downing the Ukrainian plane .
But we insist on a full admission of guilt . ''
`` We expect from Iran assurances of their readiness for a full and open investigation , bringing those responsible to justice , the return of the bodies of the dead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through diplomatic channels , '' he added .
The statement on the Ukrainian government website on January 11 comes shortly after Iran admitted that its military “ unintentionally ” shot down the Ukrainian airliner outside of Tehran on January 8 , citing “ human error . ''
WATCH : Iranian General Says Commander Had '10 Seconds ' To Decide On Shooting Airliner The statement , reported by state TV earlier on January 11 , quoted the military as saying the plane was mistaken for a “ hostile target ” after it turned toward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) .
It added that the military was at its “ highest level of readiness '' amid raised tensions with the United States .
The statement also said those responsible for the tragedy , which killed all aboard the plane , would `` immediately '' be brought to justice .
IRGC commander Amirali Hajizadeh said later in an address broadcast by state TV that his IRGC aerospace unit accepts “ full responsibility ” for the downing .
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed his “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 176 victims , and called on the armed forces to `` pursue probable shortcomings and guilt in the painful incident.
” He wrote that the military ’ s “ internal investigation has concluded that regrettably missiles fired due to human error caused the horrific crash of the Ukrainian plane & death of 176 innocent people.
” Rohani and Zelenskiy were due to speak by phone later on January 11 , the Ukrainian presidential press office said .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk said in a January 11 post on Facebook that Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukrainian passenger jet did not mean the investigation into the tragedy was over .
The admission `` is an important step in the investigation process , which is still ongoing , '' Oleksiy Honcharuk said .
Germany ’ s foreign minister also welcomed Tehran ’ s decision to admit it had accidentally shot down the plane .
“ It 's important that Iran has brought clarity .
Now it should take the appropriate measures in the further investigation of this horrible catastrophe so that something like this can not happen again , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 .
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the incident occurred `` at a time of crisis caused by U.S .
adventurism . ''
`` A sad day .
Preliminary conclusions of internal investigation by Armed Forces : Human error at time of crisis caused by U.S. adventurism led to disaster , '' Zarif wrote on Twitter .
`` Our profound regrets , apologies , and condolences to our people , to the families of all victims , and to other affected nations . ''
Until the admission , Tehran had vehemently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that evidence indicated an Iranian missile had brought down the plane .
The Ukraine International Airlines ( UIA ) flight was en route to Kyiv from Tehran on January 8 carrying at least 57 Canadians , 82 Iranians , 10 Swedes , 10 Afghans , three Germans , and three Britons .
Eleven Ukrainians -- two passengers and nine crew -- were also killed .
The Iranian statement came as the West had turned up the heat on Tehran , with the United States saying it was “ likely ” that an Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vowing to “ take appropriate action in response.
” Separately , Canada ’ s foreign minister on January 10 announced the formation of an international working group of countries to press Iran for a thorough investigation into the crash , which counted 57 Canadians among the dead , a figure revised down from an earlier death toll of 63 .
Initial reports blamed a technical malfunction , but doubts were quickly raised as evidence , including videos , appeared to indicate a missile attack .
The air disaster came hours after Iran targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with missiles on January 8 in response to a January 3 U.S. air strike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad .
That led many experts to suspect Iranian antiaircraft batteries mistook the airliner for a U.S. warplane on a retaliatory mission over Tehran .
After those suggestions surfaced , Ali Abedzadeh , head of Iran 's national aviation department , told a news conference that “ what is obvious for us , and what we can say with certainty , is that no missile hit the plane , ” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really sure , they should come and show their findings to the world '' in accordance with international standards , he added .
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo on January 10 said that “ we do believe it is likely that that plane was shot down by an Iranian missile , '' echoing remarks by Canadian and British officials .
Pompeo said a probe into the incident would continue and that , when it is completed , he was “ confident that we and the world will take appropriate action as a response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Canada has formed a coordination group with Britain , Ukraine , Sweden , and Afghanistan to help families of victims .
With reporting by AP , AFP , Reuters , and dpa