rferl--2020-10-20--Renewed Fighting Puts Nagorno-Karabakh Cease-Fire Under Severe Strain

BAKU/YEREVAN -- A cease-fire in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh was under severe strain on October 20 after new clashes between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces , despite a plea by the UN Security Council for both sides to respect the truce .
The cease-fire , agreed on October 17 , has done little to slow the fighting that began last month , amid concerns it could spark a wider conflict involving Russia and Turkey and fears over the security of gas and oil pipelines in the South Caucasus .
Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh , a separatist enclave in Azerbaijan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artillery bombardments on the morning of October 20 , with fighting particularly intense in southern areas of the conflict zone .
Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry also reported battles in several areas , including disputed territory close to the Line of Contact that divides the warring sides .
There are fears of a looming humanitarian crisis as several hundred people have been killed in the fighting .
Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh said on October 19 that 729 of the region 's military personnel and 37 civilians had been killed in the fighting .
Azerbaijan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 282 wounded .
It has not disclosed its military casualties .
Azerbaijan , a close ally of regional power and NATO member Turkey , says it has made territorial gains .
But Armenia , which has a defense pact with Russia , says it has repulsed Azerbaijani attacks and has the situation under control .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both told Russia 's TASS news agency in separate interviews on October 19 that they were ready to come to Moscow for talks .
The Security Council 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN chief Antonio Guterres for parties to respect the truce .
Moscow 's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said members of the Security Council had discussed the need to ensure verification of the cease-fire .
The Russian envoy did not rule out that a verification process could be implemented by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) .
`` Who will be there and in what capacity -- who will be actually verifying it -- that ’ s still a question being discussed , ” Nebenzya told reporters after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , which currently holds the UN Security Council 's rotating presidency , is working on a statement that would call for adherence to the cease-fire , AFP quoted unidentified diplomats as saying .
The text is expected to call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resume negotiations facilitated by the Minsk Group and chaired by Russia , France , and the United States .
The diplomatic initiative of the OSCE is aimed at trying to resolve the conflict , which dates to 1988 in the waning days of the Soviet Union .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month failed to halt the worst fighting in the South Caucasus since the 1990s , which has killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians .
Internationally recognized as part of mainly Muslim Azerbaijan , the mountainous territory has been controlled by mainly Christian ethnic Armenians , backed by Yerevan , since the 1994 halt in fighting .
The latest violence has stoked fears that the violence could engulf the region in a wider conflict involving Azerbaijan 's closest ally , Turkey , and Russia , which dominates the Collective Security Treaty Organization , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting by AFP and TASS


rferl--2020-10-19--Another Cease-Fire Shatters Amid Fighting Over Nagorno-Karabakh

An 84th birthday party in a bomb shelter , and a new home shattered by missile fire -- these were @ @ @ @ @ reporters after another cease-fire was agreed -- and broken -- in fighting between Armenia and @ @ @ @ @ breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Hundreds have been killed , including many civilians , @ @ @ @ @ other for both the start of hostilities and breaches of the truces .

An 84th birthday party in a bomb shelter, and a new home shattered by missile fire -- these were just two moments captured by reporters after another cease-fire was agreed -- and broken -- in fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan in and around the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Hundreds have been killed, including many civilians, with each side blaming the other for both the start of hostilities and breaches of the truces.


rferl--2020-10-20--Serbia's New Government To Be In Power Until Early Elections In 2022

BELGRADE – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says the country 's new government will remain in power until new elections are held in less than two years .
Vucic heads the ruling Serbian Progressive Party ( SNS ) , which dominates parliament following general elections in June that were boycotted by Serbia 's main opposition parties .
He told a news conference after meeting the SNS leadership in Belgrade on October 20 that the new government will be led by Ana Brnabic , the prime minister of the previous cabinet .
The next parliamentary polls will be held by April 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election , Vucic said .
The president said he wanted the new government to focus its efforts on reforms , not to `` have a four-year mandate to enjoy . ''
Brnabic told national television that all four minority parties that entered parliament have been invited to be in her government , but that they have not answered yet .
`` We will see by Sunday [ October 25 ] when I propose the government , whether they 'll be a part or not , '' she said .
Vucic said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her government on October 28 .
Major opposition parties boycotted the July election to protest against what they say is Vucic 's increasingly autocratic rule over the country , which is seeking membership in the European Union .
Following the vote , his opponents held rallies in Belgrade to protest against the government 's policies , including its handling of the coronavirus crisis .

BELGRADE – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says the country's new government will remain in power until new elections are held in less than two years.
Vucic heads the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which dominates parliament following general elections in June that were boycotted by Serbia's main opposition parties.
He told a news conference after meeting the SNS leadership in Belgrade on October 20 that the new government will be led by Ana Brnabic, the prime minister of the previous cabinet.
The next parliamentary polls will be held by April 2022 at the latest, along with a presidential election, Vucic said.
The president said he wanted the new government to focus its efforts on reforms, not to "have a four-year mandate to enjoy."
Brnabic told national television that all four minority parties that entered parliament have been invited to be in her government, but that they have not answered yet.
"We will see by Sunday [October 25] when I propose the government, whether they'll be a part or not," she said.
Vucic said he expected Brnabic to present the program of her government on October 28.
Major opposition parties boycotted the July election to protest against what they say is Vucic's increasingly autocratic rule over the country, which is seeking membership in the European Union.
Following the vote, his opponents held rallies in Belgrade to protest against the government's policies, including its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-10-20--Russian Defense Ministry Opposes Cutting Army Staff, Other 'Unacceptable' Proposals

MOSCOW -- Russia 's Defense Ministry says it has rejected austerity measures proposed by the Finance Ministry , such as reducing of the number of military personnel .
In a proposal submitted to Russia 's Security Council earlier this month , the Finance Ministry suggested cutting the country 's military personnel by 10 percent , which would amount to some 100,000 members of the armed forces , the Izvestia newspaper reported on October 20 .
The ministry proposed that some of those officers would be given civilian posts instead .
It also suggested raising the number of years of service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , the Defense Ministry argued that similar moves in the past showed their `` inefficiency '' and led to `` numerous problematic issues affecting the combat capacity of the Armed Forces . ''
In a statement carried by Krasnaya Zvezda , its official newspaper , the ministry said it had sent its position to the Security Council `` on the unacceptability of these proposals and the absence of support for them from the leadership of the military department . ''
The Defense Ministry insisted that the Finance Ministry 's proposal to slash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` 'zero ' economic effect . ''
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no decision had been made on the matter .
The Russian Finance Ministry ’ s proposals come amid a worldwide recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic .
According to the International Monetary Fund 's latest economic outlook released last week , the Russian economy is expected to plunge 4.6 percent this year before rebounding 3.9 percent in 2021 .
Russia last year increased its annual military expenditures by 4.5 percent to $ 65.1 billion , making it the world 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stockholm International Peace Research Institute .
With reporting by Reuters and Interfax

MOSCOW -- Russia's Defense Ministry says it has rejected austerity measures proposed by the Finance Ministry, such as reducing of the number of military personnel.
In a proposal submitted to Russia's Security Council earlier this month, the Finance Ministry suggested cutting the country's military personnel by 10 percent, which would amount to some 100,000 members of the armed forces, the Izvestia newspaper reported on October 20.
The ministry proposed that some of those officers would be given civilian posts instead.
It also suggested raising the number of years of service required to receive a military pension.
However, the Defense Ministry argued that similar moves in the past showed their "inefficiency" and led to "numerous problematic issues affecting the combat capacity of the Armed Forces."
In a statement carried by Krasnaya Zvezda, its official newspaper, the ministry said it had sent its position to the Security Council "on the unacceptability of these proposals and the absence of support for them from the leadership of the military department."
The Defense Ministry insisted that the Finance Ministry's proposal to slash the number of military posts would have "'zero' economic effect."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said no decision had been made on the matter.
The Russian Finance Ministry’s proposals come amid a worldwide recession brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the International Monetary Fund's latest economic outlook released last week, the Russian economy is expected to plunge 4.6 percent this year before rebounding 3.9 percent in 2021.
Russia last year increased its annual military expenditures by 4.5 percent to $65.1 billion, making it the world's fourth-largest military spender, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
With reporting by Reuters and Interfax


rferl--2020-10-20--Russian Defense Ministry Mulls Opening Office In Traditional Ally Serbia

BELGRADE -- The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to open an office in Serbia as Moscow pushes to expand military ties with its traditional Balkan ally .
Serbia 's Defense Ministry said on October 20 that `` legal proceedings '' have been launched that would allow an agreement between the two countries on the opening of a Russian Defense Ministry mission in the country .
The goal of the office would be to `` provide support and faster resolution of issues related to military-technical assistance , military , and military-technical cooperation , '' it said in a statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open such an office , according to an order dated October 15 and signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin .
Serbia has been seeking to join the European Union while maintaining close military ties with its Slavic ally Russia .
Serbia , which claims military neutrality , is a member of NATO 's Partnership for Peace program but has pledged to stay out of the Western military alliance .
Russia has supplied Serbia with warplanes , helicopter gunships , antiaircraft systems , and armored vehicles in recent years .
On October 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise that demonstrated combat use of Russian-made weapons such as the Pantsir antiaircraft system .
In September , Serbia suspended military drills with foreign troops for six months , citing pressure from the European Union to withdraw from joint exercises with Russia and Belarus .
With reporting by Reuters and AP

BELGRADE -- The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to open an office in Serbia as Moscow pushes to expand military ties with its traditional Balkan ally.
Serbia's Defense Ministry said on October 20 that "legal proceedings" have been launched that would allow an agreement between the two countries on the opening of a Russian Defense Ministry mission in the country.
The goal of the office would be to "provide support and faster resolution of issues related to military-technical assistance, military, and military-technical cooperation," it said in a statement.
The Russian government has authorized the Defense Ministry to open such an office, according to an order dated October 15 and signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
Serbia has been seeking to join the European Union while maintaining close military ties with its Slavic ally Russia.
Serbia, which claims military neutrality, is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace program but has pledged to stay out of the Western military alliance.
Russia has supplied Serbia with warplanes, helicopter gunships, antiaircraft systems, and armored vehicles in recent years.
On October 10, The Serbian military staged a training exercise that demonstrated combat use of Russian-made weapons such as the Pantsir antiaircraft system.
In September, Serbia suspended military drills with foreign troops for six months, citing pressure from the European Union to withdraw from joint exercises with Russia and Belarus.
With reporting by Reuters and AP


rferl--2020-10-20--'Shocked' Senior Pakistani Police Officials Protest Arrest Of Exiled Ex-PM's Son-In-Law

More than a dozen top police officials in Pakistan ’ s province of Sindh have applied for leave following the arrest of the son-in-law of exiled ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the provincial capital .
Police arrested retired army Captain Muhammad Safdar in Karachi on October 19 as Sharif ’ s Pakistan Muslim League party joined a series of nationwide protests against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan .
Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javid Bajwa ordered an investigation into the early morning arrest , the military said on October 20 amid allegations that Sindh police were `` forced '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the inspector-general of the provincial police was `` kidnapped ” by paramilitary rangers .
`` Police high command has not only been ridiculed and mishandled , but all ranks of Sindh police have been demoralized and shocked , '' Yaqoob Minhas , the police additional inspector-general in Sindh , wrote in a letter requesting two-months leave .
`` In such stressful situation it is quite difficult for me to discharge my duty in a professional manner , '' read the October 20 letter shared on social media .
Those who submitted requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven deputy inspectors-general , and four senior superintendents , according to the Dawn newspaper .
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari , leader of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party , which is in power in Sindh Province , launched a campaign using the # WeStandWithSindhPolice hashtag .
The arrest of Safdar , himself a member of the Pakistan Muslim League , drew condemnation from the opposition , which accused authorities of targeting Sharif ’ s family .
It came a day after he led a crowd in chanting “ Give respect to the vote !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muhammad Ali Jinnah , the leader of the independence movement to get a separate homeland from Britain in 1947 .
The slogan is viewed in Pakistan as criticism of the country ’ s military , which has ruled the country of 220 million people -- directly or indirectly -- for most of its existence .
Police said a first information report was registered against Safdar for allegedly violating the sanctity of the mausoleum .
The opposition says Khan 's two-year tenure has seen mounting censorship and a crackdown on dissent , critics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also accused of winning the 2018 general election with help from the military .
He has denied the charges .
Sharif , who has had a long uneasy relationship with the military , served as prime minister three times .
A court in 2017 ousted him from power over corruption allegations .
Sharif , 70 , has been staying in London since November after being allowed to receive medical treatment abroad .

More than a dozen top police officials in Pakistan’s province of Sindh have applied for leave following the arrest of the son-in-law of exiled ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the provincial capital.
Police arrested retired army Captain Muhammad Safdar in Karachi on October 19 as Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party joined a series of nationwide protests against the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javid Bajwa ordered an investigation into the early morning arrest, the military said on October 20 amid allegations that Sindh police were "forced" to issue an order to arrest Safdar after the inspector-general of the provincial police was "kidnapped” by paramilitary rangers.
"Police high command has not only been ridiculed and mishandled, but all ranks of Sindh police have been demoralized and shocked," Yaqoob Minhas, the police additional inspector-general in Sindh, wrote in a letter requesting two-months leave.
"In such stressful situation it is quite difficult for me to discharge my duty in a professional manner," read the October 20 letter shared on social media.
Those who submitted requests for leave included an additional inspector-general, seven deputy inspectors-general, and four senior superintendents, according to the Dawn newspaper.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leader of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party, which is in power in Sindh Province, launched a campaign using the #WeStandWithSindhPolice hashtag.
The arrest of Safdar, himself a member of the Pakistan Muslim League, drew condemnation from the opposition, which accused authorities of targeting Sharif’s family.
It came a day after he led a crowd in chanting “Give respect to the vote!” during a visit to the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the independence movement to get a separate homeland from Britain in 1947.
The slogan is viewed in Pakistan as criticism of the country’s military, which has ruled the country of 220 million people -- directly or indirectly -- for most of its existence.
Police said a first information report was registered against Safdar for allegedly violating the sanctity of the mausoleum.
The opposition says Khan's two-year tenure has seen mounting censorship and a crackdown on dissent, critics, and opposition leaders.
The prime minister is also accused of winning the 2018 general election with help from the military.
He has denied the charges.
Sharif, who has had a long uneasy relationship with the military, served as prime minister three times. A court in 2017 ousted him from power over corruption allegations.
Sharif, 70, has been staying in London since November after being allowed to receive medical treatment abroad.


rferl--2020-10-20--Bulgarian President To Be Quarantined Following Coronavirus Exposure

SOFIA -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has left an official trip to Estonia and faces quarantine at home after it was determined he was recently exposed to the coronavirus .
Radev , who was in Estonia to attend an investment forum , cut his trip short and returned to Bulgaria on October 20 .
Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said the same day that Radev had been in contact on October 16 with a Bulgarian military official who had tested positive for the virus .
Angelov said that Radev would be placed under quarantine in keeping with the country 's health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sofia airport , he refuted comments made on Facebook by Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid that he and his delegation had been placed under quarantine at a Tallin hotel .
`` Contrary to speculation , neither I , nor any of my delegation , nor the journalists who accompanied me , were quarantined in Estonia , '' Radev said .
`` I am in great shape , '' he added .
Radev , whose role as president is largely ceremonial , said he last tested negative for the coronavirus on October 19 .
Bulgaria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in coronavirus cases , has registered more than 30,500 infections and over 1,000 related deaths .
The outbreak led Health Minister Kostadin Angelov to announce that , as of October 22 , the wearing of masks in open spaces will once again be mandatory .
Angelov said following consultations with infectious disease experts that `` this is the easiest possible measure '' and expressed the hope that the number of infections could fall by as much as one third as a result .
Bulgaria 's first effort to impose the mandatory wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lasted only a day , before it was temporarily reintroduced in April .
With reporting by AFP , TASS , and Reuters

SOFIA -- Bulgarian President Rumen Radev has left an official trip to Estonia and faces quarantine at home after it was determined he was recently exposed to the coronavirus.
Radev, who was in Estonia to attend an investment forum, cut his trip short and returned to Bulgaria on October 20.
Health Minister Kostadin Angelov said the same day that Radev had been in contact on October 16 with a Bulgarian military official who had tested positive for the virus.
Angelov said that Radev would be placed under quarantine in keeping with the country's health regulations.
Upon Radev's arrival at Sofia airport, he refuted comments made on Facebook by Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid that he and his delegation had been placed under quarantine at a Tallin hotel.
"Contrary to speculation, neither I, nor any of my delegation, nor the journalists who accompanied me, were quarantined in Estonia," Radev said. "I am in great shape," he added.
Radev, whose role as president is largely ceremonial, said he last tested negative for the coronavirus on October 19.
Bulgaria, which has been struggling with a rise in coronavirus cases, has registered more than 30,500 infections and over 1,000 related deaths.
The outbreak led Health Minister Kostadin Angelov to announce that, as of October 22, the wearing of masks in open spaces will once again be mandatory.
Angelov said following consultations with infectious disease experts that "this is the easiest possible measure" and expressed the hope that the number of infections could fall by as much as one third as a result.
Bulgaria's first effort to impose the mandatory wearing of masks, introduced in late March, lasted only a day, before it was temporarily reintroduced in April.
With reporting by AFP, TASS, and Reuters


rferl--2020-10-20--EU 'Concerned' By Election Of Hungary’s New Supreme Court President

The executive arm of the European Union has expressed concern over the election of an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as president of the country 's Supreme Court .
Parliament on October 19 appointed Andras Varga as president of the Supreme Court for the next nine years , despite the national council of judges rejecting his nomination over his lack of experience and concerns over the independence of the judiciary .
Pointing to a recent European Commission report raising concerns over the independence of the Hungarian judiciary , commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said on October 20 that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Wigand cited moves to lower eligibility criteria for the appointment of the supreme court president and other members and to increase parliamentary oversight over the judiciary as of particular concern .
`` We will continue to follow developments closely , '' he added .
Varga is due to assume office at the beginning of 2021 .
In recent years he has served as a deputy to state prosecutor Peter Polt , another Orban loyalist who has been criticized by the EU for ignoring calls to investigate corruption allegations against politicians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeatedly clashed with the EU over its moves to increase state control of the judiciary , media , nongovernmental organizations , and academia .
Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters

The executive arm of the European Union has expressed concern over the election of an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban as president of the country's Supreme Court.
Parliament on October 19 appointed Andras Varga as president of the Supreme Court for the next nine years, despite the national council of judges rejecting his nomination over his lack of experience and concerns over the independence of the judiciary.
Pointing to a recent European Commission report raising concerns over the independence of the Hungarian judiciary, commission spokesperson Christian Wigand said on October 20 that the "latest developments only confirm our concerns."
Wigand cited moves to lower eligibility criteria for the appointment of the supreme court president and other members and to increase parliamentary oversight over the judiciary as of particular concern.
"We will continue to follow developments closely," he added.
Varga is due to assume office at the beginning of 2021.
In recent years he has served as a deputy to state prosecutor Peter Polt, another Orban loyalist who has been criticized by the EU for ignoring calls to investigate corruption allegations against politicians and businessmen.
Orban’s government has repeatedly clashed with the EU over its moves to increase state control of the judiciary, media, nongovernmental organizations, and academia.
Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters


rferl--2020-10-20--Belarus Labels Popular Telegram Channel 'Extremist'

MINSK -- A Belarusian court has labeled a popular Telegram channel , which has been covering ongoing postelection protests in the country , as extremist .
The Central district court in Minsk also designated NEXTA-Live ’ s logo as extremist , the Supreme Court of Belarus said on October 20 .
The court instructed the Information Ministry to include NEXTA-Live and its logo on its `` extremist '' list , and to restrict access to information resources using the name and logo of the Telegram channel , as well as their distribution in the Belarusian segment of the Internet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ subscribers , said in a statement that it would now start working on a new name and logo .
The court 's decision follows complaints filed by the Interior Ministry ’ s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption , which claimed that NEXTA-live 's online materials included extremist content .
It comes as Belarus ’ s strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues to face nationwide protests triggered by a presidential election in August that the opposition and Western governments say was rigged .
On October 20 , Lukashenka named new rectors for three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participated in the ongoing protests against his rule .
The previous rectors of the Minsk State Linguistic University , the Belarusian State University , and the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts were fired earlier , in the wake of rallies in which thousands of students took part .

MINSK -- A Belarusian court has labeled a popular Telegram channel, which has been covering ongoing postelection protests in the country, as extremist.
The Central district court in Minsk also designated NEXTA-Live’s logo as extremist, the Supreme Court of Belarus said on October 20.
The court instructed the Information Ministry to include NEXTA-Live and its logo on its "extremist" list, and to restrict access to information resources using the name and logo of the Telegram channel, as well as their distribution in the Belarusian segment of the Internet.
NEXTA-Live, which has almost 2 million subscribers, said in a statement that it would now start working on a new name and logo.
The court's decision follows complaints filed by the Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption, which claimed that NEXTA-live's online materials included extremist content.
It comes as Belarus’s strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues to face nationwide protests triggered by a presidential election in August that the opposition and Western governments say was rigged.
On October 20, Lukashenka named new rectors for three universities in Minsk whose students have actively participated in the ongoing protests against his rule.
The previous rectors of the Minsk State Linguistic University, the Belarusian State University, and the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts were fired earlier, in the wake of rallies in which thousands of students took part.
With reporting by BelTA


rferl--2020-10-20--Moscow Court Starts Appeal Hearing For Actor And Kremlin Critic Yefremov Over Deadly Accident

A court in Moscow has started hearings into the appeal filed by actor Mikhail Yefremov , an outspoken Kremlin critic , who was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing a person while driving under the influence of alcohol .
At the hearing in the Moscow City Court on October 20 , Yefremov said he was ready to pay compensation to the relatives of Sergei Zakharov , the man whom he killed in June .
Lawyers for Zakharov 's relatives said their clients are ready to accept the compensation .
Yefremov 's lawyers also presented the conclusions of independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not have his safety belt fastened when Yefremov 's car collided with his vehicle .
The hearing was adjourned until October 22 .
Yefremov ’ s lawyers said that the issue of financial compensation to Zakharov 's relatives will be fully decided by that date .
Moscow ’ s Presnensky district court sentenced Yefremov on September 8 to eight years in prison after finding him guilty of `` causing a deadly traffic accident while driving under the influence . ''
Police say Yefremov was inebriated when he drove his car at high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow on the evening of June 8 , hitting Zakharov 's car .
Yefremov did not suffer any injuries in the accident , but 57-year-old Zakharov was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries and died hours later .
After Zakharov was pronounced dead , Yefremov was charged and placed under house arrest .
Authorities later said that medical tests confirmed that Yefremov had traces of drugs , including cocaine , in his blood at the moment of the accident .
Performances by the 56-year-old Yefremov satirizing President Vladimir Putin and his policies have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With reporting by TASS and Interfax

A court in Moscow has started hearings into the appeal filed by actor Mikhail Yefremov, an outspoken Kremlin critic, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for killing a person while driving under the influence of alcohol.
At the hearing in the Moscow City Court on October 20, Yefremov said he was ready to pay compensation to the relatives of Sergei Zakharov, the man whom he killed in June.
Lawyers for Zakharov's relatives said their clients are ready to accept the compensation.
Yefremov's lawyers also presented the conclusions of independent forensic experts, who suggested that Zakharov did not have his safety belt fastened when Yefremov's car collided with his vehicle.
The hearing was adjourned until October 22.
Yefremov’s lawyers said that the issue of financial compensation to Zakharov's relatives will be fully decided by that date.
Moscow’s Presnensky district court sentenced Yefremov on September 8 to eight years in prison after finding him guilty of "causing a deadly traffic accident while driving under the influence."
Police say Yefremov was inebriated when he drove his car at high speed into an oncoming lane in central Moscow on the evening of June 8, hitting Zakharov's car.
Yefremov did not suffer any injuries in the accident, but 57-year-old Zakharov was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries and died hours later.
After Zakharov was pronounced dead, Yefremov was charged and placed under house arrest.
Authorities later said that medical tests confirmed that Yefremov had traces of drugs, including cocaine, in his blood at the moment of the accident.
Performances by the 56-year-old Yefremov satirizing President Vladimir Putin and his policies have been very popular in recent years.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-10-20--Restrictions On Belarusian-American Political Strategist Shkliarov Eased

MINSK -- The restrictions on Belarusian-American political strategist Vitali Shkliarov have been loosened , according to his lawyer , who says his client must now remain in the Belarusian capital instead of being confined to house arrest .
Anton Hashynski said on October 20 that the terms of his Shkliarov 's retrial restrictions were most likely changed because of his mother ’ s very serious health condition .
Due to the change , Shkliarov was able to visit his mother in a Minsk clinic where she is being treated for an unspecified `` serious '' illness , Hashynski told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Belarusian security agents in late July has angered U.S. government officials , who have called his jailing `` unjust . ''
Shkliarov , who has worked on political campaigns for former President Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders in the United States , and for the Russian socialite Ksenia Sobchak , was arrested in his native city of Homel in southeastern Belarus on July 29 , less than two weeks before the country 's August 9 presidential election .
He has said he was visiting his parents on the trip , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to assist blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski register as a candidate in the election .
Tsikhanouski himself was detained prior to the election ; his wife Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya then stood in his place and has since become a leading Belarusian opposition activist .
The official results of the election that handed victory to incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka , who has been in power since 1994 , have sparked mass protests and have been contested by Tsikhanouskaya , whose supporters and opposition figures claim she won the vote .
The European Union and the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate ruler of Belarus , characterizing the election as fraudulent .
Shkliarov was among several other individuals jailed before the election with whom Lukashenka met on October 10 .
In recent days , several opposition activists present at the meeting with Lukashenka , were either transferred to house arrest or released and ordered not to leave Minsk .

MINSK -- The restrictions on Belarusian-American political strategist Vitali Shkliarov have been loosened, according to his lawyer, who says his client must now remain in the Belarusian capital instead of being confined to house arrest.
Anton Hashynski said on October 20 that the terms of his Shkliarov's retrial restrictions were most likely changed because of his mother’s very serious health condition.
Due to the change, Shkliarov was able to visit his mother in a Minsk clinic where she is being treated for an unspecified "serious" illness, Hashynski told the Tut.by website.
Shkliarov’s detention by Belarusian security agents in late July has angered U.S. government officials, who have called his jailing "unjust."
Shkliarov, who has worked on political campaigns for former President Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders in the United States, and for the Russian socialite Ksenia Sobchak, was arrested in his native city of Homel in southeastern Belarus on July 29, less than two weeks before the country's August 9 presidential election.
He has said he was visiting his parents on the trip, but law enforcement officials have asserted he was trying to assist blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski register as a candidate in the election. Tsikhanouski himself was detained prior to the election; his wife Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya then stood in his place and has since become a leading Belarusian opposition activist.
The official results of the election that handed victory to incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has been in power since 1994, have sparked mass protests and have been contested by Tsikhanouskaya, whose supporters and opposition figures claim she won the vote.
The European Union and the United States have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate ruler of Belarus, characterizing the election as fraudulent.
Shkliarov was among several other individuals jailed before the election with whom Lukashenka met on October 10.
In recent days, several opposition activists present at the meeting with Lukashenka, were either transferred to house arrest or released and ordered not to leave Minsk.
With reporting by Tut.by


rferl--2020-10-20--U.S. Ready To Meet 'Immediately' With Russia Over Extending Nuclear Weapons Accord

The United States says it is prepared to meet `` immediately '' with Russia to finalize a deal to extend their last major arms-control treaty , New START , by one year after Moscow backed a U.S. proposal to freeze its total number of nuclear warheads if Washington does the same .
`` We appreciate the Russian Federation ’ s willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control , '' State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a brief statement on October 20 .
`` The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalize a verifiable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its diplomats to do the same , '' Ortagus added .
Hours earlier , Russia proposed extending the accord , which is due to expire in February , by one year , saying it was `` ready , together with the United States , to make a political commitment to 'freeze ' the number of nuclear warheads held by the parties for this period . ''
In its statement , the Russian Foreign Ministry insisted that the freeze and extension to buy time for the two sides to discuss nuclear arms control in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made no other demands .
The Russian offer appeared to narrow the gap between the two sides over the fate of New START after Washington last week rejected a Russian offer to unconditionally extend the pact for one year .
White House national-security adviser Robert O'Brien said on October 16 that the previous Russian proposal was a `` nonstarter '' in the absence of a freeze on nuclear warheads .
“ Good news , ” Russia 's ambassador to the UN in Vienna , Mikhail Ulyanov , tweeted on October 20 after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ulyanov added that one point “ needs to be clarified - what is the meaning of the word ‘ verifiable ’ ?
Does it apply to the current verification regime under the Treaty ?
” New START , signed in 2010 , imposes limits on the two countries ' strategic nuclear arsenals .
It can be extended for five years , which Moscow has said it is ready to do without preconditions .
A possible extension of the accord -- even by one year -- would mark a rare bright spot in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while failure to extend it would remove the main pillar maintaining the nuclear balance between them .
The White House , which has already withdrawn from other arms-control treaties because it accused Moscow of violating them and felt the agreements benefited Russia more than the United States , has called for China to join Moscow and Washington to find a replacement for New START .
China , which has a small fraction of the nuclear weapons that Russia and the United States possess , has rejected the idea .
Earlier this month Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of talks on the treaty in Helsinki , with Washington saying it was willing to extend the New START treaty for some period of time provided the Russians agreed to the freeze , a proposal the Kremlin quickly rejected .
The issue of the New START treaty comes two weeks before the U.S. presidential election .
Democratic challenger Joe Biden supports extending New START `` to use that as a foundation for new arms-control arrangements . ''
If Biden wins , the treaty will expire just weeks after he is inaugurated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiated when he was vice president under President Barack Obama -- an `` anchor of strategic stability between the United States and Russia . ''
On October 13 , more than 75 lawmakers across Europe called on the United States to extend New START before its expiration .
The Trump administration has already left the landmark Cold War-era Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces ( INF ) Treaty , after accusing Russia of violating it .
Washington also unilaterally exited Open Skies , a treaty that permits the United States and Russia to conduct reconnaissance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting by Reuters and TASS

The United States says it is prepared to meet "immediately" with Russia to finalize a deal to extend their last major arms-control treaty, New START, by one year after Moscow backed a U.S. proposal to freeze its total number of nuclear warheads if Washington does the same.
"We appreciate the Russian Federation’s willingness to make progress on the issue of nuclear arms control," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a brief statement on October 20.
"The United States is prepared to meet immediately to finalize a verifiable agreement. We expect Russia to empower its diplomats to do the same," Ortagus added.
Hours earlier, Russia proposed extending the accord, which is due to expire in February, by one year, saying it was "ready, together with the United States, to make a political commitment to 'freeze' the number of nuclear warheads held by the parties for this period."
In its statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry insisted that the freeze and extension to buy time for the two sides to discuss nuclear arms control in greater depth would be possible if Washington made no other demands.
The Russian offer appeared to narrow the gap between the two sides over the fate of New START after Washington last week rejected a Russian offer to unconditionally extend the pact for one year.
White House national-security adviser Robert O'Brien said on October 16 that the previous Russian proposal was a "nonstarter" in the absence of a freeze on nuclear warheads.
“Good news,” Russia's ambassador to the UN in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, tweeted on October 20 after the State Department's announcement.
However, Ulyanov added that one point “needs to be clarified - what is the meaning of the word ‘verifiable’? Does it apply to the current verification regime under the Treaty?”
New START, signed in 2010, imposes limits on the two countries' strategic nuclear arsenals. It can be extended for five years, which Moscow has said it is ready to do without preconditions.
A possible extension of the accord -- even by one year -- would mark a rare bright spot in the strained relationship between the two countries, while failure to extend it would remove the main pillar maintaining the nuclear balance between them.
The White House, which has already withdrawn from other arms-control treaties because it accused Moscow of violating them and felt the agreements benefited Russia more than the United States, has called for China to join Moscow and Washington to find a replacement for New START.
China, which has a small fraction of the nuclear weapons that Russia and the United States possess, has rejected the idea.
Earlier this month Russia and the United States held an 11th-hour round of talks on the treaty in Helsinki, with Washington saying it was willing to extend the New START treaty for some period of time provided the Russians agreed to the freeze, a proposal the Kremlin quickly rejected.
The issue of the New START treaty comes two weeks before the U.S. presidential election.
Democratic challenger Joe Biden supports extending New START "to use that as a foundation for new arms-control arrangements." If Biden wins, the treaty will expire just weeks after he is inaugurated.
Biden calls the treaty -- which was negotiated when he was vice president under President Barack Obama -- an "anchor of strategic stability between the United States and Russia."
On October 13, more than 75 lawmakers across Europe called on the United States to extend New START before its expiration.
The Trump administration has already left the landmark Cold War-era Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, after accusing Russia of violating it.
Washington also unilaterally exited Open Skies, a treaty that permits the United States and Russia to conduct reconnaissance flights over each others territory.
With reporting by Reuters and TASS


rferl--2020-10-20--House Arrest Ordered For Kyrgyzstan's Powerful Oligarch Raimbek Matraimov

BISHKEK -- A Bishkek district court judge has ordered that Raimbek Matraimov , the powerful former deputy chief of the customs service , be placed under house arrest .
Kyrgyz authorities detained Matraimov , an ally of former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov , earlier on October 20 as part of a corruption investigation that could help solidify acting President Sadyr Japarov 's grip on power .
The Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security ( UKMK ) said in a statement that Matraimov , who was implicated earlier this year in a high-profile journalistic investigation revealing a corruption scheme involving hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , had been placed under custody .
`` Matraimov has been detained as part of a pretrial investigation into corruption in customs authorities , '' the UKMK said , noting it had established that Matraimov and others were part of `` a corruption scheme aimed at extracting shadow income during customs administration , as a result of which the state budget suffered damage on an especially large scale . ''
The UKMK also said that Matraimov had agreed to pay about 2 billion soms ( $ 24.7 ) million in damages to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soms ( $ 1 million ) had already been transferred to its account , according to TASS .
Matraimov is one of three brothers from what is rumored to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Kyrgyzstan .
He was a key financial backer for political parties and presidents , including Jeenbekov and the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party , which dominated October 4 parliamentary elections along with a party called Birimdik , which listed Jeenbekov 's brother among its ranks .
Protesters , angry at evidence of vote-buying and other improprieties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after results were announced , prompting officials to annul the balloting and Jeenbekov to step down .
In the resulting power vacuum , Japarov , a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper who was freed from prison when a mob stormed a Bishkek prison during the protests , was elected prime minister by parliament and then had the presidential powers transferred to him when Jeenbekov left office .
One of Japarov 's public pledges after he obtained presidential powers was to fight corruption and support and protect investigative journalists .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matraimov 's whereabouts , saying that he might have fled the country .
The UKMK said the scheme it was investigating began in 2016 , when Matraimov was still in his post .
On October 19 , the UKMK 's press service told RFE/RL that the investigation had identified 40 persons who are suspected in taking part in the corruption schemes .
Last year , a joint investigation by RFE/RL 's Kyrgyz Service , the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project , and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop , implicated Matraimov in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the country by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti , who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019 .
Prior to his killing , Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers over the course of several years .
Matraimov and his family have denied any links to Saimaiti or corruption in the Kyrgyz customs service , and filed a libel suit over the investigation .
Earlier in June , the UKMK claimed reporters with RFE/RL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegation RFE/RL strongly rejected .
A reporter for RFE/RL 's Kyrgyz Service , known locally as Radio Azattyk , received death threats in connection with the publication of the information .
Separately on October 20 , Bishkek Mayor Aziz Surakmatov stepped down from his post .
Before the announcement , Surakmatov appointed Nariman Tuleev as his first deputy .
Many in Kyrgyzstan believe that Tuleev , who was arrested in September 2010 and three years later sentenced to 10 years in prison on corruption charges , may replace Surakmatov .
Tuleev served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the country was led by President Kurmanbek Bakiev , who was toppled by violent anti-government protests in 2010 that claimed the lives of almost 100 protesters .
Tuleev was granted early release in May 2016 .

BISHKEK -- A Bishkek district court judge has ordered that Raimbek Matraimov, the powerful former deputy chief of the customs service, be placed under house arrest.
Kyrgyz authorities detained Matraimov, an ally of former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, earlier on October 20 as part of a corruption investigation that could help solidify acting President Sadyr Japarov's grip on power.
The Kyrgyz State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said in a statement that Matraimov, who was implicated earlier this year in a high-profile journalistic investigation revealing a corruption scheme involving hundreds of millions of dollars transferred out of the country, had been placed under custody.
"Matraimov has been detained as part of a pretrial investigation into corruption in customs authorities," the UKMK said, noting it had established that Matraimov and others were part of "a corruption scheme aimed at extracting shadow income during customs administration, as a result of which the state budget suffered damage on an especially large scale."
The UKMK also said that Matraimov had agreed to pay about 2 billion soms ($24.7) million in damages to the state, and that 80 million soms ($1 million) had already been transferred to its account, according to TASS.
Matraimov is one of three brothers from what is rumored to be one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Kyrgyzstan. He was a key financial backer for political parties and presidents, including Jeenbekov and the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party, which dominated October 4 parliamentary elections along with a party called Birimdik, which listed Jeenbekov's brother among its ranks.
Protesters, angry at evidence of vote-buying and other improprieties during the vote, seized government buildings days after results were announced, prompting officials to annul the balloting and Jeenbekov to step down.
In the resulting power vacuum, Japarov, a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper who was freed from prison when a mob stormed a Bishkek prison during the protests, was elected prime minister by parliament and then had the presidential powers transferred to him when Jeenbekov left office.
One of Japarov's public pledges after he obtained presidential powers was to fight corruption and support and protect investigative journalists. At the time, Japarov also expressed concerns about Matraimov's whereabouts, saying that he might have fled the country.
The UKMK said the scheme it was investigating began in 2016, when Matraimov was still in his post. On October 19, the UKMK's press service told RFE/RL that the investigation had identified 40 persons who are suspected in taking part in the corruption schemes.
Last year, a joint investigation by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop, implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of funds out of the country by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019.
SPECIAL REPORT: The Matraimov Kingdom
Prior to his killing, Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers over the course of several years.
Matraimov and his family have denied any links to Saimaiti or corruption in the Kyrgyz customs service, and filed a libel suit over the investigation.
Earlier in June, the UKMK claimed reporters with RFE/RL had received money from Saimaiti, an allegation RFE/RL strongly rejected.
A reporter for RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk, received death threats in connection with the publication of the information.
Separately on October 20, Bishkek Mayor Aziz Surakmatov stepped down from his post. Before the announcement, Surakmatov appointed Nariman Tuleev as his first deputy.
Many in Kyrgyzstan believe that Tuleev, who was arrested in September 2010 and three years later sentenced to 10 years in prison on corruption charges, may replace Surakmatov.
Tuleev served as Bishkek mayor between 2008 and 2010, when the country was led by President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was toppled by violent anti-government protests in 2010 that claimed the lives of almost 100 protesters.
Tuleev was granted early release in May 2016.


rferl--2020-10-20--Nagorno-Karabakh Cease-Fire Under Strain As World Powers Urge Armenia and Azerbaijan To Negotiate

BAKU/YEREVAN -- A cease-fire in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh was under severe strain on October 20 after new clashes erupted between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces despite international pressure for the warring sides to halt the fighting .
A second cease-fire , agreed on October 17 , has done little to slow the fighting that began last month , amid concerns it could spark a wider conflict involving Russia and Turkey and fears over the security of gas and oil pipelines in the South Caucasus .
In the latest diplomacy to resolve the crisis , Russian President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh during a phone call on October 20 .
The two leaders said they agreed Armenia and Azerbaijan should relaunch `` substantial negotiations ” over Nagorno-Karabakh , a separatist enclave in Azerbaijan and controlled by ethnic Armenians , the Elysee said .
Separately , Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov and Armenia ’ s top diplomat , Zohrab Mnatsakanian , will both meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on October 23 , the two foreign ministries said .
Bayramov and Mnatsakanian were not expected to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Russia are the co-chairs of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) , which has spearheaded efforts to resolve the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh since a 1994 cease-fire .
International powers are scrambling to halt fighting and bring Armenia and Azerbaijan back to the negotiating table following three weeks of fighting that has killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians .
Two humanitarian cease-fires have failed to hold , with the latest fighting on October 20 spread along multiple fronts separating the two warring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombardments , with fighting particularly intense in southern areas of the conflict zone .
Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry also reported battles in several areas in and around the disputed territory .
There are fears of a looming humanitarian crisis as the fighting spreads to cities and towns in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan , with infrastructure ruined , scores of civilians injured or killed , and thousands displaced .
Nagorno-Karabakh said on October 19 that 729 of its military personnel and 37 civilians had been killed in the fighting .
Azerbaijan said 61 Azeri civilians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has not disclosed its military casualties .
Azerbaijan , a close ally of regional power and NATO member Turkey , says it has made territorial gains both in Nagorno-Karabakh and some of the seven areas outside the region controlled by Armenian forces .
But Armenia , which has a defense pact with Russia , says it has repulsed Azerbaijani attacks and has the situation under control .
Internationally recognized as part of mainly Muslim Azerbaijan , the mountainous territory has been controlled by mainly Christian ethnic Armenians , backed by Yerevan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest violence has stoked fears that the violence could engulf the region in a wider conflict involving Azerbaijan 's closest ally , Turkey , and Russia , which dominates the Collective Security Treaty Organization , of which Armenia is a member .
With reporting by AP , Reuters , AFP , and TASS

BAKU/YEREVAN -- A cease-fire in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh was under severe strain on October 20 after new clashes erupted between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces despite international pressure for the warring sides to halt the fighting.
A second cease-fire, agreed on October 17, has done little to slow the fighting that began last month, amid concerns it could spark a wider conflict involving Russia and Turkey and fears over the security of gas and oil pipelines in the South Caucasus.
In the latest diplomacy to resolve the crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, discussed the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh during a phone call on October 20.
The two leaders said they agreed Armenia and Azerbaijan should relaunch "substantial negotiations" over Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist enclave in Azerbaijan and controlled by ethnic Armenians, the Elysee said.
Separately, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov and Armenia’s top diplomat, Zohrab Mnatsakanian, will both meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on October 23, the two foreign ministries said.
Bayramov and Mnatsakanian were not expected to meet face-to-face.
The United States, France, and Russia are the co-chairs of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has spearheaded efforts to resolve the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh since a 1994 cease-fire.
International powers are scrambling to halt fighting and bring Armenia and Azerbaijan back to the negotiating table following three weeks of fighting that has killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians.
Two humanitarian cease-fires have failed to hold, with the latest fighting on October 20 spread along multiple fronts separating the two warring sides.
Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh reported artillery bombardments, with fighting particularly intense in southern areas of the conflict zone.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry also reported battles in several areas in and around the disputed territory.
Fears Of Humanitarian Crisis
There are fears of a looming humanitarian crisis as the fighting spreads to cities and towns in Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan, with infrastructure ruined, scores of civilians injured or killed, and thousands displaced.
Nagorno-Karabakh said on October 19 that 729 of its military personnel and 37 civilians had been killed in the fighting.
Azerbaijan said 61 Azeri civilians had been killed and 282 wounded. It has not disclosed its military casualties.
Azerbaijan, a close ally of regional power and NATO member Turkey, says it has made territorial gains both in Nagorno-Karabakh and some of the seven areas outside the region controlled by Armenian forces.
But Armenia, which has a defense pact with Russia, says it has repulsed Azerbaijani attacks and has the situation under control.
Internationally recognized as part of mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, the mountainous territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has been controlled by mainly Christian ethnic Armenians, backed by Yerevan, since the 1994 halt in fighting.
The latest fighting has stoked fears that the violence could engulf the region in a wider conflict involving Azerbaijan's closest ally, Turkey, and Russia, which dominates the Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Armenia is a member.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, and TASS


rferl--2020-10-21--Kyrgyz Acting President Announces 'Economic Amnesty' After Powerful Oligarch's House Arrest

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan 's acting president , Sadyr Japarov , has announced an `` economic amnesty '' for former officials who illegally enriched themselves through corruption , just a day after the former deputy chief of the Customs Service , Raimbek Matraimov , was detained and placed under house arrest on suspicion of graft .
According to an announcement by Japarov on October 21 , the amnesty will affect all former officials who served in the `` energy sector , customs , taxation , pharmaceuticals , licensing , mining , '' and other sectors of the economy and used corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave 30 days for former officials who committed such illegal actions to reveal the corruption schemes and return the money in order to be given `` administrative and economic pardons . ''
The move comes a day after the Kyrgyz State Committee of National Security ( UKMK ) said it had detained Matraimov , an ally of former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov , as part of a corruption investigation .
The UKMK said that Matraimov had agreed to pay about 2 billion soms ( $ 24.7 million ) in damages to the state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million ) had already been transferred to its account .
Later in the day , a court in Bishkek remanded Matraimov to house arrest .
Matraimov is one of three brothers from what is rumored to be one of the wealthiest and most-powerful families in Kyrgyzstan .
He was a key financial backer for political parties and presidents , including Jeenbekov and the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party , which dominated October 4 parliamentary elections along with a party called Birimdik , which listed Jeenbekov 's brother among its ranks .
Protesters , angry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the vote , seized government buildings after the election results were announced , prompting officials to annul the balloting and Jeenbekov to step down .
In the resulting power vacuum , Japarov , a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper who was freed from prison when a mob stormed a Bishkek prison during the protests , was elected prime minister by parliament and then had presidential powers transferred to him when Jeenbekov left office last week .
Last year , a joint investigation by RFE/RL 's Kyrgyz Service , the Organized Crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyrgyz news site Kloop , implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of funds out of the country by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti , who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019 .
Prior to his killing , Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers over the course of several years .
Matraimov and his family have denied any links to Saimaiti or corruption in the Kyrgyz Customs Service , and filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the law on elections , Japarov can not take part in the early presidential election as the current legislation does not allow acting presidents to seek office .
Earlier this week , Japarov said he will be eligible to take part in the poll if legal changes currently under consideration by lawmakers are adopted .
Some lawmakers are against the amendments , while others say that the law on elections can be amended only via a national referendum .
Early elections must be held no later than three months after the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission has set December 20 as the date for new parliamentary elections .
While lawmakers were discussing amendments to the elections law , hundreds of people rallied in front of the Bishkek city administration building , protesting the appointment of Nariman Tuleev to the post of first deputy mayor of the Kyrgyz capital .
A day earlier , Bishkek Mayor Aziz Surakmatov appointed Tuleev as his first deputy and then promptly resigned .
Afterward it was announced that mayoral powers had been handed to Tuleev , who was arrested in September 2010 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison on corruption charges .
Tuleev served as Bishkek mayor between 2008 and 2010 when the country was led by President Kurmanbek Bakiev , who was toppled by violent anti-government protests in 2010 that claimed the lives of almost 100 demonstrators .
Anti-Tuleev protesters were confronted by his supporters on October 21 .
Tuleev came out of the building and told the protesters that he was ready to leave the post if acting President Japarov asks him to do so .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's acting president, Sadyr Japarov, has announced an "economic amnesty" for former officials who illegally enriched themselves through corruption, just a day after the former deputy chief of the Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, was detained and placed under house arrest on suspicion of graft.
According to an announcement by Japarov on October 21, the amnesty will affect all former officials who served in the "energy sector, customs, taxation, pharmaceuticals, licensing, mining," and other sectors of the economy and used corruption schemes to illegally obtain money.
Japarov gave 30 days for former officials who committed such illegal actions to reveal the corruption schemes and return the money in order to be given "administrative and economic pardons."
The move comes a day after the Kyrgyz State Committee of National Security (UKMK) said it had detained Matraimov, an ally of former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, as part of a corruption investigation.
The UKMK said that Matraimov had agreed to pay about 2 billion soms ($24.7 million) in damages to the state, and that 80 million soms ($1 million) had already been transferred to its account.
Later in the day, a court in Bishkek remanded Matraimov to house arrest.
Matraimov is one of three brothers from what is rumored to be one of the wealthiest and most-powerful families in Kyrgyzstan. He was a key financial backer for political parties and presidents, including Jeenbekov and the Mekenim Kyrgyzstan party, which dominated October 4 parliamentary elections along with a party called Birimdik, which listed Jeenbekov's brother among its ranks.
Protesters, angry at evidence of vote-buying and other improprieties during the vote, seized government buildings after the election results were announced, prompting officials to annul the balloting and Jeenbekov to step down.
In the resulting power vacuum, Japarov, a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper who was freed from prison when a mob stormed a Bishkek prison during the protests, was elected prime minister by parliament and then had presidential powers transferred to him when Jeenbekov left office last week.
Last year, a joint investigation by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and the Kyrgyz news site Kloop, implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of funds out of the country by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019.
Prior to his killing, Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers over the course of several years.
Matraimov and his family have denied any links to Saimaiti or corruption in the Kyrgyz Customs Service, and filed a libel suit over the investigation.
According to the law on elections, Japarov cannot take part in the early presidential election as the current legislation does not allow acting presidents to seek office.
Earlier this week, Japarov said he will be eligible to take part in the poll if legal changes currently under consideration by lawmakers are adopted.
Some lawmakers are against the amendments, while others say that the law on elections can be amended only via a national referendum.
Early elections must be held no later than three months after the president’s resignation.
The Central Election Commission has set December 20 as the date for new parliamentary elections.
While lawmakers were discussing amendments to the elections law, hundreds of people rallied in front of the Bishkek city administration building, protesting the appointment of Nariman Tuleev to the post of first deputy mayor of the Kyrgyz capital.
A day earlier, Bishkek Mayor Aziz Surakmatov appointed Tuleev as his first deputy and then promptly resigned.
Afterward it was announced that mayoral powers had been handed to Tuleev, who was arrested in September 2010 and three years later sentenced to 10 years in prison on corruption charges.
Tuleev served as Bishkek mayor between 2008 and 2010 when the country was led by President Kurmanbek Bakiev, who was toppled by violent anti-government protests in 2010 that claimed the lives of almost 100 demonstrators.
Anti-Tuleev protesters were confronted by his supporters on October 21.
Tuleev came out of the building and told the protesters that he was ready to leave the post if acting President Japarov asks him to do so.


rferl--2020-10-21--Diplomats On The Move As World Powers Push For End To Nagorno-Karabakh Fighting

Armenian President Armen Sarkisian has left for Brussels for talks with the European Union and NATO while the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers are in Moscow for talks with Russia in a diplomatic push to end the fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been killed in the latest flare-up of hostilities that began on September 27 .
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said on October 21 that Ceyhun Bayramov flew to Moscow for `` consultations with the Russian side . ''
His Armenian counterpart , Zohrab Mnatsakanian , was due to meet Russian Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the two ministers would meet face-to-face .
Bayramov and Mnatsakanian wil then travel on to Washington for talks on October 23 involving U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , a development that has raised hopes of a breakthrough .
The United States , France , and Russia are the co-chairs of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) , which has spearheaded efforts , so far unsuccessful , to resolve the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh since a fragile 1994 cease-fire .
Meanwhile , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as the second of two humanitarian cease-fires appears to have failed to hold .
Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh reported artillery bombardments , with fighting particularly intense in southern areas of the conflict zone .
Azerbaijan on October 21 denied one of its warplanes was shot down .
`` The Armenian Defense Ministry 's report on the downing of an Azerbaijani Air Force aircraft is untrue , '' it said .
Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said earlier on October 21 that the air defense of Nagorno-Karabakh had downed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the conflict zone .
Stepanian did not specify the type of plane downed .
The fighting has raised concerns of a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in Russia , which has a defense pact with Armenia , and Turkey , Azerbaijan 's closest ally .
There is also increased concern about the security of pipelines in Azerbaijan that carry Azeri gas and oil to world markets .
Sarkisian was due to meet NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg , EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and European Council President Charles Michel in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is expected that the leadership of NATO and the European organizations will do everything possible to stop Azerbaijan 's and NATO-member Turkey 's military actions , which will help bring to life the cease-fire agreements , '' it said .
Armenia has accused Turkey of sending mercenaries to fight on the Azerbaijani side .
NATO member Turkey has rejected the accusation , saying it has no direct role in the fighting .
In the latest flare-ups , Azerbaijan said an Armenian regiment had been `` forced out of action '' and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Line Of Contact in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Shushan Stepanian said the town of Martakert in Nagorno-Karabakh was under heavy fire .
Reports on both sides are often contradictory and hard to verify , with each accusing the other of attacking civilian targets.. Azerbaijan says its forces , which are boosted by increased military spending in the past few years and are making heavy use of drones , have made territorial gains .
Internationally recognized as part of mainly Muslim Azerbaijan , the mountainous territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has been controlled by mainly Christian ethnic Armenians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1994 cease-fire .
With reporting by Reuters , AFP , Interfax , and TASS

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has told the nation that he sees no possibility of a diplomatic solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, dampening international efforts to forge a sustainable truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the breakaway territory.
"We have to realize that the Karabakh question, at least at this stage and for a very long time, cannot have a diplomatic solution," Pashinian said during a speech broadcast on Facebook Live on October 21.
"Everything that is diplomatically acceptable to the Armenian side...is not acceptable to Azerbaijan anymore," he said, calling on Armenians to "take up arms and defend the Motherland."
Pashinian's comments followed statements by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in which he said that he foresaw a military resolution to the crisis and that Azerbaijani forces would drive Armenians "out of our lands."
The rhetoric has cast a pall on the diplomatic push to end fighting between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces, with Armenia’s President Armen Sarkisian visiting Brussels for talks with the European Union and NATO, while the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers are in Moscow for consultations with Russia.
Hundreds of soldiers and civilians have been killed since late September, when fighting flared up over the mountainous enclave run and populated by ethnic Armenians but recognized internationally as Azerbaijani.
After Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia, Polad Bulbuloglu, said that Baku remained committed to efforts to forge a peace deal.
"Bayramov reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully," Bulbuloglu told the Russian state agency TASS.
Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian met separately with Lavrov on October 21, but there was no face-to-face meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the talks centered on "urgent issues related to implementing agreements reached earlier on a cease-fire in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone and creating conditions for its sustainable settlement."
Bayramov and Mnatsakanian will next travel to Washington for talks on October 23 involving U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a development that has raised hopes of a breakthrough.
Pompeo told reporters that he would tell the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia that “the right path forward is to cease the conflict, tell them to de-escalate, that every country should stay out -- provide no fuel for this conflict, no weapons systems, no support."
“It is at that point that a diplomatic solution, that would be acceptable to all, can potentially be achieved," he added.
The United States, France, and Russia are the co-chairs of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has spearheaded efforts, so far unsuccessful, to resolve the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh since a fragile 1994 cease-fire. The three powers have called for an immediate cease-fire and a diplomatic settlement of the conflict.
Welcoming Sarkisian to NATO headquarters on October 21, the Western military alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, called for both Azerbaijanis and Armenians to observe the cease-fire.
"It is important for NATO and international security that hostilities end, the suffering stops, and a peaceful solution is found,” he said.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan reported new fighting on October 21 in and around Nagorno-Karabakh as the second of two humanitarian cease-fires appears to have failed to hold.
Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh reported artillery bombardments, with fighting particularly intense in southern areas of the conflict zone.
Azerbaijan on October 21 denied one of its warplanes was shot down.
"The Armenian Defense Ministry's report on the downing of an Azerbaijani Air Force aircraft is untrue," it said.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said earlier that the air defense of Nagorno-Karabakh had downed an Azerbaijani military plane in the southern part of the conflict zone. Stepanian did not specify the type of plane downed.
Reports on both sides are often contradictory and hard to verify, with each accusing the other of attacking civilian targets.
Fears Of A Wider Conflict
The fighting has raised concerns of a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in Russia, which has a defense pact with Armenia, and Turkey, Azerbaijan's closest ally. There is also increased concern about the security of pipelines in Azerbaijan that carry Azeri gas and oil to world markets.
Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay reiterated his country's support for Azerbaijan, saying on October 21 that Turkey would not hesitate to send troops if Baku requested it.
He also alleged that the Minsk Group was supporting Yerevan and was deliberately trying to keep the conflict from being resolved.
Besides Stoltenberg, Sarkisian was also due to meet with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels, his office said.
"It is expected that the leadership of NATO and the European organizations will do everything possible to stop Azerbaijan's and NATO-member Turkey's military actions, which will help bring to life the cease-fire agreements," it said.
Armenia has accused Turkey of sending mercenaries to fight on the Azerbaijani side.
NATO member Turkey has rejected the accusation, saying it has no direct role in the fighting.
Azerbaijan says its forces, which are boosted by increased military spending in the past few years and are making heavy use of drones, have made territorial gains.
Internationally recognized as part of mainly Muslim Azerbaijan, the mountainous territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has been controlled by mainly Christian ethnic Armenians, backed by Yerevan, since the 1994 cease-fire.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, Interfax, and TASS


rferl--2020-10-21--Uzbek Workers Riot At Gas Plant Over Food And Pay

The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard .
Workers involved in @ @ @ @ @ gas-to-liquids plant in Uzbekistan 's southern region of Qashqadaryo rioted on October 21 after their @ @ @ @ @ failed to provide them with food adding to their ongoing frustration over unpaid salaries .
@ @ @ @ @ s Uzbek Service showed workers storming administration buildings and ransacking offices .

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Workers involved in the construction of a large gas-to-liquids plant in Uzbekistan's southern region of Qashqadaryo rioted on October 21 after their employer, Enter Engineering, failed to provide them with food adding to their ongoing frustration over unpaid salaries. Video obtained by RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service showed workers storming administration buildings and ransacking offices.


rferl--2020-10-21--Thousands Of Workers Riot At Industrial Facility Under Construction In Uzbekistan's South

Thousands of workers involved in the construction of a large gas-to-liquids facility in Uzbekistan 's southern region of Qashqadaryo have @ @ @ @ @ ’ s administration building by force .
Video obtained by RFE/RL from the site on @ @ @ @ @ with broken furniture and computers .
Some workers from the facility told RFE/RL that Uzbek @ @ @ @ @ , and police were brought to the Guzor district where the riot took place to @ @ @ @ @ possible casualties was not immediately available .
One of the workers told RFE/RL on condition @ @ @ @ @ started after the employer , Enter Engineering company , failed to provide employees with food @ @ @ @ @ 20 , which added to the workers ’ ongoing frustration over unpaid salaries .
An @ @ @ @ @ told RFE/RL that the riots started after workers were unable to open the massive electronically @ @ @ @ @ due to a malfunction of its electronic locking system .
The Uzbek Prosecutor-General 's press @ @ @ @ @ told reporters that the situation was being investigated .

Thousands of workers involved in the construction of a large gas-to-liquids facility in Uzbekistan's southern region of Qashqadaryo have rioted, storming the facility’s administration building by force.
Video obtained by RFE/RL from the site on October 21 shows ransacked offices with broken furniture and computers.
Some workers from the facility told RFE/RL that Uzbek National Guard, security troops, and police were brought to the Guzor district where the riot took place to stop it.
Information about possible casualties was not immediately available.
One of the workers told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the riots started after the employer, Enter Engineering company, failed to provide employees with food on the evening on October 20, which added to the workers’ ongoing frustration over unpaid salaries.
An official from the Tashkent-based firm told RFE/RL that the riots started after workers were unable to open the massive electronically maintained door of the cafeteria due to a malfunction of its electronic locking system.
The Uzbek Prosecutor-General's press secretary, Hayot Shamsutdinov, told reporters that the situation was being investigated.


rferl--2020-10-21--Date Announced For New Kyrgyz Parliamentary Elections

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan 's Central Election Commission ( BShK ) has set December 20 as the date for new parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ vote was annulled following public protests that ousted the government and the parliament speaker and @ @ @ @ @ President Sooronbai Jeenbekov .
The date for the new parliamentary elections was approved by the @ @ @ @ @ After Jeenbekov 's resignation last week , lawmakers elected Sadyr Japarov , a former nationalist @ @ @ @ @ who was released from prison by the protesters on October 6 , as the new @ @ @ @ @ powers to him on October 16 .
According to the law , early elections must @ @ @ @ @ three months after the president ’ s resignation .
Japarov can not take part in @ @ @ @ @ legislation does not allow acting presidents to seek office .
Earlier this week , Japarov @ @ @ @ @ to take part in the poll if the law was changed .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's Central Election Commission (BShK) has set December 20 as the date for new parliamentary elections after an October 4 vote was annulled following public protests that ousted the government and the parliament speaker and led to the resignation of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
The date for the new parliamentary elections was approved by the BShK on October 21.
After Jeenbekov's resignation last week, lawmakers elected Sadyr Japarov, a former nationalist lawmaker and convicted kidnapper, who was released from prison by the protesters on October 6, as the new prime minister and handed presidential powers to him on October 16.
According to the law, early elections must be held no later than three months after the president’s resignation.
Japarov cannot take part in the election as the current legislation does not allow acting presidents to seek office. Earlier this week, Japarov said he would be eligible to take part in the poll if the law was changed.


rferl--2020-10-21--Russian Priest Known For Controversial Statements Dies At 69

MOSCOW -- Russian Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov , known for his controversial public statements that led to public outcry and criticism , has died at the age of 69 .
Vasily Rulinsky , the press secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church , announced the death on October 21 .
He did not mention the cause .
Smirnov was known for his controversial positions , including his call to bless nuclear weapons , which he described as the `` salvation of the Russian people and its culture . ''
He also called on believers to give all their earnings to the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` look for husbands in Africa . ''
In February , he called women living together with their partners `` unpaid prostitutes . ''
In May , Smirnov was hospitalized with COVID-19 .
A week before that , he called the pandemic `` an extremely useful phenomenon , '' because , he said , people started `` caring more about their loved ones and better understand Christian values . ''
In August , following public criticism of his statements , Smirnov was removed from the position of Chairman of the Russian Orthodox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , becoming its Honorable Chairman instead .

MOSCOW -- Russian Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov, known for his controversial public statements that led to public outcry and criticism, has died at the age of 69.
Vasily Rulinsky, the press secretary of the Russian Orthodox Church, announced the death on October 21. He did not mention the cause.
Smirnov was known for his controversial positions, including his call to bless nuclear weapons, which he described as the "salvation of the Russian people and its culture."
He also called on believers to give all their earnings to the Russian Orthodox church and advised single Russian women to "look for husbands in Africa."
In February, he called women living together with their partners "unpaid prostitutes."
In May, Smirnov was hospitalized with COVID-19. A week before that, he called the pandemic "an extremely useful phenomenon," because, he said, people started "caring more about their loved ones and better understand Christian values."
In August, following public criticism of his statements, Smirnov was removed from the position of Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Patriarch’s Commission on the Family, becoming its Honorable Chairman instead.


rferl--2020-10-21--Three Killed, More Than A Dozen Injured In Pakistan Explosion

At least three people were killed and more than a dozen were injured when a powerful explosion shook the southern @ @ @ @ @ October 21 , officials said .
The blast took place in an apartment building in @ @ @ @ @ residential and commercial neighborhood in the port city 's Karachi East district .
Police and @ @ @ @ @ off the area , but did not comment on the cause of the explosion , @ @ @ @ @ The loud blast hit the apartment building in the morning as people were leaving for @ @ @ @ @ from the Edhi Foundation , a charity involved in the rescue .
`` We have @ @ @ @ @ and around 15 injured people , '' Ali said .
At least half of the @ @ @ @ @ condition and the death toll could rise , he added .
Several people are feared @ @ @ @ @ apartment and a bank on the ground floor of the multistory building , Ali said @

At least three people were killed and more than a dozen were injured when a powerful explosion shook the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on October 21, officials said.
The blast took place in an apartment building in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, a large working-class residential and commercial neighborhood in the port city's Karachi East district.
Police and the paramilitary Ranger Force cordoned off the area, but did not comment on the cause of the explosion, which is still unknown.
The loud blast hit the apartment building in the morning as people were leaving for work, said Sajjad Ali from the Edhi Foundation, a charity involved in the rescue.
"We have pulled out three dead bodies and around 15 injured people," Ali said.
At least half of the injured people were in critical condition and the death toll could rise, he added.
Several people are feared still trapped in a residential apartment and a bank on the ground floor of the multistory building, Ali said.
With reporting by dpa


rferl--2020-10-21--Kazakhstan Sets January 10 Date For Parliamentary Elections

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has set the date of elections for the lower house of parliament , or Majlis , for January 10 , 2021 .
The decree , signed on October 21 , paves the way for the energy-rich Central Asian country ’ s first parliamentary elections since Toqaev in 2019 succeeded Nursultan Nazarbaev , who resigned that year after nearly three decades in power .
Nazarbaev still maintains key positions of power , including head of the country ’ s Security Council and ruling Nur Otan party .
International election observers say that past elections in Kazakhstan have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral fraud , repression of opposition candidates , and restrictions on the freedom of the press .
The 107-seat Majlis is currently dominated by Nazarbaev 's Nur Otan party , which has 84 deputies .
The pro-government Communist People ’ s Party of Kazakhstan and the liberal Ak Zhol party each have seven seats .
The remaining nine seats are appointed by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan , an advisory body controlled by Nazarbaev .
The last parliamentary elections were held in March 2016 .
Kazakh activists have called for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not members of the six officially registered parties to run for parliament .

Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has set the date of elections for the lower house of parliament, or Majlis, for January 10, 2021.
The decree, signed on October 21, paves the way for the energy-rich Central Asian country’s first parliamentary elections since Toqaev in 2019 succeeded Nursultan Nazarbaev, who resigned that year after nearly three decades in power.
Nazarbaev still maintains key positions of power, including head of the country’s Security Council and ruling Nur Otan party.
International election observers say that past elections in Kazakhstan have been neither free nor fair, citing electoral fraud, repression of opposition candidates, and restrictions on the freedom of the press.
The 107-seat Majlis is currently dominated by Nazarbaev's Nur Otan party, which has 84 deputies.
The pro-government Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan and the liberal Ak Zhol party each have seven seats.
The remaining nine seats are appointed by the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, an advisory body controlled by Nazarbaev.
The last parliamentary elections were held in March 2016.
Kazakh activists have called for the government to allow independent candidates who are not members of the six officially registered parties to run for parliament.