rferl--2020-11-04--Fresh Fighting In Nagorno-Karabakh As Russia Calls For Cease-Fire Control Mechanisms

The warring Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian sides reported continued fighting in and around the breakaway Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh early on November 4 , with each side claiming the upper hand along the front line .
Six weeks into a major flare-up in the decades-old conflict , regional powers including Russia were said to be considering ways to encourage a halt to fighting that is thought to have killed up to thousands of people , including many civilians .
The Armenian side claimed early on November 4 to have beaten back an Azerbaijani offensive aimed at taking Shushi , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital , Stepanakert .
But Azerbaijani officials disputed that account .
The Defense Ministry in Baku described fighting of varying intensity in a handful of towns in districts around Nagorno-Karabakh , including Tartar , Aghdam , and Martuni .
On November 3 , Armenia ’ s Foreign Ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of targeting health-care and other civilian facilities .
The Azerbaijani side has rejected accusations that it is intentionally targeting civilians .
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on November 4 that Moscow was weighing an Iranian proposal for ending the conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're looking carefully at it , '' Rudenko reportedly told journalists .
One day earlier , Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said agreements on effective control mechanisms are needed if there is to be a sustainable cease-fire .
Lavrov said such mechanisms could include the use of various electronic devices , a hot line between Yerevan and Baku , observers under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) , and operations with the participation of military contingents .
“ However , it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the parameters , ” he added in an interview with the Russian Kommersant daily .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
Russia brokered the first of the three humanitarian cease-fires to halt ongoing military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh on October 10 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the two other agreements brokered by France and the United States later last month , collapsed within hours after entering into force .
Russia 's top diplomat said that although it was not immediately possible to achieve a sustainable cease-fire , Moscow will “ continue to use all its influence in the region to persuade Baku and Yerevan to sit down at the negotiating table.
” “ Moscow once again calls on the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and external partners to strictly respect the agreements on cease-fire , the creation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a substantial negotiation process with a specific timetable , ” Lavrov said .
The Russian foreign minister also addressed the issue of mercenaries from the Middle East allegedly involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh fighting .
Lavrov once again stressed that Russia is against changing the format of the mediation , which is currently led by Russia , the United States , and France .
But , noting the important role and influence of Turkey on Azerbaijan , said that “ Moscow is working and will continue to work with Turkey to bring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table.
” “ We will continue to use all the influence we have in the region .
We will work with our Turkish partners to stop the further unwinding of the military scenario , establish a dialogue between the parties , and convince Baku and Yerevan to sit down at the negotiating table , ” the top Russian diplomat said .
Earlier this week , the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had separate telephone conversations with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and that “ issues of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discussed in detail.
” Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko , however , said it is too early to speak about a possible meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan .
He said negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are being conducted at the expert level , primarily within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group .
The latest fighting began on September 27 , escalating quickly to involve heavy artillery , rockets , and drones .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
Russia has estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Armenian Service and Aza Babayan

The warring Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian sides reported continued fighting in and around the breakaway Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh early on November 4, with each side claiming the upper hand along the front line.
Six weeks into a major flare-up in the decades-old conflict, regional powers including Russia were said to be considering ways to encourage a halt to fighting that is thought to have killed up to thousands of people, including many civilians.
The Armenian side claimed early on November 4 to have beaten back an Azerbaijani offensive aimed at taking Shushi, a strategic town overlooking the region’s capital, Stepanakert.
But Azerbaijani officials disputed that account. The Defense Ministry in Baku described fighting of varying intensity in a handful of towns in districts around Nagorno-Karabakh, including Tartar, Aghdam, and Martuni.
On November 3, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry accused Azerbaijani forces of targeting health-care and other civilian facilities.
The Azerbaijani side has rejected accusations that it is intentionally targeting civilians.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on November 4 that Moscow was weighing an Iranian proposal for ending the conflict that was shared by Tehran last week.
"We're looking carefully at it," Rudenko reportedly told journalists.
One day earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said agreements on effective control mechanisms are needed if there is to be a sustainable cease-fire.
Lavrov said such mechanisms could include the use of various electronic devices, a hot line between Yerevan and Baku, observers under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and operations with the participation of military contingents.
“However, it has not yet been possible to agree on all the parameters,” he added in an interview with the Russian Kommersant daily.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
Russia brokered the first of the three humanitarian cease-fires to halt ongoing military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh on October 10. However, that cease-fire, as well as the two other agreements brokered by France and the United States later last month, collapsed within hours after entering into force.
Russia's top diplomat said that although it was not immediately possible to achieve a sustainable cease-fire, Moscow will “continue to use all its influence in the region to persuade Baku and Yerevan to sit down at the negotiating table.”
“Moscow once again calls on the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and external partners to strictly respect the agreements on cease-fire, the creation of a control mechanism, and the resumption of a substantial negotiation process with a specific timetable,” Lavrov said.
The Russian foreign minister also addressed the issue of mercenaries from the Middle East allegedly involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh fighting.
Lavrov once again stressed that Russia is against changing the format of the mediation, which is currently led by Russia, the United States, and France. But, noting the important role and influence of Turkey on Azerbaijan, said that “Moscow is working and will continue to work with Turkey to bring the parties to the conflict to the negotiating table.”
“We will continue to use all the influence we have in the region. We will work with our Turkish partners to stop the further unwinding of the military scenario, establish a dialogue between the parties, and convince Baku and Yerevan to sit down at the negotiating table,” the top Russian diplomat said.
Earlier this week, the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had separate telephone conversations with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and that “issues of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict were discussed in detail.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko, however, said it is too early to speak about a possible meeting between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
He said negotiations on the settlement of the conflict are being conducted at the expert level, primarily within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
The latest fighting began on September 27, escalating quickly to involve heavy artillery, rockets, and drones.
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians. Russia has estimated as many as 5,000 deaths on both sides.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian Service and Aza Babayan


rferl--2020-11-04--Hungary Declares State Of Emergency, Announces COVID-19 Restrictions

Hungary will introduce a state of emergency and impose fresh restrictions to stem a surge in coronavirus infections .
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Facebook on November 3 that new steps were needed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed and to protect the lives of the elderly .
The state of emergency will begin from midnight on November 4 , allowing the government to adopt measures by decree .
The so-called `` special legal order '' can last 15 days .
Orban said parliament would be asked to extend the emergency measure for another 90 days .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fast action and measures brought in time are needed , '' Orban said , adding that hospitals could reach capacity by mid-December .
In March , the right-wing leader was accused by human rights groups and the opposition of attempting a power grab when he introduced a state of emergency with no time limit .
He gave up those powers again in June after the first wave of the pandemic subsided .
In other measures to stem the spread of the virus , Orban said a curfew will be in effect from midnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will close , while theaters , cinemas , and other event locations will be allowed to operate under limited capacity .
Similar to elsewhere in Europe , coronavirus cases and deaths in Hungary have surged in recent weeks .
On November 3 , Hungary reported a record daily 84 new deaths due to COVID-19 , bringing the country 's overall death toll to 1,973 , while the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals reached 4,767 .
Hungary 's first lockdown in the spring kept the number of deaths and infections relatively low .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitting Europe , Orban has tried to avoid painful lockdowns as have been imposed in other parts of Europe , including Austria , Germany , and the Czech Republic .
Schools remain open , as well as all shops and restaurants .
With reporting by AFP , dpa , and Reuters

Hungary will introduce a state of emergency and impose fresh restrictions to stem a surge in coronavirus infections.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Facebook on November 3 that new steps were needed to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed and to protect the lives of the elderly.
The state of emergency will begin from midnight on November 4, allowing the government to adopt measures by decree.
The so-called "special legal order" can last 15 days.
Orban said parliament would be asked to extend the emergency measure for another 90 days.
"We have to put aside political debates. Fast action and measures brought in time are needed," Orban said, adding that hospitals could reach capacity by mid-December.
In March, the right-wing leader was accused by human rights groups and the opposition of attempting a power grab when he introduced a state of emergency with no time limit.
He gave up those powers again in June after the first wave of the pandemic subsided.
In other measures to stem the spread of the virus, Orban said a curfew will be in effect from midnight to 5 a.m.
Restaurants and clubs will close, while theaters, cinemas, and other event locations will be allowed to operate under limited capacity.
Similar to elsewhere in Europe, coronavirus cases and deaths in Hungary have surged in recent weeks.
On November 3, Hungary reported a record daily 84 new deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the country's overall death toll to 1,973, while the number of coronavirus patients in hospitals reached 4,767.
Hungary's first lockdown in the spring kept the number of deaths and infections relatively low.
During the second wave of the virus hitting Europe, Orban has tried to avoid painful lockdowns as have been imposed in other parts of Europe, including Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Schools remain open, as well as all shops and restaurants.
With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-05--Ex-U.S. Marine Imprisoned In Russia Complains Of Sleep Deprivation

The brother of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan , imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges he rejects , says his sibling is suffering sleep deprivation at a prison colony .
Paul Whelan complained that he was being woken up at approximately two-hour intervals every night over the past few weeks , his brother , David , said on November 5 .
He said the practice apparently started because someone in the Russian prison system deemed his brother a flight risk .
`` It is ridiculous to label someone like Paul -- a foreigner lacking in money and language skills , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia -- a flight risk , '' Reuters quoted David Whelan as saying .
He said the U.S. Embassy in Moscow had protested to the Russian Foreign Ministry but not received a response .
Valery Krutov , chairman of Mordovia 's Public Monitoring Commission , told Interfax that `` no such information was voiced '' when he asked about Whelan during a meeting with employees of Russia 's Federal Penitentiary System three days earlier .
`` Neither lawyers nor Whelan 's relatives have sent us such papers .
But we 'll check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the media , '' Krutov said .
Whelan is serving his sentence at Correctional Colony No .
17 in the region of Mordovia -- an area about 350 kilometers east of Moscow historically known as the location of Russia 's toughest prisons , including Soviet-era labor camps for political prisoners .
The 50-year-old Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on June 15 this year .
He has rejected the espionage charges and accused his prison guards of mistreatment .
The United States has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice '' and criticized Russian authorities for their `` shameful treatment '' of Whelan .
Whelan holds U.S. , Canadian , British , and Irish passports .
He was head of global security at a U.S. auto-parts supplier when he was arrested .
He and his relatives insist he visited Russia to attend a wedding .
With reporting by Reuters and Interfax

The brother of former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, imprisoned in Russia on espionage charges he rejects, says his sibling is suffering sleep deprivation at a prison colony.
Paul Whelan complained that he was being woken up at approximately two-hour intervals every night over the past few weeks, his brother, David, said on November 5.
He said the practice apparently started because someone in the Russian prison system deemed his brother a flight risk.
"It is ridiculous to label someone like Paul -- a foreigner lacking in money and language skills, let alone family, and other connections in Russia -- a flight risk," Reuters quoted David Whelan as saying.
He said the U.S. Embassy in Moscow had protested to the Russian Foreign Ministry but not received a response.
Valery Krutov, chairman of Mordovia's Public Monitoring Commission, told Interfax that "no such information was voiced" when he asked about Whelan during a meeting with employees of Russia's Federal Penitentiary System three days earlier.
"Neither lawyers nor Whelan's relatives have sent us such papers. But we'll check the circumstances since such information has appeared in the media," Krutov said.
Whelan is serving his sentence at Correctional Colony No. 17 in the region of Mordovia -- an area about 350 kilometers east of Moscow historically known as the location of Russia's toughest prisons, including Soviet-era labor camps for political prisoners.
The 50-year-old Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on June 15 this year.
He has rejected the espionage charges and accused his prison guards of mistreatment.
The United States has called the proceedings a "mockery of justice" and criticized Russian authorities for their "shameful treatment" of Whelan.
Whelan holds U.S., Canadian, British, and Irish passports. He was head of global security at a U.S. auto-parts supplier when he was arrested. He and his relatives insist he visited Russia to attend a wedding.
With reporting by Reuters and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-05--Ruble Rebounds From Near-Record Lows On U.S. Election Bounce, Turbulence Seen On Horizon

The Russian ruble is expected to face continuing headwinds , despite the currency leading a post-U.S. election rally by emerging-market currencies .
The ruble jumped on November 5 and was on pace for one of its best weeks in months as it led a basket of emerging-market currencies in a risk-on environment following the U.S. election .
The ruble was trading at 76.9 to the dollar , an improvement from hovering above 80 on November 2 , a level near lows last seen at the height of the pandemic scare in March .
Sinking oil prices because of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. election have put pressure on the ruble in recent months , making the Russian currency one of the worst-performing emerging-market currencies alongside the Turkish lira and Brazilian real .
But investors are shrugging off U.S. election uncertainty to pile into everything from U.S. tech to emerging markets , turning nearly every asset class green .
The risk-on appetite is based on the bet that a likely Biden presidency with a Republican-controlled Senate will make a massive coronavirus stimulus package less likely and force the Federal Reserve to continue to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ruble sank 7 percent in the three months leading up the U.S. elections , pulled down by looming sanctions over the poisoning of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and political turmoil following elections in Belarus .
The ruble 's troubles had been driven in part by the expectation that Biden would win the election and take a harder stance on Russia and impose sanctions .
Russia has also benefited from President Donald Trump 's commitment to oil over green energy , as well as his support for an OPEC+ deal to prevent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency , the U.S. may reengage differently in the Middle East and [ Eastern Mediterranean ] affairs and put both Russia and Turkey , for different reasons , under much closer scrutiny and possible review for sanctions , '' strategists at TD Securities wrote in a note .
Liam Peach , an emerging-market analyst at London-based Capital Economics Ltd , said the ruble had been under pressure from multiple fronts , regardless of the U.S. election outcome .
In addition to deteriorating relations with the West , U.S. fiscal policy is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ruble will struggle to regain much of its ground over the next few years regardless of who the next U.S. president as there is likely to be a general worsening of relations with the U.S. and the West more generally , which feeds into our view on weak long-term growth prospects , '' he said .
The threat of sanctions and Russia ’ s fraying relationship with the West is unlikely to be an environment in which the ruble performs well , he said .
Anders Aslund , an economist expert and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that under a Biden presidency , U.S energy policy is likely to be more restrained , but that the impact of a green transformation may take years .
The shorter-term impact on Russia will come from U.S. sanctions policy , which will dampen Russia ’ s economic growth through even tighter credit and investment conditions , he said .

The Russian ruble is expected to face continuing headwinds, despite the currency leading a post-U.S. election rally by emerging-market currencies.
The ruble jumped on November 5 and was on pace for one of its best weeks in months as it led a basket of emerging-market currencies in a risk-on environment following the U.S. election.
The ruble was trading at 76.9 to the dollar, an improvement from hovering above 80 on November 2, a level near lows last seen at the height of the pandemic scare in March.
Sinking oil prices because of the coronavirus pandemic and a prospective Joe Biden victory in the U.S. election have put pressure on the ruble in recent months, making the Russian currency one of the worst-performing emerging-market currencies alongside with the Turkish lira and Brazilian real.
But investors are shrugging off U.S. election uncertainty to pile into everything from U.S. tech to emerging markets, turning nearly every asset class green.
The risk-on appetite is based on the bet that a likely Biden presidency with a Republican-controlled Senate will make a massive coronavirus stimulus package less likely and force the Federal Reserve to continue to provide liquidity through market and rate interventions.
The ruble sank 7 percent in the three months leading up the U.S. elections, pulled down by looming sanctions over the poisoning of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and political turmoil following elections in Belarus.
The ruble's troubles had been driven in part by the expectation that Biden would win the election and take a harder stance on Russia and impose sanctions. Russia has also benefited from President Donald Trump's commitment to oil over green energy, as well as his support for an OPEC+ deal to prevent a crude collapse.
"If Biden wins the presidency, the U.S. may reengage differently in the Middle East and [eastern Mediterranean] affairs and put both Russia and Turkey, for different reasons, under much closer scrutiny and possible review for sanctions," strategists at TD Securities wrote in a note.
Liam Peach, an emerging-market analyst at London-based Capital Economics Ltd, said the ruble had been under pressure from multiple fronts, regardless of the U.S. election outcome. In addition to deteriorating relations with the West, U.S. fiscal policy is likely to impact the Russian currency.
"The ruble will struggle to regain much of its ground over the next few years regardless of who the next U.S. president is as there is likely to be a general worsening of relations with the U.S. and the West more generally, which feeds into our view on weak long-term growth prospects," he said.
The threat of sanctions and Russia’s fraying relationship with the West is unlikely to be an environment in which the ruble performs well, he said.
Anders Aslund, an economics expert and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said that under a Biden presidency U.S energy policy is likely to be more restrained, but that the impact of a green transformation may take years.
The shorter-term impact on Russia will come from U.S. sanctions policy, which will dampen Russia’s economic growth through even tighter credit and investment conditions, he said.
With reporting by Bloomberg


rferl--2020-11-05--Iran's Supreme Leader Mocks U.S. Election 'Spectacle'

Iran 's supreme leader has mocked the U.S. presidential election , calling the tight race a `` spectacle '' that has exposed the weakness of democracy .
More than 24 hours after polls closed , several battleground states continue to count ballots , leaving the outcome of the race between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden too close to call .
Trump has made unsubstantiated claims about fraud in the vote due to ongoing counting of mail-in ballots that has seen the president 's lead in Michigan , Wisconsin , and other states slowly melt .
Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemned by many fellow Republicans .
Biden has said every American 's vote will be counted and that his campaign will defend against legal challenges from the Trump campaign .
`` One says this is the most fraudulent election in US history .
Who says that ?
The president who is currently in office , '' Khamenei said .
`` His rival says Trump intends to rig the election !
This is how # USElections & US democracy are . ''
Earlier this week , Khamenei said the outcome of the election would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although Trump and Biden would have different policies toward Tehran .
Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and imposed crushing sanctions as part of his administration 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign against the Islamic republic .
Biden has suggested he may rejoin the landmark nuclear agreement struck when he served as vice president under President Barack Obama .
Analysts say relations between Washington and Tehran will not only be determined by the U.S. elections .
Iran holds a presidential election in June 2021 in which incumbent President Hassan Rohani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms .
Rohani put much of his political capital on the embattled nuclear deal and has come under pressure from hard-liners over its failure .
The election could bring a hard-line candidate who is against any compromises or international nuclear deal to power .
Khamenei , 81 , has final say on all matters in Iran .
Iran holds tightly controlled elections among carefully vetted candidates who come largely from the established political , military , and clerical establishment .
Following Iran 's 2017 presidential election , hard-line presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was widespread voter fraud when Rohani won .
An election dispute in Iran in 2009 triggered massive protests called known as the Green Movement , which were brutally put down by security forces .

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--2020-11-05--Britain, U.S.  Call For New Vote In Belarus After 'Damning' Report On Rights Abuses

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are calling for new elections in Belarus after the publication of an independent report into the `` falsified '' presidential election nearly three months ago and a brutal crackdown on protests .
Mass demonstrations have swept across Belarus since the disputed presidential election that the opposition says was rigged and the West has refused to accept , ratcheting up pressure on Alyaksandr Lukashenka , who has ruled the country for 26 years .
Raab described the findings of the report presented to the Organization for Security and Cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council on November 5 -- the day Lukashenka 's fifth term officially ends -- as `` a damning indictment '' of his rule .
`` Essential that its recommendations are carried out & fresh elections held .
We will continue to stand with the Belarusian people in their hour of need , '' he tweeted .
In a statement , Pompeo said that Washington remained `` inspired by the resilience and dignity of the Belarusian people . ''
He called on the Belarusian authorities to `` cease their crackdown and heed the demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair elections under independent observation . ''
The report urges Belarus to `` organize new genuine presidential elections based on international standards , '' saying the August 9 vote was not transparent as well as neither free nor fair .
It also denounced `` systematic '' human rights violations committed by Belarus 's security forces in response to the peaceful postelection protests .
The fact that no one has been held accountable for `` well-documented cases of torture and ill-treatment '' during the crackdown shows there is a climate of impunity , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the freedom of the media and the safety of journalists have been under attack by the authorities .
Thousands of people have been arrested across Belarus since the authorities declared Lukashenka the winner of the election to give him a sixth consecutive term .
Most of the country 's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country , including presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , who considers herself the rightful winner of the vote .
In a statement , Raab denounced `` the despicable actions '' taken by Lukashenka 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` New elections which are free and fair must now be organised , and those responsible for the violence against demonstrators held to account , '' he added .
In September , 17 OSCE member states including Britain and the United States invoked Britain joined 16 other OSCE member states in invoking the so-called Moscow Mechanism that triggered an investigation by an independent human rights rapporteur into electoral fraud and the violation of the human rights in Belarus .
As international pressure on Belarus mounted , the nearly three-month wave of protests continued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disabled people rallying across Minsk 's central avenue chanting `` Go away ! ''
and `` Your time is over ! ''
to demand Lukashenka 's resignation .
Several people were detained , including two journalists .
Meanwhile , Tsikhanouskaya met with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna .
The opposition leader , who has been living in Lithuania since shortly after the election after threats to her and her family , said in a statement that the two discussed `` peaceful ways of resolving the political and economic crisis , '' as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this process . ''
Also on November 5 , Lukashenka ordered border guards to prevent the return to Belarus of its citizens who are currently abroad in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country .
However , he said the ban did not apply to those travelling back from Russia , citing the two neighbors ' border arrangements .
`` There is no politics here .
The decision is serious , restrictive .
And this is a temporary solution , '' Lukashenka told a meeting on anti-coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spring and summer , but partially closed all the country 's land borders to foreigners on November 1 as second wave of the virus engulfs Europe .
The border restrictions prompted speculation the measures were politically motivated .
With reporting by AP , AFP , Reuters , and RFE/RL 's Belarus Service

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are calling for new elections in Belarus after the publication of an independent report into the "falsified" presidential election nearly three months ago and a brutal crackdown on protests.
Mass demonstrations have swept across Belarus since the disputed presidential election that the opposition says was rigged and the West has refused to accept, ratcheting up pressure on Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled the country for 26 years.
Raab described the findings of the report presented to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Permanent Council on November 5 -- the day Lukashenka's fifth term officially ends -- as "a damning indictment" of his rule.
"Essential that its recommendations are carried out & fresh elections held. We will continue to stand with the Belarusian people in their hour of need," he tweeted.
In a statement, Pompeo said that Washington remained "inspired by the resilience and dignity of the Belarusian people."
He called on the Belarusian authorities to "cease their crackdown and heed the demands of the Belarusian people for free and fair elections under independent observation."
The report urges Belarus to "organize new genuine presidential elections based on international standards," saying the August 9 vote was not transparent as well as neither free nor fair.
It also denounced "systematic" human rights violations committed by Belarus's security forces in response to the peaceful postelection protests.
The fact that no one has been held accountable for "well-documented cases of torture and ill-treatment" during the crackdown shows there is a climate of impunity, according to the document.
Meanwhile, it says the freedom of the media and the safety of journalists have been under attack by the authorities.
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
Thousands of people have been arrested across Belarus since the authorities declared Lukashenka the winner of the election to give him a sixth consecutive term. Most of the country's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country, including presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who considers herself the rightful winner of the vote.
In a statement, Raab denounced "the despicable actions" taken by Lukashenka's regime to suppress his own people.
"New elections which are free and fair must now be organised, and those responsible for the violence against demonstrators held to account," he added.
In September, 17 OSCE member states including Britain and the United States invoked Britain joined 16 other OSCE member states in invoking the so-called Moscow Mechanism that triggered an investigation by an independent human rights rapporteur into electoral fraud and the violation of the human rights in Belarus.
As international pressure on Belarus mounted, the nearly three-month wave of protests continued on November 5, with some 200 disabled people rallying across Minsk's central avenue chanting "Go away!" and "Your time is over!" to demand Lukashenka's resignation.
Several people were detained, including two journalists.
Meanwhile, Tsikhanouskaya met with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in Vienna.
The opposition leader, who has been living in Lithuania since shortly after the election after threats to her and her family, said in a statement that the two discussed "peaceful ways of resolving the political and economic crisis," as well as "Austria's possible role in this process."
Also on November 5, Lukashenka ordered border guards to prevent the return to Belarus of its citizens who are currently abroad in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
However, he said the ban did not apply to those travelling back from Russia, citing the two neighbors' border arrangements.
"There is no politics here. The decision is serious, restrictive. And this is a temporary solution," Lukashenka told a meeting on anti-coronavirus measures.
Lukashenka downplayed the pandemic in the spring and summer, but partially closed all the country's land borders to foreigners on November 1 as second wave of the virus engulfs Europe.
The border restrictions prompted speculation the measures were politically motivated.
With reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and RFE/RL's Belarus Service


rferl--2020-11-05--Bailiffs Search Headquarters Of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation In Moscow

MOSCOW -- Officers of Russia 's Federal Bailiffs Service ( FSSP ) have searched the premises of outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny 's Anti-Corruption Foundation ( FBK ) in Moscow .
FBK Director Ivan Zhdanov said on Twitter that the searches were conducted on November 5 .
A FSSP statement said that the FBK headquarters were searched due to a probe launched against Zhdanov over his failure to `` follow a court order . ''
It gave no further explanation .
Zhdanov wrote later on Twitter that he was informed that the searches were connected to a court ruling obliging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 369,000 ) for an unspecified misdeed .
Earlier in July , Navalny announced that a court ruling against his company had forced him to liquidate FBK and its bank accounts to prevent the seizure of cash by bailiffs , adding that he registered a new company in order to continue his corruption investigations .
In August , bailiffs seized Navalny 's apartment in Moscow after he lost a defamation lawsuit in October 2019 involving a businessman with close ties to President Vladimir Putin .
A Moscow court ordered Navalny , the FBK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lyubov Sobol , to pay a total of 87.6 million rubles ( $ 1.15 million ) split evenly among them to a catering company , Moscow Schoolchild , for defamation .
Navalny is currently in Germany recovering after an August poisoning attack in Siberia with a military-grade nerve agent belonging to the Novichok group , a Soviet-made chemical weapon , which he blames on the Kremlin .

MOSCOW -- Officers of Russia's Federal Bailiffs Service (FSSP) have searched the premises of outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in Moscow.
FBK Director Ivan Zhdanov said on Twitter that the searches were conducted on November 5.
A FSSP statement said that the FBK headquarters were searched due to a probe launched against Zhdanov over his failure to "follow a court order." It gave no further explanation.
Zhdanov wrote later on Twitter that he was informed that the searches were connected to a court ruling obliging him to pay 29 million rubles ($369,000) for an unspecified misdeed.
Earlier in July, Navalny announced that a court ruling against his company had forced him to liquidate FBK and its bank accounts to prevent the seizure of cash by bailiffs, adding that he registered a new company in order to continue his corruption investigations.
In August, bailiffs seized Navalny's apartment in Moscow after he lost a defamation lawsuit in October 2019 involving a businessman with close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
A Moscow court ordered Navalny, the FBK, and the group's lawyer, Lyubov Sobol, to pay a total of 87.6 million rubles ($1.15 million) split evenly among them to a catering company, Moscow Schoolchild, for defamation.
Navalny is currently in Germany recovering after an August poisoning attack in Siberia with a military-grade nerve agent belonging to the Novichok group, a Soviet-made chemical weapon, which he blames on the Kremlin.


rferl--2020-11-05--Kosovar Ex-President Thaci In The Hague Detention Over War Crimes Charges

PRISTINA -- Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has been transferred to a detention facility in the Netherlands , hours after he resigned to face an indictment at a war crimes court there .
Thaci , a guerrilla leader during the country 's war for independence from Serbia in the 1990s , and two other former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UCK ) were `` transferred to the detention facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers '' ( KSC ) in The Hague , the court said in a statement late on November 5 .
Thaci , a commander of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned earlier in the day after learning the KSC had confirmed an indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity against him .
`` As I have pledged , under no circumstances will I allow for the president of the Republic of Kosovo to appear before the court .
Therefore , in order to protect the integrity of the presidency of the Republic of Kosovo , the integrity of the state of Kosovo , the integrity and dignity of the citizens of Kosovo , the people of Kosovo , and to respect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign today , '' Thaci said .
After officially taking over the function of acting president , parliament speaker Vjosa Osmani called for unity in a video message , saying Kosovo needed `` strong leadership and a unified state reaction . ''
`` We have not given up our commitment to consolidate the state and cultivate democratic values .
Despite the challenges , we have remained strong in our faith , which I call on you to prove even in these difficult moments , '' she said .
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SPO ) is a court of Kosovo , located in The Hague .
The KSC is mandated to look into allegations that members of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UCK ) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war to gain independence from Serbia .
It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation .
The SPO in June accused Thaci and other suspects of being `` criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders , '' as well as the `` enforced disappearance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The alleged crimes involved `` hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian , Serb , Roma , and other ethnicities and include political opponents , '' according to the SPO .
Kosovo 's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead -- most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo .
More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for .
The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbia .
Kosovo , which has a largely ethnic Albanian population , declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , a move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serbia or its allies Russia and China .
The KSC said on November 5 that a pretrial judge confirmed the indictment against Thaci , and three other former UCK members -- Kadri Veseli , Rexhep Selimi , and Jakup Krasniqi -- on October 26 .
Veseli , the former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and Selimi , a Kosovar lawmaker , were also transferred to The Hague on November 5 .
Krasniqi , an ex-speaker of parliament and former guerrilla commander , was taken into custody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation by the Hague-based war crimes prosecutors in cooperation with local police in Pristina and taken to The Hague .
The KSC said Krasniqi ’ s initial appearance before the pretrial judge would take place on November 9 .
Information about the date of the appearances of Thaci , Veseli , and Selimi is to be announced later .
Salih Mustafa , one of the founders of the UCK , had already been transferred to The Hague to face similar charges .
Two more suspects , Nesim Haradinaj and Hysen Gucati , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but their indictment has yet to be confirmed .
The European Union said it `` welcomes the fact that [ Thaci ] has agreed to cooperate '' with the KSC & SPO .
`` Full cooperation with these institutions is essential as an important demonstration of Kosovo 's commitment to the rule of law , which in turn is a core element for Kosovo 's progress on its European path and for EU 's engagement with the Western Balkans as a whole , '' spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust the representatives of Kosovo to ensure the continuity of the institutions as spelled out in Kosovo law , '' he added .
London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the indictment against Thaci `` brings hope for thousands of victims of the Kosovo war who have waited for more than two decades to find out the truth about the horrific crimes committed against them and their loved ones . ''
However , U.S. Representative Eliot Engel ( Democrat-New York ) , chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs , expressed `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & SPO was carrying out its mandate , saying that `` it appears to be operating as an ethnic court -- one that only pursues Albanians alleged to have committed crimes . ''
`` Anyone who commits serious war crimes must be prosecuted , regardless of ethnicity .
But , the `` vast majority of crimes '' committed in Kosovo during the war were carried out by Serbian forces during `` its genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing , '' Engel said in a statement .
Earlier on November 5 , a former speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kosovo , Kadri Veseli , also confirmed his indictment by the SPO .
On November 4 , another ex-speaker of parliament , former guerrilla commander Jakup Krasniqi , was taken into custody and transferred to The Hague to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity .
With reporting by AP , Reuters , AFP , dpa , and RFE/RL ’ s Balkan Service

PRISTINA -- Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has been transferred to a detention facility in the Netherlands, hours after he resigned to face an indictment at a war crimes court there.
Thaci, a guerrilla leader during the country's war for independence from Serbia in the 1990s, and two other former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) were "transferred to the detention facilities of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers" (KSC) in The Hague, the court said in a statement late on November 5.
Thaci, a commander of the UCK during the 1998-99 war, resigned earlier in the day after learning the KSC had confirmed an indictment for war crimes and crimes against humanity against him.
"As I have pledged, under no circumstances will I allow for the president of the Republic of Kosovo to appear before the court. Therefore, in order to protect the integrity of the presidency of the Republic of Kosovo, the integrity of the state of Kosovo, the integrity and dignity of the citizens of Kosovo, the people of Kosovo, and to respect the partnership with the international community, I resign today," Thaci said.
After officially taking over the function of acting president, parliament speaker Vjosa Osmani called for unity in a video message, saying Kosovo needed "strong leadership and a unified state reaction."
"We have not given up our commitment to consolidate the state and cultivate democratic values. Despite the challenges, we have remained strong in our faith, which I call on you to prove even in these difficult moments," she said.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office (KSC & SPO) is a court of Kosovo, located in The Hague.
The KSC is mandated to look into allegations that members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war to gain independence from Serbia.
It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation.
The SPO in June accused Thaci and other suspects of being "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders," as well as the "enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture."
The alleged crimes involved "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents," according to the SPO.
Kosovo's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead -- most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for. The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbia.
Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China.
The KSC said on November 5 that a pretrial judge confirmed the indictment against Thaci, and three other former UCK members -- Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi -- on October 26.
Veseli, the former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and Selimi, a Kosovar lawmaker, were also transferred to The Hague on November 5.
Krasniqi, an ex-speaker of parliament and former guerrilla commander, was taken into custody late on November 4 in a special operation by Hague-based war crimes prosecutors in cooperation with local police in Pristina and taken to The Hague.
The KSC said Krasniqi’s initial appearance before the pretrial judge would take place on November 9.
Information about the date of the appearances of Thaci, Veseli, and Selimi is to be announced later.
Salih Mustafa, one of the founders of the UCK, had already been transferred to The Hague to face similar charges.
Two more suspects, Nesim Haradinaj and Hysen Gucati, are also in detention in the Dutch city, but their indictment has yet to be confirmed.
The European Union said it "welcomes the fact that [Thaci] has agreed to cooperate" with the KSC & SPO.
"Full cooperation with these institutions is essential as an important demonstration of Kosovo's commitment to the rule of law, which in turn is a core element for Kosovo's progress on its European path and for EU's engagement with the Western Balkans as a whole," spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement.
Following Thaci's resignation, "we trust the representatives of Kosovo to ensure the continuity of the institutions as spelled out in Kosovo law," he added.
London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the indictment against Thaci "brings hope for thousands of victims of the Kosovo war who have waited for more than two decades to find out the truth about the horrific crimes committed against them and their loved ones."
However, U.S. Representative Eliot Engel (Democrat-New York), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, expressed "serious concerns" about how the KSC & SPO was carrying out its mandate, saying that "it appears to be operating as an ethnic court -- one that only pursues Albanians alleged to have committed crimes."
“I want to be clear: Anyone who commits serious war crimes must be prosecuted, regardless of ethnicity," Engel said in a statement. "But, the vast majority of crimes committed in Kosovo during this period were carried out by [Serbian forces] during its genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing."
Earlier on November 5, a former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Kadri Veseli, also confirmed his indictment by the SPO.
On November 4, another ex-speaker of parliament, former guerrilla commander Jakup Krasniqi, was taken into custody and transferred to The Hague to face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, AFP, dpa, and RFE/RL’s Balkan Service


rferl--2020-11-06--Russian Spy Chief Says Navalny Poisoned By West; Siberian Police Disagrees

Contradicting statements by Russian officials have suggested either that Western nations could be behind the poisoning in August of opposition politician and outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny , or that he was not poisoned at all , and just suffered from `` acute pancreatitis . ''
News agency RIA Novosti on November 6 published an interview with the chief of Russia 's Foreign Intelligence Service ( SVR ) , Sergei Naryshkin , who said that Western intelligence agencies had taken into account assassinating a Russian opposition leader `` to revive the withered protest movement in Russia . ''
Navalny fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Siberian city of Tomsk shortly after the plane took off on August 20 , and the airliner made an emergency landing in Omsk , where Navalny was hospitalized before Russian authorities permitted him to be airlifted to Berlin for treatment .
He was released from the Charite hospital in the German capital on September 22 after spending 32 days in the clinic .
Naryshkin said that he does not have direct evidence proving Western nations ' involvement into Navalny 's poisoning .
But he insisted that the possible assassination of a Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Navalny could be the victim of such a plot .
He did not provide any evidence or identify the countries involved .
Naryshkin said that Western intelligence had used such methods in Yugoslavia and Ukraine in the past , again without providing any evidence .
Meanwhile , the Interior Ministry 's Siberian branch said on November 6 that Navalny 's falling ill might have been caused by the `` exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis . ''
The ministry also said that its investigators did not find any tracks of poison on Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hotel in Tomsk and at the Siberian city 's airport .
The statement also accused three of Navalny 's associates of refusal to show up for questioning .
The three were with him before he left Tomsk for Moscow aboard a plane on August 20 .
Last month , the European Union and Britain imposed asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials believed to be responsible for the `` attempted assassination '' of Navalny , as well as one entity involved in the program that has produced a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) earlier in October confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany , France , and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with a substance of the Novichok group .
Novichok was identified by British authorities as the toxin used in the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter , Yulia , in 2018 in the English city of Salisbury .
Navalny rejected the ministry ’ s November 6 statement , saying on Twitter that he was `` completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plane , adding that he had never suffered from any medical conditions .
Meanwhile , the Interior Ministry issued two more statements on November 6 , one of them saying that German officials `` have refused to provide [ Russia ] with any material evidence , including his biological samples and results of the tests performed on them , proving that Navalny was poisoned with the notorious Novichok . ''
In another statement , the ministry called the situation around Navalny 's poisoning `` an amateur-directed performance with a main goal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navalny called statements by Naryshkin and the Interior Ministry `` the Kremlin 's exacerbation . ''
`` It is funny that they , in one day , have Naryshkin say I was poisoned by NATO states , and the Interior Ministry that says there was no poisoning , '' Navalny wrote on Twitter .
Navalny has been blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the poison attack , while the Kremlin has denied any involvement .

Contradicting statements by Russian officials have suggested either that Western nations could be behind the poisoning in August of opposition politician and outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, or that he was not poisoned at all, and just suffered from "acute pancreatitis."
News agency RIA Novosti on November 6 published an interview with the chief of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, who said that Western intelligence agencies had taken into account assassinating a Russian opposition leader "to revive the withered protest movement in Russia."
Navalny fell violently ill while on a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk shortly after the plane took off on August 20, and the airliner made an emergency landing in Omsk, where Navalny was hospitalized before Russian authorities permitted him to be airlifted to Berlin for treatment.
He was released from the Charite hospital in the German capital on September 22 after spending 32 days in the clinic.
Naryshkin said that he does not have direct evidence proving Western countries' involvement in Navalny's poisoning.
But he insisted that the possible assassination of a Russian opposition figure was discussed by Western countries, and Navalny could be the victim of such a plot. He did not provide any evidence or identify the countries involved.
Naryshkin said that Western intelligence had used such methods in Yugoslavia and Ukraine in the past, again without providing any evidence.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry's Siberian branch said on November 6 that Navalny's falling ill might have been caused by the "exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis."
The ministry also said that its investigators did not find any traces of poison on Navalny's clothes and items he used in a hotel in Tomsk and at the Siberian city's airport.
The statement also accused three of Navalny's associates of refusal to show up for questioning. The three were with him before he left Tomsk for Moscow aboard a plane on August 20.
Last month, the European Union and Britain imposed asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials believed to be responsible for the "attempted assassination" of Navalny, as well as one entity involved in the program that has produced a group of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) earlier in October confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany, France, and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with a substance of the Novichok group.
Novichok was identified by British authorities as the toxin used in the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in 2018 in the English city of Salisbury.
Navalny rejected the ministry’s November 6 statement, saying on Twitter that he was "completely healthy on August 20" before boarding the plane, adding that he had never suffered from any medical conditions.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry issued two more statements on November 6, one of them saying that German officials "have refused to provide [Russia] with any material evidence, including his biological samples and results of the tests performed on them, proving that Navalny was poisoned with the notorious Novichok."
In another statement, the ministry called the situation around Navalny's poisoning "an amateur-directed performance with a main goal to impose more sanctions on Russia."
Navalny called statements by Naryshkin and the Interior Ministry "the Kremlin's exacerbation."
"It is funny that they, in one day, have Naryshkin say I was poisoned by NATO states, and the Interior Ministry that says there was no poisoning," Navalny wrote on Twitter.
Navalny has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for ordering the poison attack, while the Kremlin has denied any involvement.


rferl--2020-11-06--Former Kosovo President Thaci To Face Initial Hearing In War Crimes Court On November 9

PRISTINA -- Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci will make his initial court appearance on November 9 on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity .
“ The initial appearance of Hashim Thaçi will be a public hearing .
During an initial appearance , the pretrial judge makes sure that the rights of the accused , including the right to legal representation , are respected , and that the accused understands the charges against him or her , ” The Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers ( KSC ) said in a statement on November 6 .
Thaci and two other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( UCK ) were transferred to the detention facilities of the KSC late on November 5 .
The Specialist Prosecutor ’ s Office in The Hague said earlier on November 6 that it was conducting ongoing operations in Kosovo that were being supported by Kosovar police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo ( EULEX ) .
It gave no further details .
A commander of the UCK during the 1998-99 war , Thaci resigned as president earlier on November 5 after learning the KSC had confirmed an indictment against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Specialist Prosecutor 's Office ( KSC & SPO ) is a court of Kosovo , located in The Hague , hosting four Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor 's Office .
The KSC is mandated to look into allegations that members of the Kosovo Liberation Army ( UCK ) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war to gain independence from Serbia .
It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation .
The SPO in June accused Thaci and other suspects of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murders , '' as well as the `` enforced disappearance of persons , persecution , and torture . ''
The alleged crimes involved `` hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian , Serb , Roma , and other ethnicities and include political opponents , '' according to the SPO .
Kosovo 's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead -- most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo .
More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for .
The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbia .
Kosovo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population , declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China .
Kadri Veseli , a former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo , and Rexhep Selimi , a Kosovar lawmaker and former UCK member , were also transferred to The Hague on November 5 .
Krasniqi , an ex-speaker of parliament and former guerrilla commander , was taken into custody late on November 4 in a special operation by The Hague-based war crimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pristina and taken to The Hague .
The KSC said Krasniqi ’ s initial appearance before the pretrial judge would also take place on November 9 .
Information about the date of the appearances of Veseli and Selimi is to be announced later .
Salih Mustafa , one of the founders of the UCK , had already been transferred to The Hague to face similar charges .
Two more suspects , Nesim Haradinaj and Hysen Gucati , are also in detention in the Dutch city , but their indictment has yet to be @ @

PRISTINA -- Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci will make his initial court appearance on November 9 on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“The initial appearance of Hashim Thaçi will be a public hearing. During an initial appearance, the pretrial judge makes sure that the rights of the accused, including the right to legal representation, are respected, and that the accused understands the charges against him or her,” The Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) said in a statement on November 6.
Thaci and two other former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) were transferred to the detention facilities of the KSC late on November 5.
The Specialist Prosecutor’s Office in The Hague said earlier on November 6 that it was conducting ongoing operations in Kosovo that were being supported by Kosovar police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX).
It gave no further details.
A commander of the UCK during the 1998-99 war, Thaci resigned as president earlier on November 5 after learning the KSC had confirmed an indictment against him.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office (KSC & SPO) is a court of Kosovo, located in The Hague, hosting four Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office.
The KSC is mandated to look into allegations that members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the 1998-99 war to gain independence from Serbia.
WATCH: Police Raid Home Of Former Kosovar President Hashim Thaci
It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation.
The SPO in June accused Thaci and other suspects of being "criminally responsible for nearly 100 murders," as well as the "enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture."
The alleged crimes involved "hundreds of known victims of Kosovo Albanian, Serb, Roma, and other ethnicities and include political opponents," according to the SPO.
Kosovo's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead -- most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for. The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbia.
Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China.
Kadri Veseli, a former speaker of parliament and leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, and Rexhep Selimi, a Kosovar lawmaker and former UCK member, were also transferred to The Hague on November 5.
Krasniqi, an ex-speaker of parliament and former guerrilla commander, was taken into custody late on November 4 in a special operation by The Hague-based war crimes prosecutors in cooperation with local police in Pristina and taken to The Hague.
The KSC said Krasniqi’s initial appearance before the pretrial judge would also take place on November 9.
Information about the date of the appearances of Veseli and Selimi is to be announced later.
Salih Mustafa, one of the founders of the UCK, had already been transferred to The Hague to face similar charges.
Two more suspects, Nesim Haradinaj and Hysen Gucati, are also in detention in the Dutch city, but their indictment has yet to be confirmed.
With reporting by RFE/RL’s Balkan Service


rferl--2020-11-06--Five Alleged Members Of Banned Hizb Ut-Tahrir Islamic Group Arrested In Tatarstan

KAZAN , Russia -- Five alleged members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group , labeled as extremist and banned in @ @ @ @ @ in Russia 's Republic of Tatarstan .
The Federal Security Service ( FSB ) said @ @ @ @ @ 6 that its officers , along with National Guard troops , detained five individuals suspected @ @ @ @ @ '' among Tatarstan 's Muslims .
The statement said that computers , electronic devices , @ @ @ @ @ 's teachings that envision the establishment of a caliphate on Russia 's territory were confiscated @ @ @ @ @ residents of Tatarstan have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms of between 11 and @ @ @ @ @ of Hizb ut-Tahrir .
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a global organization based in London that seeks @ @ @ @ @ into an Islamic caliphate , but it says its methods for reaching that goal are @ @ @ @ @ Court banned the group in 2003 , branding its supporters as `` extremists . ''

KAZAN, Russia -- Five alleged members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir Islamic group, labeled as extremist and banned in Russia, have been detained in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement on November 6 that its officers, along with National Guard troops, detained five individuals suspected of propagating "terrorist ideas" among Tatarstan's Muslims.
The statement said that computers, electronic devices, and books containing Hizb ut-Tahrir's teachings that envision the establishment of a caliphate on Russia's territory were confiscated.
Since January, 10 residents of Tatarstan have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms of between 11 and 22 years for being members of Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a global organization based in London that seeks to unite all Muslim countries into an Islamic caliphate, but it says its methods for reaching that goal are peaceful.
Russia's Supreme Court banned the group in 2003, branding its supporters as "extremists."


rferl--2020-11-06--Kazakh Opposition Group Allowed To Hold Rally Challenging Upcoming Polls

ALMATY , Kazakhstan -- Authorities in Kazakhstan ’ s largest city , Almaty , have given an unregistered party permission to hold a protest rally ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections as its members continue to stage individual protests calling for the group ’ s official registration .
Democratic Party leader Zhanbolat Mamai told RFE/RL on November 5 that he had obtained permission to organize the rally on November 14 .
`` Four main points will be announced at the rally : the release of all political prisoners ; the boycott of the January 10 parliamentary election unless opposition and independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part ; a fiscal amnesty ; and a ban on land leasing to foreigners , '' Mamai said .
For several days , Democratic Party activists have been holding single-person pickets that do not require authorities ' permission , demanding the registration of their party and other political groups so that they could take part in the parliamentary vote .
Aruzhan Duisebaeva , one of the party activists who held a single-person picket on November 6 , told RFE/RL that none of President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev 's promises of political reform has materialized as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in power through repression and refusal to register political parties . ''
The Central Election Commission said on November 5 that six officially registered parties will take part in the elections scheduled for January 10 .
The parties include the ruling Nur-Otan ; four pro-government parties -- Aq Zhol , Auyl , Birlik , and the Communist People 's Party -- and the All-National Social Democratic Party that describes itself as an opposition group .
Mamai and other Democratic Party activists insist that there are no real independent or opposition parties among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Central Asian nation .
The January 10 polls will be first parliamentary elections since Toqaev succeeded Nursultan Nazarbaev , who resigned in March last year after nearly three decades in power .
Nazarbaev still maintains key positions of power , including head of the country ’ s powerful Security Council and ruling Nur-Otan party .
He also enjoys almost limitless powers and immunity as `` elbasy '' -- leader of the nation .
The 107-seat Majlis is currently dominated by Nazarbaev ’ s Nur-Otan , which has 84 deputies .
The Communist People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aq 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. 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 .

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Authorities in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, have given an unregistered party permission to hold a protest rally ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections as its members continue to stage individual protests calling for the group’s official registration.
Democratic Party leader Zhanbolat Mamai told RFE/RL on November 5 that he had obtained permission to organize the rally on November 14.
"Four main points will be announced at the rally: the release of all political prisoners; the boycott of the January 10 parliamentary election unless opposition and independent parties are registered and allowed to take part; a fiscal amnesty; and a ban on land leasing to foreigners," Mamai said.
For several days, Democratic Party activists have been holding single-person pickets that do not require authorities' permission, demanding the registration of their party and other political groups so that they could take part in the parliamentary vote.
Aruzhan Duisebaeva, one of the party activists who held a single-person picket on November 6, told RFE/RL that none of President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's promises of political reform has materialized as his government tries its best "to stay in power through repression and refusal to register political parties."
The Central Election Commission said on November 5 that six officially registered parties will take part in the elections scheduled for January 10. The parties include the ruling Nur-Otan; four pro-government parties -- Aq Zhol, Auyl, Birlik, and the Communist People's Party -- and the All-National Social Democratic Party that describes itself as an opposition group.
Mamai and other Democratic Party activists insist that there are no real independent or opposition parties among the registered political groups in the oil-rich Central Asian nation.
The January 10 polls will be first parliamentary elections since Toqaev succeeded Nursultan Nazarbaev, who resigned in March last year after nearly three decades in power.
Nazarbaev still maintains key positions of power, including head of the country’s powerful Security Council and ruling Nur-Otan party. He also enjoys almost limitless powers and immunity as "elbasy" -- leader of the nation.
The 107-seat Majlis is currently dominated by Nazarbaev’s Nur-Otan, which has 84 deputies.
The Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan and the Aq 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.
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.


rferl--2020-11-06--Former Russian Official Acquires Controlling Stakes In Weapons Maker Kalashnikov

A former Russian deputy transport minister has acquired a controlling stake in weapons maker Kalashnikov .
Alan Lushnikov , who served as deputy transport minister between 2017 and 2018 , has acquired a 75 percent stake minus one share in Kalashnikov via a firm called TKH-Invest .
Daily Kommersant quoted Lushnikov on November 6 as saying that he had bought TKH-Invest from Deputy Defense Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko , who was among the high-ranking Russian officials hit with European Union sanctions last month over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny .
State conglomerate Rostekh , which deals with defense and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent plus one share in Kalashnikov .
Neither Kalashnikov nor Lushnikov have disclosed the terms of the deal , but sources told Kommersant that he had paid some 1 billion rubles ( $ 12.9 million ) .
Kalashnikov is heavily indebted , sources told Kommersant .
Kalashnikov manufactures about 95 percent of Russia 's guns , including the AK-47 assault rifles .
The weapons maker has been under U.S. sanctions since 2014 , in the wake of Moscow 's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its support for pro-Russian separatists in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Reuters

A former Russian deputy transport minister has acquired a controlling stake in weapons maker Kalashnikov.
Alan Lushnikov, who served as deputy transport minister between 2017 and 2018, has acquired a 75 percent stake minus one share in Kalashnikov via a firm called TKH-Invest.
Daily Kommersant quoted Lushnikov on November 6 as saying that he had bought TKH-Invest from Deputy Defense Minister Aleksei Krivoruchko, who was among the high-ranking Russian officials hit with European Union sanctions last month over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny.
State conglomerate Rostekh, which deals with defense and high-tech industries, owns the remaining 25 percent plus one share in Kalashnikov.
Neither Kalashnikov nor Lushnikov have disclosed the terms of the deal, but sources told Kommersant that he had paid some 1 billion rubles ($12.9 million). Kalashnikov is heavily indebted, sources told Kommersant.
Kalashnikov manufactures about 95 percent of Russia's guns, including the AK-47 assault rifles.
The weapons maker has been under U.S. sanctions since 2014, in the wake of Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its support for pro-Russian separatists in the country's east.
With reporting by Kommersant and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-06--In 'Symblic Action,' Fence Around Kyrgyz Government Building Torn Down

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz authorities have torn down the iron fence and gates around the main government building in Bishkek that houses the presidential office and parliament in a move the capital 's acting mayor , Balbak Tulobaev , called `` symbolic . ''
Tulobaev said on November 6 that the decision was made at the request of parliament Chairman Talant Mamytov , who was also present at the site .
`` The idea was initiated by the Prime Minister and acting President Sadyr Japarov .
The move can be defined as a symbolic action showing that all barriers between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tulobaev said .
Tulobaev also said that a section of the iron fence that contains a large plaque commemorating those citizens who died during the anti-government protests that toppled President Kurmanbek Bakiev in 2010 will not be removed .
The Kyrgyz parliament named Japarov , 51 , prime minister last month after mass protests against official results of October 4 parliamentary elections ousted the government and led to the resignation of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov , the third popular revolt to topple a leader in the Central Asian nation since 2005 .
After Jeenbekov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handed presidential powers to Japarov , who was released in the wake of the protests from a Bishkek prison , where he was serving a lengthy term on kidnapping charges .
Japarov has initiated amendments to the constitution to change the rules for elections .
He also signed legal changes that postponed fresh parliamentary elections tentatively set for December 20 to an unspecified date in 2021 despite a requirement that such a vote should come within two months .
That move cleared the way for an early presidential election on January 10 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an acting or interim capacity as president may not then run in an election for the post .
But Japarov has argued that he will become eligible by stepping down in December .
As of November 6 , seven other politicians had officially informed the Central Election Commission ( BShK ) of their intentions to run for president .
They are former parliament chairman Kanatbek Isaev ; opposition Butun ( United ) Kyrgyzstan party leader Adakhan Madumarov ; the leader of the El Uchun ( For the People ) party , Arstanbek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egemen ( Sovereign ) Kyrgyzstan party , Bektur Asanov ; historian Kuban Choroev ; political analyst Bakyt Baketaev ; and opposition activist Nazarbek Nyshanov .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz authorities have torn down the iron fence and gates around the main government building in Bishkek that houses the presidential office and parliament in a move the capital's acting mayor, Balbak Tulobaev, called "symbolic."
Tulobaev said on November 6 that the decision was made at the request of parliament Chairman Talant Mamytov, who was also present at the site.
"The idea was initiated by the Prime Minister and acting President Sadyr Japarov. The move can be defined as a symbolic action showing that all barriers between the authorities and people are gone," Tulobaev said.
Tulobaev also said that a section of the iron fence that contains a large plaque commemorating those citizens who died during the anti-government protests that toppled President Kurmanbek Bakiev in 2010 will not be removed.
The Kyrgyz parliament named Japarov, 51, prime minister last month after mass protests against official results of October 4 parliamentary elections ousted the government and led to the resignation of President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, the third popular revolt to topple a leader in the Central Asian nation since 2005.
Quiz: What Color Is Your Revolution? Test your knowledge! Begin
After Jeenbekov's resignation in mid-October, the parliament handed presidential powers to Japarov, who was released in the wake of the protests from a Bishkek prison, where he was serving a lengthy term on kidnapping charges.
Japarov has initiated amendments to the constitution to change the rules for elections.
He also signed legal changes that postponed fresh parliamentary elections tentatively set for December 20 to an unspecified date in 2021 despite a requirement that such a vote should come within two months.
That move cleared the way for an early presidential election on January 10.
Under current Kyrgyz law, anyone serving in an acting or interim capacity as president may not then run in an election for the post. But Japarov has argued that he will become eligible by stepping down in December.
As of November 6, seven other politicians had officially informed the Central Election Commission (BShK) of their intentions to run for president.
They are former parliament chairman Kanatbek Isaev; opposition Butun (United) Kyrgyzstan party leader Adakhan Madumarov; the leader of the El Uchun (For the People) party, Arstanbek Abdyldaev; the former leader of the Egemen (Sovereign) Kyrgyzstan party, Bektur Asanov; historian Kuban Choroev; political analyst Bakyt Baketaev; and opposition activist Nazarbek Nyshanov.


rferl--2020-11-06--Civilians Reportedly Killed In Shelling As Fighting Over Nagorno-Karabakh Continues

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh continued overnight , with the separatist region 's de facto authorities reporting the deaths of at least three civilians following shelling by Azerbaijani forces .
The shelling was concentrated on Stepanakert , the region 's largest city , and Shushi ( known in Azeri as Susa ) , a strategic mountain town located some 10 kilometers south of Stepanakert .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
“ As a result of rocket fire , several residential houses were burned in Shushi .
There is also destruction in the capital ( Stepanakert ) .
Rescue services are working on the spots , ” Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s de facto Emergency Service reported early on November 6 .
An RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent in Stepanakert has confirmed the deaths of three civilians in the city , reporting at least a dozen explosions heard in the area last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shelling of its populated areas by ethnic Armenian forces .
The country ’ s Defense Ministry said that the town of Tartar and nearby villages came under fire on November 6 in the morning .
Both sides deny they target civilian populations in the ongoing conflict .
The two sides again gave different accounts of the developments along the front lines in the morning .
Armenia-backed ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh claimed to have conducted “ effective defensive battles , ” stopping attacks by Azerbaijani armed forces at several major sectors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its armed forces have been on the offensive in several directions , causing Armenian forces to retreat .
On November 5 , Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s de facto ethnic Armenian leader , Arayik Harutiunian , said he had visited Shushi to meet with defenders of the town and discuss “ the strategy of the struggle against the numerous forces of the enemy.
” As Azerbaijani forces were reportedly closing in on Shushi , Harutiunian said that “ all possible efforts are being exerted to keep the fortress town impenetrable.
” At least some 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ erupted on September 27 , raising fears of a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey , which is an ally of Azerbaijan , and Russia , which has a military pact with Armenia .
Three cease-fires brokered by Russia , France , and the United States all collapsed within ours of entering into force .
Armenian forces and Azerbaijani 's military claim to have inflicted devastating losses on each other .
But reports from the opposing sides are often contradictory and hard to verify .
Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes nearly 5,000 people had been killed in the fighting .
With reporting by Interfax and TASS

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh continued overnight, with the separatist region's de facto authorities reporting the deaths of at least three civilians following shelling by Azerbaijani forces.
The shelling was concentrated on Stepanakert, the region's largest city, and Shushi (known in Azeri as Susa), a strategic mountain town located some 10 kilometers south of Stepanakert.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
“As a result of rocket fire, several residential houses were burned in Shushi. There is also destruction in the capital (Stepanakert). Rescue services are working on the spots,” Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto Emergency Service reported early on November 6.
An RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent in Stepanakert has confirmed the deaths of three civilians in the city, reporting at least a dozen explosions heard in the area last night.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan also reported shelling of its populated areas by ethnic Armenian forces. The country’s Defense Ministry said that the town of Tartar and nearby villages came under fire on November 6 in the morning.
Both sides deny they target civilian populations in the ongoing conflict.
The two sides again gave different accounts of the developments along the front lines in the morning.
Armenia-backed ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh claimed to have conducted “effective defensive battles,” stopping attacks by Azerbaijani armed forces at several major sectors of the front line.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan claimed its armed forces have been on the offensive in several directions, causing Armenian forces to retreat.
On November 5, Nagorno-Karabakh’s de facto ethnic Armenian leader, Arayik Harutiunian, said he had visited Shushi to meet with defenders of the town and discuss “the strategy of the struggle against the numerous forces of the enemy.”
As Azerbaijani forces were reportedly closing in on Shushi, Harutiunian said that “all possible efforts are being exerted to keep the fortress town impenetrable.”
At least some 1,000 people have been reported killed since fighting erupted on September 27, raising fears of a wider conflict in the South Caucasus drawing in NATO member Turkey, which is an ally of Azerbaijan, and Russia, which has a military pact with Armenia.
Three cease-fires brokered by Russia, France, and the United States all collapsed within ours of entering into force.
Armenian forces and Azerbaijani's military claim to have inflicted devastating losses on each other. But reports from the opposing sides are often contradictory and hard to verify.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on October 22 that Moscow believes nearly 5,000 people had been killed in the fighting.
With reporting by Interfax and TASS