rferl--2020-05-06--COVID-19: Factories To Restart In Moscow Next Week Even As Cases Surge Across Russia

The global death toll from the coronavirus is nearing 260,000 with more than 3.6 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Industrial facilities and construction companies in the Russian capital will resume operations after May 12 , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said amid reports that the number of coronavirus cases across the country increased by more than 10,000 over the previous 24 hours .
Sobyanin also said on May 6 during an online meeting of the government with President Vladimir Putin that it was too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen , even though the number of officially registered cases in the capital has decreased for the last few days .
Economy Minister Maksim Reshetnikov said at the session that economic activity in the country in general had fallen by one-third in comparison with what it was before the coronavirus lockdown was imposed at the end of March .
Also on May 6 , health authorities said the number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by more than 10,000 and reached 165,929 , including 1,537 deaths .
It was the fourth straight day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova 's press service said on May 6 that she was among the newly infected , adding that the minister did not require hospitalization and the disease was proceeding in `` a light form . ''
Lyubimova is the third top official in Russia to test positive for the coronavirus , after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev .
During the online session , Putin ordered regional governors to develop plans for the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions after May 11 .
Russia has imposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow , in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Putin initially announced a nonworking week from March 28 to April 5 , extended it until April 30 , and later prolonged it again until May 11 .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) says it is still working on a possible visit to Turkmenistan as the country continues to claim it is has yet to record a positive test for the coronavirus even as the outbreak engulfs its Central Asian neighbors .
Stephanie Brickman of the WHO 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mission is currently in Tajikistan and had looked to continue on in a second leg of that trip to Turkmenistan , but could not amid reports that the government in Ashgabat has yet to issue an official invitaiton .
`` In the initial planning phases , it was hoped that the mission could travel on to Turkmenistan after finishing in Tajikistan .
We are still in the process of facilitating logistics , which proves to be challenging in current times , '' Brickman wrote in an email to RFE/RL .
Media reports this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency as saying that the visit to Turkmenistan could not take place since the prerequisite for any mission is an invitation from the host government interested in WHO assistance .
Turkmenistan has not reported any registered COVID-19 cases yet , but experts are skeptical of the claim given the lack of transparency and an independent media in the country .
Doctors in the country are not allowed to talk about the coronavirus , face masks are banned , and citizens are punished for publicly discussing the global pandemic .
Despite the claim of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three quarantine zones around the country in a bid to prevent the spread of what they call `` infectious diseases . ''
People with coronavirus symptoms are not being treated for the virus , and COVID-19 test results are unknown , even if they are performed .
In Tajikistan , where authorities confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time on April 30 , authorities in the capital , Dushanbe , said on May 6 that that several makeshift hospitals to accommodate as many as 3,000 patients will be built in the city in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of COVID-19 infections .
However , experts told RFE/RL that Dushanbe and other towns and cities in the country already face a shortage of medical personnel and equipment to treat coronavirus patients in current existing hospitals and temporary treatment sites housed in kindergartens , schools , and university dormitories .
A day earlier Tajik President Emomali Rahmon relieved Health Minister Nasim Olimzoda of his duties and appointed Jamoliddin Abdullozoda to the post .
According to official data , 293 coronavirus cases , including five deaths , have been registered in Tajikistan .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases was reported as 2,217 , including 10 deaths , as of May 6 .
In Kyrgyzstan , the latest figures are 871 cases with 12 deaths .
The largest number of coronavirus cases in the region has been officially registered in Kazakhstan , with 4,298 cases with 29 deaths With reporting by RFE/RL 's Turkmen , Tajik , Uzbek , Kyrgyz , and Kazakh services , RIA Novosti , and Dozhd TV

The global death toll from the coronavirus is nearing 260,000 with more than 3.6 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Russia
Industrial facilities and construction companies in the Russian capital will resume operations after May 12, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said amid reports that the number of coronavirus cases across the country increased by more than 10,000 over the previous 24 hours.
Sobyanin also said on May 6 during an online meeting of the government with President Vladimir Putin that it was too early for service-sector outlets in Moscow to reopen, even though the number of officially registered cases in the capital has decreased for the last few days.
Economy Minister Maksim Reshetnikov said at the session that economic activity in the country in general had fallen by one-third in comparison with what it was before the coronavirus lockdown was imposed at the end of March.
Also on May 6, health authorities said the number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by more than 10,000 and reached 165,929, including 1,537 deaths. It was the fourth straight day with at least 10,000 new registered cases.
Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova's press service said on May 6 that she was among the newly infected, adding that the minister did not require hospitalization and the disease was proceeding in "a light form."
Lyubimova is the third top official in Russia to test positive for the coronavirus, after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev.
During the online session, Putin ordered regional governors to develop plans for the gradual lifting of coronavirus restrictions after May 11.
Russia has imposed a partial lockdown on many regions, including Moscow, in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Putin initially announced a nonworking week from March 28 to April 5, extended it until April 30, and later prolonged it again until May 11.
Central Asia
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is still working on a possible visit to Turkmenistan as the country continues to claim it is has yet to record a positive test for the coronavirus even as the outbreak engulfs its Central Asian neighbors.
Stephanie Brickman of the WHO's Europe Press Office told RFE/RL that a mission is currently in Tajikistan and had looked to continue on in a second leg of that trip to Turkmenistan, but could not amid reports that the government in Ashgabat has yet to issue an official invitaiton.
"In the initial planning phases, it was hoped that the mission could travel on to Turkmenistan after finishing in Tajikistan. We are still in the process of facilitating logistics, which proves to be challenging in current times," Brickman wrote in an email to RFE/RL.
Media reports this week cited a representative of the UN agency as saying that the visit to Turkmenistan could not take place since the prerequisite for any mission is an invitation from the host government interested in WHO assistance.
Turkmenistan has not reported any registered COVID-19 cases yet, but experts are skeptical of the claim given the lack of transparency and an independent media in the country.
Doctors in the country are not allowed to talk about the coronavirus, face masks are banned, and citizens are punished for publicly discussing the global pandemic.
Despite the claim of no cases, authorities have set up three quarantine zones around the country in a bid to prevent the spread of what they call "infectious diseases."
People with coronavirus symptoms are not being treated for the virus, and COVID-19 test results are unknown, even if they are performed.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
In Tajikistan, where authorities confirmed coronavirus cases for the first time on April 30, authorities in the capital, Dushanbe, said on May 6 that that several makeshift hospitals to accommodate as many as 3,000 patients will be built in the city in just one month to treat the surging number of COVID-19 infections.
However, experts told RFE/RL that Dushanbe and other towns and cities in the country already face a shortage of medical personnel and equipment to treat coronavirus patients in current existing hospitals and temporary treatment sites housed in kindergartens, schools, and university dormitories.
A day earlier Tajik President Emomali Rahmon relieved Health Minister Nasim Olimzoda of his duties and appointed Jamoliddin Abdullozoda to the post.
According to official data, 293 coronavirus cases, including five deaths, have been registered in Tajikistan.
In neighboring Uzbekistan, the number of coronavirus cases was reported as 2,217, including 10 deaths, as of May 6.
In Kyrgyzstan, the latest figures are 871 cases with 12 deaths.
The largest number of coronavirus cases in the region has been officially registered in Kazakhstan, with 4,298 cases with 29 deaths
With reporting by RFE/RL's Turkmen, Tajik, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Kazakh services, RIA Novosti, and Dozhd TV


rferl--2020-05-06--EU Woos Balkans With More Aid As Russia, China Vie For Influence

Leaders of the European Union have reaffirmed their `` unequivocal support '' for six Western Balkan states to eventually become members of the bloc and offered them fresh financial support as the region struggles to cope with the coronavirus crisis .
With Russia and China vying for influence in the region , the leaders of EU institutions and member states gathered for a roughly two-hour video summit on May 6 with EU hopefuls Albania , Bosnia-Herzegovina , Kosovo , Montenegro , North Macedonia , and Serbia .
The summit avoided advancing membership talks and instead focused on the socioeconomic impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed about 140,000 people on the continent , eroded economic growth , and suppressed any appetite EU leaders have for enlargement .
“ The Western Balkans belongs in the EU and there is no question for us about it , ” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the summit .
The EU has a “ special responsibility in assisting its partners in the region , ” particularly “ regarding the impact of the coronavirus , ” she added .
In their final declaration , the EU leaders said the bloc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the European perspective of the Western Balkans . ''
They also promised a `` robust economic and investment plan '' for the Balkans to help recover from the COVID-19 crisis , on top of the 3.3 billion euros ( $ 3.6 billion ) in emergency funding that the EU already mobilized for the region .
Von der Leyen said the new package , to be presented later this year , would focus on transport and energy infrastructure but also EU policy priorities like fighting climate change .
There was no indication of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In return , the EU leaders sought assurances that the six countries stand ready to carry out political , democratic , and economic reforms , warning : “ Increased EU assistance will be linked to tangible progress in the rule of law and in socioeconomic reforms , as well as on the Western Balkans partners ’ adherence to EU values , rules , and standards.
” The final summit declaration also called on Balkan countries to “ progress towards full alignment with EU foreign policy positions , notably on issues where major common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act accordingly . ''
The talks , which before the coronavirus epidemic were planned to be held in Croatia ’ s capital , Zagreb , came as the EU tries to counter criticism it was initially slow to help the Balkans handle the crisis .
The EU ’ s response stood in contrast to Russia and China , which widely publicized their quick delivery of shipments of masks and other gear .
In Serbia , President Aleksandar Vucic criticized the EU for a lack of solidarity at the start of the crisis while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU leaders on May 6 underlined that European “ support and cooperation goes far beyond what any other partner has provided to the region [ which ] deserves public acknowledgement.
” Of the Western Balkan states , Serbia and North Macedonia have progressed the most toward eventual EU membership but are still years away .
Albania and North Macedonia , which after a frustrating delay last year were given the green light in March to formally start membership negotiations , are still waiting for a concrete start date .
Kosovo and Bosnia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With reporting by AFP , AP , and Reuters

Leaders of the European Union have reaffirmed their "unequivocal support" for six Western Balkan states to eventually become members of the bloc and offered them fresh financial support as the region struggles to cope with the coronavirus crisis.
With Russia and China vying for influence in the region, the leaders of EU institutions and member states gathered for a roughly two-hour video summit on May 6 with EU hopefuls Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
The summit avoided advancing membership talks and instead focused on the socioeconomic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed about 140,000 people on the continent, eroded economic growth, and suppressed any appetite EU leaders have for enlargement.
“The Western Balkans belongs in the EU and there is no question for us about it,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the summit.
'Special Responsibility'
The EU has a “special responsibility in assisting its partners in the region,” particularly “regarding the impact of the coronavirus,” she added.
In their final declaration, the EU leaders said the bloc “once again reaffirms its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans."
They also promised a "robust economic and investment plan" for the Balkans to help recover from the COVID-19 crisis, on top of the 3.3 billion euros ($3.6 billion) in emergency funding that the EU already mobilized for the region.
Von der Leyen said the new package, to be presented later this year, would focus on transport and energy infrastructure but also EU policy priorities like fighting climate change. There was no indication of how big the package might be.
In return, the EU leaders sought assurances that the six countries stand ready to carry out political, democratic, and economic reforms, warning: “Increased EU assistance will be linked to tangible progress in the rule of law and in socioeconomic reforms, as well as on the Western Balkans partners’ adherence to EU values, rules, and standards.”
The final summit declaration also called on Balkan countries to “progress towards full alignment with EU foreign policy positions, notably on issues where major common interests are at stake, and to act accordingly."
The talks, which before the coronavirus epidemic were planned to be held in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, came as the EU tries to counter criticism it was initially slow to help the Balkans handle the crisis.
The EU’s response stood in contrast to Russia and China, which widely publicized their quick delivery of shipments of masks and other gear.
In Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic criticized the EU for a lack of solidarity at the start of the crisis while praising Russian and Chinese assistance.
But the EU leaders on May 6 underlined that European “support and cooperation goes far beyond what any other partner has provided to the region [which] deserves public acknowledgement.”
Of the Western Balkan states, Serbia and North Macedonia have progressed the most toward eventual EU membership but are still years away.
Albania and North Macedonia, which after a frustrating delay last year were given the green light in March to formally start membership negotiations, are still waiting for a concrete start date.
Kosovo and Bosnia are still trying to earn candidate status.
With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters


rferl--2020-05-06--Freedom House Drops Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro From List Of Democracies

In its latest report , U.S.-based democracy monitor Freedom House warns of a `` stunning democratic breakdown '' across Central Europe , the Balkans , and Eurasia as many leaders in the region attempt to do away with any remaining checks on their power .
`` A growing number of leaders in Central and Eastern Europe have dropped even the pretense that they play by the rules of democracy .
They openly attack democratic institutions and are working to restrict individual freedoms , '' the group says in its annual Nations In Transit report , released on May 6 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutions could be accelerated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , but Freedom House President Michael Abramowitz said the health crisis also creates an `` inflection point '' after which things could become much worse , or democracy could be revitalized .
The hope is that the experience of the epidemic `` will illustrate the importance of transparent and accountable governance and catalyze new demands for change , '' Abramowitz said .
Freedom House says that the number of democracies in the 29 countries covered in the report is at its lowest point ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ score for the region , an average of all the countries assessed , declined for the 16th year in a row .
The report says the slippage of democratic reforms is demonstrated through the manipulation of electoral frameworks that gives undue advantage to incumbents , parliaments that have been sidelined by opposition boycotts , and smear campaigns against independent media and civil society .
It also says the judiciary and the rule of law have become targets in many countries through such maneuvers as packing courts with loyalists and adopting restrictive laws that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report ’ s judicial framework and independence category had the largest number of declines , with six countries registering a deterioration : the Czech Republic , Georgia , Latvia , Montenegro , Poland , and Slovakia .
The report identifies several countries that have been downgraded according a rating on democratic progress .
It says Poland has dropped out of the group of consolidated democracies and is now rated a semi-consolidated democracy .
Hungary , Serbia , and Montenegro have all left the category of democracies entirely and are now classified as transitional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ EU member Hungary as having the largest drop ever recorded in the 25 years since Freedom House -- a nonprofit organization largely funded by the U.S. government -- published its first Nations In Transit report .
The country ’ s democracy score has been on a steep decline in the past decade and the report describes Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a leader who has `` dropped any pretense of respecting democratic institutions . ''
Similarly , Poland , also an EU member state , moved downward , becoming a semi-consolidated democracy largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independence over the past five years .
The report also notes that in Russia , which is classified as an authoritarian regime , President Vladimir Putin 's constitutional reforms , which if implemented , would allow him to retain his post beyond two terms , `` demonstrate a contempt for the rule of law and the basic principles of constitutional government . ''
There were positive developments in some places , such as in Kosovo , the only country to secure gains in each of the last five years , and in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Armenia also gained its highest score based on improvements related to elections and corruption .
Ukraine ’ s national democratic governance score saw a slight improvement , and Uzbekistan ’ s corruption score improved from rock bottom based on recent efforts to root out petty graft .

In its latest report, U.S.-based democracy monitor Freedom House warns of a "stunning democratic breakdown" across Central Europe, the Balkans, and Eurasia as many leaders in the region attempt to do away with any remaining checks on their power.
"A growing number of leaders in Central and Eastern Europe have dropped even the pretense that they play by the rules of democracy. They openly attack democratic institutions and are working to restrict individual freedoms," the group says in its annual Nations In Transit report, released on May 6.
The report says the attacks on democratic institutions could be accelerated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but Freedom House President Michael Abramowitz said the health crisis also creates an "inflection point" after which things could become much worse, or democracy could be revitalized.
The hope is that the experience of the epidemic "will illustrate the importance of transparent and accountable governance and catalyze new demands for change," Abramowitz said.
Freedom House says that the number of democracies in the 29 countries covered in the report is at its lowest point ever at just 10.
The overall democracy score for the region, an average of all the countries assessed, declined for the 16th year in a row.
The report says the slippage of democratic reforms is demonstrated through the manipulation of electoral frameworks that gives undue advantage to incumbents, parliaments that have been sidelined by opposition boycotts, and smear campaigns against independent media and civil society.
It also says the judiciary and the rule of law have become targets in many countries through such maneuvers as packing courts with loyalists and adopting restrictive laws that do away with judicial independence.
The report’s judicial framework and independence category had the largest number of declines, with six countries registering a deterioration: the Czech Republic, Georgia, Latvia, Montenegro, Poland, and Slovakia.
'Hybrid Regimes'
The report identifies several countries that have been downgraded according a rating on democratic progress. It says Poland has dropped out of the group of consolidated democracies and is now rated a semi-consolidated democracy.
Hungary, Serbia, and Montenegro have all left the category of democracies entirely and are now classified as transitional government/hybrid regimes.
The report singles out EU member Hungary as having the largest drop ever recorded in the 25 years since Freedom House -- a nonprofit organization largely funded by the U.S. government -- published its first Nations In Transit report.
The country’s democracy score has been on a steep decline in the past decade and the report describes Prime Minister Viktor Orban as a leader who has "dropped any pretense of respecting democratic institutions."
Similarly, Poland, also an EU member state, moved downward, becoming a semi-consolidated democracy largely because of losses in judicial framework and independence over the past five years.
The report also notes that in Russia, which is classified as an authoritarian regime, President Vladimir Putin's constitutional reforms, which if implemented, would allow him to retain his post beyond two terms, "demonstrate a contempt for the rule of law and the basic principles of constitutional government."
There were positive developments in some places, such as in Kosovo, the only country to secure gains in each of the last five years, and in North Macedonia, which saw multiple score improvements.
Armenia also gained its highest score based on improvements related to elections and corruption.
Ukraine’s national democratic governance score saw a slight improvement, and Uzbekistan’s corruption score improved from rock bottom based on recent efforts to root out petty graft.


rferl--2020-05-07--Belarus Strips Russian Reporters Of Accreditation Amid Coronavirus

MINSK -- Belarusian authorities have stripped two Russian journalists of accreditation after their reports about the growing coronavirus outbreak in the country .
The Foreign Ministry in Minsk did not specify why exactly journalist Aleksei Kruchinin and his cameraman Sergei Panasyuk , who work for Russia 's Channel One television company , were deprived of their accreditation .
But a Belarusian state television channel aired a report in response to Channel One 's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Belarus , accusing Russian journalists of spreading false information .
Channel One called Minsk 's move `` absolutely groundless '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reactions to the move `` will be made on diplomatic levels as well . ''
According to Channel One 's representatives , Kruchinin left Minsk for Moscow right after the ministry 's announcement , while his family remains in the Belarusian capital .
As of May 6 , Belarus had reported 19,255 confirmed coronavirus cases and 112 deaths .
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has repeatedly derided concerns over COVID-19 , the disease caused by the coronavirus .
He has claimed disregard for the environment was in part to blame for the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planting trees could help defend against it .
In stark contrast to other European countries that have adopted strict lockdown measures to contain the pandemic , Belarus has kept its borders open and allowed soccer matches in the national league to be played in front of spectators .
On May 9 , Minsk will host a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany , an event that was cancelled in Russia and other former Soviet republics , except Turkmenistan , over fears of large crowds gathering amid @ @ @ @

MINSK -- Belarusian authorities have stripped two Russian journalists of accreditation after their reports about the growing coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The Foreign Ministry in Minsk did not specify why exactly journalist Aleksei Kruchinin and his cameraman Sergei Panasyuk, who work for Russia's Channel One television company, were deprived of their accreditation.
But a Belarusian state television channel aired a report in response to Channel One's coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Belarus, accusing Russian journalists of spreading false information.
Channel One called Minsk's move "absolutely groundless" and company representatives told RFE/RL on May 7 that reactions to the move "will be made on diplomatic levels as well."
According to Channel One's representatives, Kruchinin left Minsk for Moscow right after the ministry's announcement, while his family remains in the Belarusian capital.
As of May 6, Belarus had reported 19,255 confirmed coronavirus cases and 112 deaths.
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has repeatedly derided concerns over COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
He has claimed disregard for the environment was in part to blame for the spread of the virus, and activities like planting trees could help defend against it.
In stark contrast to other European countries that have adopted strict lockdown measures to contain the pandemic, Belarus has kept its borders open and allowed soccer matches in the national league to be played in front of spectators.
On May 9, Minsk will host a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, an event that was cancelled in Russia and other former Soviet republics, except Turkmenistan, over fears of large crowds gathering amid the coronavirus outbreak.
With reporting by AP


rferl--2020-05-07--Putin Bans Armed Forces Members From Carrying Electronic Devices, Gadgets

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning members of the armed forces from carrying smartphones , tablets , and other gadgets capable of recording and storing information while on duty .
According to the decree , signed on May 6 , military personnel may not possess gadgets that can track locations and transmit audio and photo materials .
`` The violation of the regulation will be considered a gross disciplinary offense , '' the document says .
A similar law adopted last year banned military personnel from carrying gadgets with cameras or that can connect to the Internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video footage inadvertently posted online via the smartphones of members of the Russian military revealed information about the location and movements of its troops and equipment .
Some of the photos and videos have been used to prove the presence of Russian military personnel in eastern Ukraine , where Ukrainian armed forces have been fighting Moscow-backed separatists since April 2014 .
Russia has denied a troop presence in the Ukrainian eastern region known as the Donbas , where some 13,200 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict .
Human rights activists have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos and photos on the Internet proof that can be used in cases involving the brutal hazing of young recruits in the Russian military .

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree banning members of the armed forces from carrying smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets capable of recording and storing information while on duty.
According to the decree, signed on May 6, military personnel may not possess gadgets that can track locations and transmit audio and photo materials.
"The violation of the regulation will be considered a gross disciplinary offense," the document says.
A similar law adopted last year banned military personnel from carrying gadgets with cameras or that can connect to the Internet.
In recent years, photos and video footage inadvertently posted online via the smartphones of members of the Russian military revealed information about the location and movements of its troops and equipment.
Some of the photos and videos have been used to prove the presence of Russian military personnel in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian armed forces have been fighting Moscow-backed separatists since April 2014.
Russia has denied a troop presence in the Ukrainian eastern region known as the Donbas, where some 13,200 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict.
Human rights activists have sometimes also been able to obtain from videos and photos on the Internet proof that can be used in cases involving the brutal hazing of young recruits in the Russian military.


rferl--2020-05-07--COVID-19: Serbia Lifts State Of Emergency, Curfew

The global death toll from the coronavirus has passed 260,000 with more than 3.7 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Serbia 's parliament has lifted a state of emergency and curfew , which were introduced in mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told lawmakers on May 6 that Serbia has met all the conditions set by the World Health Organization for relaxing the measures .
`` For more than a week , fewer than 5 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected with the coronavirus , which is the most important condition to lift the state of emergency , '' Brnabic said .
After Serbia declared its state of emergency the authorities imposed a daily curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. , along with several weekend curfews lasting from Thursday evening until Monday morning .
Since mid-April , people older than 65 had been forbidden from going out for a month , except for a one-hour daily walk .
Serbia has confirmed almost 10,000 virus cases so far , including more than 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been decreasing in recent days .
The country relaxed some measures earlier this week , reopening restaurants and cafes as well as resuming public transport , following repeated noisy protests by Serbs who were stuck at home and resorted to banging tin pans and drums to vent their anger at the government 's moves .
President Aleksandar Vucic on May 4 said Serbia would hold parliamentary and local elections on June 21 .
The polls had been scheduled for April 26 but were postponed when the state of emergency was declared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elections over accusations that there will not be a level playing field for the campaign .
Many Serbs have accused Vucic , in power since 2012 , of oppressing political opponents , stifling media freedoms , corruption , and cronyism .
Vucic has denied the accusations .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Balkan Service , AP , AFP , Reuters , and dpa

The global death toll from the coronavirus has passed 260,000 with more than 3.7 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Russia
Russia's number of coronavirus cases has seen a record daily surge with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin warning that the actual number of cases in the capital alone is likely three times higher than the official tally.
Officials said on May 7 that there had been 11,231 new infections in the previous 24 hours, the highest daily total to date, bringing the national total to just over 177,000, more than former European hotspots such as Germany and France.
In Moscow, the epicenter of Russia's outbreak with more than half of the country's total positive tests and deaths, Sobyanin said screening indicates that 2-2.5 percent of Muscovites have contracted the coronavirus, meaning there could be about 300,000 infections in the city, compared with the current reported figure of just under 93,000.
"We should never lose optimism. How soon we come out from this situation will largely depend on ourselves, on our discipline. I do not want to predict the future, but my personal opinion is that we will not be able to return to full-fledged life without restrictions soon," Sobyanin said on state television channel Rossia 24, adding that wearing face masks and gloves will become mandatory on public transport in Moscow beginning on May 12.
Sobyanin said that confirmed cases were rising in the capital because authorities had sharply increased testing and that the situation had actually somewhat stabilized.
Russia says it has carried out more than 4.8 million coronavirus tests across the country.
Russia's official death toll, which remains far lower than in many countries, rose to 1,625 after 88 people died overnight, according to a pandemic task force.
By comparison, France, with a similar number of confirmed infections, has reported almost 26,000 deaths.
Russia's relatively low official death rate has triggered criticism that the authorities may be covering up the real toll of the outbreak by failing to correctly identify coronavirus deaths as such, accusations that have been rejected by authorities.
But Russian officials say the outbreak in their country started later than in parts of the world, allowing authorities to better prepare for the pandemic. Russia now has the fifth-largest number of cases in the world, according to a running tally by the John Hopkins University in the United States.
The residents of Moscow, which is in its sixth week of a lockdown, must stay at home except when buying food and medicine. They must obtain a digital permit to travel anywhere by public or private transport.
President Vladimir Putin has voiced support for a plan put forward by Sobyanin to gradually begin lifting some lockdown restrictions in the capital after May 12, allowing certain industrial activities to resume.
Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says the country's five-week coronavirus lockdown will be lifted on May 9 despite a record rise in the number of cases in the country.
Khan argued in a televised address on May 7 that the decision was made because Pakistan's large number of poor people and laborers can no longer afford to live under a lockdown. Nearly 40 percent of Pakistan's 212 million people live in poverty.
"We're deciding that we are ending this lockdown now," Khan said. "We know that we're doing it at a time when our curve is going up...but it is not edging up as we were expecting."
Pakistan, which has 24,500 official coronavirus cases with 564 fatalities, on May 7 saw its highest single-day increase of 1,523 cases.
Khan said shops and restaurants will reopen from May 9. However, train services, flights, and attendance at schools will remain suspended till May 15. Shopping malls will also remain closed, he said.
Separately, Planning Minister Asad Umer said key economic sectors including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and retail would reopen.
Pakistan's health authorities have been struggling to cope with the steady increase in infections, although the country is estimated to be still weeks away from the peak of the outbreak.
Thousands of Pakistanis are also testing positive after returning home from overseas, raising concerns of a further spread of the virus.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s health minister has tested positive for the coronavirus, his spokesman says, as the number of confirmed cases in the country passed 3,500.
Ferozuddin Feruz “showed symptoms of COVID-19 in the past few days and was isolated at home,” the spokesman, Wahidullah Mayar, said on May 7, adding that the minister’s health condition is “stable.”
A total of 3,563 infections with the coronavirus have been recorded in Afghanistan so far, including 106 deaths.
The actual numbers are likely to be significantly higher as few tests are being carried out in the war-ravaged country.
Serbia
Serbia's parliament has lifted a state of emergency and curfew, which were introduced in mid-March to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told lawmakers on May 6 that Serbia has met all the conditions set by the World Health Organization for relaxing the measures.
"For more than a week, fewer than 5 percent of those tested in Serbia have been infected with the coronavirus, which is the most important condition to lift the state of emergency," Brnabic said.
After Serbia declared its state of emergency the authorities imposed a daily curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., along with several weekend curfews lasting from Thursday evening until Monday morning.
Since mid-April, people older than 65 had been forbidden from going out for a month, except for a one-hour daily walk.
Serbia has confirmed almost 10,000 virus cases so far, including more than 200 deaths.
The figures for new cases have been decreasing in recent days.
The country relaxed some measures earlier this week, reopening restaurants and cafes as well as resuming public transport, following repeated noisy protests by Serbs who were stuck at home and resorted to banging tin pans and drums to vent their anger at the government's moves.
President Aleksandar Vucic on May 4 said Serbia would hold parliamentary and local elections on June 21.
The polls had been scheduled for April 26 but were postponed when the state of emergency was declared.
Opposition parties have indicated they will boycott the elections over accusations that there will not be a level playing field for the campaign.
Many Serbs have accused Vucic, in power since 2012, of oppressing political opponents, stifling media freedoms, corruption, and cronyism.
Vucic has denied the accusations.
Central Asia
Kazakhstan has marked Defender of the Fatherland Day without a trademark military parade this year because of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev on May 7 congratulated the Central Asian nation on a day that has been celebrated with military parades each year to commemorate the founding of the Kazakh armed forces in 1992.
All other events linked to marking the day -- concerts, exhibitions, lectures, Q&A sessions -- are being held online or broadcast on television to prevent large groups of people from gathering.
Health authorities said on May 7 that the number of coronavirus cases in the country had reached 4,530, including 30 deaths, the most in the region.
In neighboring Kyrgyzstan, authorities in the capital, Bishkek, suspended the operation of the Main Children's Hospital after several patients and medical personnel tested positive for COVID-19.
Deputy Health Minister Nurbolot Usonbaev said on May 7 that the hospital had stopped accepting new patients while those accepted earlier were being tested for the coronavirus.
Usonbaev also said that, as of May 7, there were 895 coronavirus cases registered in the country, of which 12 cases had been fatal.
In Uzbekistan, health authorities said on May 7 that the number of coronavirus cases in the country was 2,266, including 10 deaths.
In Tajikistan, the latest figures are 379 cases, including 8 deaths.
The fifth nation in the region, Turkmenistan, has not reported a single coronavirus case.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is still working on a possible visit to Turkmenistan to assess the situation on the ground in one of the world's most tightly run countries.
Experts are skeptical of the claim that there are no cases given the lack of transparency and an independent media in the country.
Doctors in the country are not allowed to talk about the coronavirus, face masks are banned, and citizens are punished for publicly discussing the global pandemic.
Further clouding the situation, authorities have set up three quarantine zones around the country in a bid to prevent the spread of what they call "infectious diseases."
People with coronavirus symptoms are not being treated for the virus, and COVID-19 test results are unknown, even if they are performed.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan, Kazakh, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, and Tajik services; RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan; AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa, and TASS


rferl--2020-05-07--UN Monitors Say Mercenaries From Russia's Vagner Group Fighting In Libya

UN experts say mercenaries from the Vagner group , a Russian private security firm , are supporting Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar in his battle to capture the capital , Tripoli .
A UN panel monitoring Libya sanctions said in a report obtained by the AP , AFP , and Reuters news agencies on May 6 that the shadowy group has between 800 and 1,200 military contractors in Libya , including snipers and specialized military teams .
The Vagner group is believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Controlled by Kremlin-linked Russian financier Yevgeny Prigozhin , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine and Syria to African nations .
U.S. media has previously reported on Vagner deploying to Libya , but this is the first time its presence has been confirmed in a UN report .
Moscow has denied the Russian state is responsible for any deployments .
An expert report provided to the UN Security Council on April 24 said '' that Vagner `` has been providing technical support for the repair of military vehicles , participating in combat operations , and engaging in influence operations '' in Libya .
The private security firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military tasks such as acting as artillery Forward Observation Officers and Forward Air Controllers , providing electronic countermeasures expertise and deploying as sniper teams , '' it said .
More than two dozen civilian aircraft flights between Russia and eastern Libya from August 2018 to August 2019 were `` strongly linked to , or owned by '' the Vagner group or affiliated companies , the report said .
Libya has been torn by civil war since a NATO-backed popular uprising ousted and killed the North African country ’ s longtime dictator Colonel Muammar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Haftar ’ s self-styled Libyan National Army in the east against the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord in the western city of Tripoli , the country 's capital .
The UN panel said it identified that the Vagner group has been in Libya since October 2018 .
Since then , it has `` acted as an effective force multiplier '' for Haftar ’ s forces .
The report said forces affiliated with the Government of National Accord had captured arms `` typical of the weaponry observed being used by [ Vagner ] operatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' It also said Vagner forces use equipment typical of the Russian military .
However , the report said that there were tensions between Vagner and Haftar , who is known to be notoriously stubborn .
Libya ’ s conflict has drawn in multiple regional actors , with Russia , France , Egypt , Jordan , and the United Arab Emirates backing Haftar ’ s command .
Turkey , which deployed troops , drones , and Syrian rebel mercenaries to Libya in January , supports the government in Tripoli alongside Qatar and Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian company has been recruiting Syria fighters since at least the beginning of 2020 .
“ It is estimated from ground sources that the number of Syrian foreign fighters supporting Haftar ’ s operations is less than 2,000 , '' the report said .
The experts estimated the total number of Syrian fighters in Libya at around 5,000 , but “ this almost certainly includes those fighters recruited by Turkey ” to support the government in Tripoli .
The report also confirms the private Russian security company , Rossiskie System Bezopasnosti ( RSB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing maintenance and repair support for military aircraft . ''
It said that sanctions monitors are still evaluating reports that two other Russian private security organizations -- Security Group and Schit Security Group -- are active in Libya .
The UN experts said most Vagner contractors are Russian nationals , but there are also citizens of Belarus , Moldova , Serbia , and Ukraine .
With reporting by AFP , AP , and Reuters

UN experts say mercenaries from the Vagner group, a Russian private security firm, are supporting Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar in his battle to capture the capital, Tripoli.
A UN panel monitoring Libya sanctions said in a report obtained by the AP, AFP, and Reuters news agencies on May 6 that the shadowy group has between 800 and 1,200 military contractors in Libya, including snipers and specialized military teams.
The Vagner group is believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Controlled by Kremlin-linked Russian financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, it is involved in conflicts ranging from those in Ukraine and Syria to African nations.
U.S. media has previously reported on Vagner deploying to Libya, but this is the first time its presence has been confirmed in a UN report. Moscow has denied the Russian state is responsible for any deployments.
An expert report provided to the UN Security Council on April 24 said that Vagner "has been providing technical support for the repair of military vehicles, participating in combat operations, and engaging in influence operations" in Libya.
'Specialized Military Tasks'
The private security firm is also involved in "more specialized military tasks such as acting as artillery Forward Observation Officers and Forward Air Controllers, providing electronic countermeasures expertise and deploying as sniper teams," it said.
More than two dozen civilian aircraft flights between Russia and eastern Libya from August 2018 to August 2019 were "strongly linked to, or owned by" the Vagner group or affiliated companies, the report said.
Libya has been torn by civil war since a NATO-backed popular uprising ousted and killed the North African country’s longtime dictator Colonel Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
The conflict pits Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army in the east against the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord in the western city of Tripoli, the country's capital.
The UN panel said it identified that the Vagner group has been in Libya since October 2018. Since then, it has "acted as an effective force multiplier" for Haftar’s forces.
The report said forces affiliated with the Government of National Accord had captured arms "typical of the weaponry observed being used by [Vagner] operatives elsewhere in eastern Ukraine and Syria."
It also said Vagner forces use equipment typical of the Russian military.
However, the report said that there were tensions between Vagner and Haftar, who is known to be notoriously stubborn.
Libya’s conflict has drawn in multiple regional actors, with Russia, France, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates backing Haftar’s command.
Turkey, which deployed troops, drones, and Syrian rebel mercenaries to Libya in January, supports the government in Tripoli alongside Qatar and Italy.
The UN panel said that a Russian company has been recruiting Syrian fighters since at least the beginning of 2020.
“It is estimated from ground sources that the number of Syrian foreign fighters supporting Haftar’s operations is less than 2,000," the report said.
The experts estimated the total number of Syrian fighters in Libya at around 5,000, but “this almost certainly includes those fighters recruited by Turkey” to support the government in Tripoli.
The report also confirms the private Russian security company, Rossiskie System Bezopasnosti (RSB) Group, is in Libya "providing maintenance and repair support for military aircraft."
It said that sanctions monitors are still evaluating reports that two other Russian private security organizations -- Security Group and Schit Security Group -- are active in Libya.
The UN experts said most Vagner contractors are Russian nationals, but there are also citizens of Belarus, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine.
With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters


rferl--2020-05-06--Kosovar Woman Accused Of Joining Islamic State In Syria

PRISTINA -- Prosecutors in Kosovo have filed terrorism charges against a woman accused of having joined the Islamic State ( IS ) extremist group in Syria .
Kosovo ; s Special Prosecution said on May 6 it had filed the indictment against the suspect , identified only as D.D.
, to the Basic Court in Pristina .
She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charge -- `` organizing and participating in a terrorist group . ''
The suspect left Kosovo in October 2014 to go to Syria via North Macedonia and Turkey .
In Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IS fighter who trained her how to use an automatic rifle and made her part of the militants ' logistics group .
After her husband was killed , she married another IS fighter , living and operating in Syria 's conflict zones until December 2018 , when she was arrested near the border with Turkey .
The suspect is part of a group of 110 Kosovars repatriated from Syria in April last year .
They included four alleged IS fighters , 32 women , and 74 children .
About 400 Kosovars , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are believed to have joined terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq .

PRISTINA -- Prosecutors in Kosovo have filed terrorism charges against a woman accused of having joined the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria.
Kosovo;s Special Prosecution said on May 6 it had filed the indictment against the suspect, identified only as D.D., to the Basic Court in Pristina.
She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charge -- "organizing and participating in a terrorist group."
The suspect left Kosovo in October 2014 to go to Syria via North Macedonia and Turkey.
In Syria, she joined her husband, an IS fighter who trained her how to use an automatic rifle and made her part of the militants' logistics group.
After her husband was killed, she married another IS fighter, living and operating in Syria's conflict zones until December 2018, when she was arrested near the border with Turkey.
The suspect is part of a group of 110 Kosovars repatriated from Syria in April last year. They included four alleged IS fighters, 32 women, and 74 children.
About 400 Kosovars, including men, women, and children, are believed to have joined terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq.


rferl--2020-05-06--Russian Coal Baron Dmitry Bosov Dead In Possible Suicide

Russian billionaire Dmitry Bosov has been found dead at his home in a Moscow suburb , in what officials say was a suicide .
The Investigative Committee announced on May 7 that Bosov , 52 , had died the previous evening of a gunshot wound to the head .
A pistol was reportedly found near the body .
Bosov was a major shareholder and board of directors chairman of the Alltek group , which controls the coal producers Siberian Anthracite , VostokUgol , and other firms .
According to the Forbes billionaires ' list , Bosov was the 86th-richest Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.1 billion .
The RBK news agency quoted acquaintances of Bosov 's as saying his affairs had been in turmoil since the beginning of the year , when he began moving assets around and dismissing employees .
Early last month , Bosov dismissed his partner in the VostokUgol coal company , Aleksandr Isayev , for purported abuse of his position and embezzlement .
Isayev has filed a defamation suit .
On May 1 , it was reported that a former employee of the Genius Fund Group , an investment firm controlled by Bosov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business in the United States , had filed a civil suit against Bosov in Los Angeles seeking more than $ 1 million for alleged breach of contract .
The complainant , Francis Racioppi , is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran .
With reporting by Forbes and RBK

Russian billionaire Dmitry Bosov has been found dead at his home in a Moscow suburb, in what officials say was a suicide.
The Investigative Committee announced on May 7 that Bosov, 52, had died the previous evening of a gunshot wound to the head.
A pistol was reportedly found near the body.
Bosov was a major shareholder and board of directors chairman of the Alltek group, which controls the coal producers Siberian Anthracite, VostokUgol, and other firms.
According to the Forbes billionaires' list, Bosov was the 86th-richest Russian, with a fortune estimated at $1.1 billion.
The RBK news agency quoted acquaintances of Bosov's as saying his affairs had been in turmoil since the beginning of the year, when he began moving assets around and dismissing employees.
Early last month, Bosov dismissed his partner in the VostokUgol coal company, Aleksandr Isayev, for purported abuse of his position and embezzlement. Isayev has filed a defamation suit.
On May 1, it was reported that a former employee of the Genius Fund Group, an investment firm controlled by Bosov that is active in the legal marijuana business in the United States, had filed a civil suit against Bosov in Los Angeles seeking more than $1 million for alleged breach of contract. The complainant, Francis Racioppi, is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran.
With reporting by Forbes and RBK


rferl--2020-05-07--EU Enlargement Commissioner Vows 'Thorough' Assessment Of State Of Democracy In Serbia, Montenegro

BRUSSELS – EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi says the 27-member bloc will make its own assessment on the democratic values of candidate countries in the Western Balkans amid criticism of backsliding in the region as it pushes for accession .
Speaking in an interview with RFE/RL on May 7 , Varhelyi said a report from democracy watchdog Freedom House that downgraded Serbia and Montenegro as `` hybrid regimes '' was “ an interesting contribution ” to the discussion , but added that European Commission was well aware of the situation on the ground as it conducts the EU enlargement process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessment when it comes to the rule of law , democracy for the Western Balkan countries , including those with which we are conducting accession negotiations .
And we will be looking at this situation when we come forward with the report on Serbia and Montenegro , '' he said , adding that an enlargement report was due in June in which the EU would be looking at the situation in the two countries .
Serbia and Montenegro , along with Albania , Bosnia-Herzegovina , Kosovo , and North Macedonia , are pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accession process .
Montenegro and Serbia are the only two of the six to have started accession negotiations with Brussels , even though the pace of talks has slowed as some EU members complained about persistent signs of a lack of democratic norms and rampant corruption in the region .
In a report released on May 6 , Freedom House , a U.S.-based democracy monitor , warned of a `` stunning democratic breakdown '' across Central Europe , the Balkans , and Eurasia as many leaders in the region attempt to do away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
https : //www.rferl.org/a/freedom-house-democracies-breakdown-balkans-hungary-serbia-russia-armenia-ukraine-uzbekistan/30595474.html Serbia , and Montenegro were singled out in the Balkans and were downgraded from the category of democracies to the classification of transitional government/hybrid regimes , the report said .
When asked if he thinks the report shed a bad light on the EU enlargement process by having the pair as front-runners , Varhelyi said that “ I think that it is not for Freedom House to run the enlargement process . ''
`` The [ European ] Commission is responsible for the enlargement process and we will come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and well-based assessment on both countries , '' he added .
Leaders of the European Union reaffirmed their `` unequivocal support '' for the six Western Balkan states to eventually become members of the bloc at a summit on May 6 .
But the summit avoided advancing membership talks and instead focused on the socioeconomic impact of the coronavirus pandemic , which has killed about 140,000 people on the continent , eroded economic growth , and suppressed any appetite EU leaders have for enlargement .
Serbia and Montenegro still need to negotiate 35 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in order to bring their legislation in line with the EU acquis -- the accumulated legislation , legal acts , and court decisions that form the body of the law governing the 27-member bloc .
So far Montenegro has managed to close three chapters and Serbia two .
Albania and North Macedonia , which after a frustrating delay last year were given the green light in March to formally start membership negotiations , are still waiting for a concrete start date .
Kosovo and Bosnia are still trying to earn candidate status @

BRUSSELS -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi says the 27-member bloc will make its own assessment on the democratic values of candidate countries in the Western Balkans amid criticism of backsliding in the region as it pushes for accession.
Speaking in an interview with RFE/RL on May 7, Varhelyi said a report from democracy watchdog Freedom House that downgraded Serbia and Montenegro as "hybrid regimes" was “an interesting contribution” to the discussion, but added that the European Commission was well aware of the situation on the ground as it conducts the EU enlargement process.
"The commission has its own assessment when it comes to the rule of law, democracy for the Western Balkan countries, including those with which we are conducting accession negotiations. And we will be looking at this situation when we come forward with the report on Serbia and Montenegro," he said, adding that an enlargement report was due in June in which the EU would be looking at the situation in the two countries.
Serbia and Montenegro, along with Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, are pushing for the EU to speed up its accession process.
Montenegro and Serbia are the only two of the six to have started accession negotiations with Brussels, even though the pace of talks has slowed as some EU members complained about persistent signs of a lack of democratic norms and rampant corruption in the region.
In a report released on May 6, Freedom House, a U.S.-based democracy monitor, warned of a "stunning democratic breakdown" across Central Europe, the Balkans, and Eurasia as many leaders in the region attempt to do away with any remaining checks on their power.
Serbia and Montenegro were singled out in the Balkans and were downgraded from the category of democracies to the classification of transitional government/hybrid regimes, the report said.
When asked if he thinks the report shed a bad light on the EU enlargement process by having the pair as front-runners, Varhelyi said that “I think that it is not for Freedom House to run the enlargement process."
"The [European] Commission is responsible for the enlargement process and we will come up with a very serious, thorough, and well-based assessment on both countries," he added.
Leaders of the European Union reaffirmed their "unequivocal support" for the six Western Balkan states to eventually become members of the bloc at a summit on May 6.
But the summit avoided advancing membership talks and instead focused on the socioeconomic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed about 140,000 people on the continent, eroded economic growth, and suppressed any appetite EU leaders have for enlargement.
Serbia and Montenegro still need to negotiate 35 different policy fields, or accession chapters, in order to bring their legislation in line with the EU acquis -- the accumulated legislation, legal acts, and court decisions that form the body of the law governing the 27-member bloc.
So far, Montenegro has managed to close three chapters and Serbia two.
Albania and North Macedonia, which after a delay last year were given the green light in March to formally start membership negotiations, are still waiting for a concrete start date.
Kosovo and Bosnia are still trying to earn candidate status.


rferl--2020-05-07--Moscow Court Extends House Arrest Of U.S. Investor Calvey

A Russian court has extended the house arrest of U.S. investor Michael Calvey and his business partner , French national Philippe Delpal Delpal , until August 13 .
The Moscow City Court announced the ruling on May 7 , six days before a previous extension of the two men 's house arrest was set to expire .
A day earlier , the same court rejected Calvey 's appeal against another Moscow court 's decision to impound his property in the Russian capital and freeze his bank accounts .
Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russia-based private-equity group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February last year and charged with financial fraud .
They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank .
Calvey was released under house arrest in April 2019 .
The U.S .
Ambassador to Russia , John Sullivan told Interfax news agency on May 6 that resolving Calvey 's case `` is going to be key to getting a [ U.S.-Russian ] business leaders ' dialogue into gear . ''
The arrests of Calvey and his associates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from high-level Russian business leaders and government officials , who questioned the motivation of the courts and prosecutors .
Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia .
It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $ 3.7 billion in assets .
The company was an early major investor in Yandex , Russia 's dominant search engine .
Calvey is one of two Americans currently held in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless .
Paul Whelan , a former U.S. Marine , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he denies .
With reporting by Interfax and TASS

A Russian court has extended the house arrest of U.S. investor Michael Calvey and his business partner, French national Philippe Delpal Delpal, until August 13.
The Moscow City Court announced the ruling on May 7, six days before a previous extension of the two men's house arrest was set to expire.
A day earlier, the same court rejected Calvey's appeal against another Moscow court's decision to impound his property in the Russian capital and freeze his bank accounts.
Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russia-based private-equity group Baring Vostok were detained in Moscow in February 2019 and charged with financial fraud.
They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank. Calvey was released under house arrest in April 2019.
The U.S. Ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, told Interfax news agency on May 6 that resolving Calvey's case "is going to be key to getting a [U.S.-Russian] business leaders' dialogue into gear."
The arrests of Calvey and his associates stunned many Western investors and drew complaints from high-level Russian business leaders and government officials, who questioned the motivation of the courts and prosecutors.
Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia. It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $3.7 billion in assets. The company was an early major investor in Yandex, Russia's dominant search engine.
Calvey is one of two Americans currently held in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, is currently on trial on an espionage charge that he denies.
With reporting by Interfax and TASS


rferl--2020-05-07--U.S. Justice Department Dropping Case Against Ex-Trump National-Security Adviser Flynn

The U.S. Justice Department has asked a judge to drop the criminal charges against President Donald Trump ’ s former national-security adviser , Michael Flynn .
Flynn was among the first individuals swept up in special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump ’ s election campaign team in 2016 .
In court documents filed on May 7 , the Justice Department said it is asking a judge to drop the case against Flynn following a “ review of all the facts and circumstances of this case.
” The judge must now rule on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s lawyers have been seeking to reverse a 2017 guilty plea on charges of lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak weeks before Trump entered the White House .
Flynn was fired in February 2017 , having served as national-security adviser for less than a month , after it emerged he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador .
In its filling , the Justice Department said it had concluded that Flynn ’ s January 2017 interview with the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ untethered to , and unjustified by , the FBI ’ s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn.
” It also said that the interview was “ conducted without any legitimate investigative basis.
” The Justice Department decision was swiftly welcomed by Trump and fellow Republicans , who have long rallied around Flynn as an innocent victim of the Russia probe .
“ He was an innocent man , ” Trump said of Flynn after the announcement , accusing officials from former President Barack Obama 's administration of targeting the retired general .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to pay a big price .
They 're scum , '' he added .
The Justice Department decision is likely to sharpen accusations from Trumps ’ critics that Attorney General William Barr is politicizing the judiciary to please the president , who has repeatedly called the Russia investigation a “ hoax.
” Barr has repeatedly challenged the Russia probe .
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee , Jerrold Nadler , called the Justice Department ’ s decision “ outrageous ” and vowed to investigate the matter .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He pleaded guilty to lying to investigators .
And now a politicized and thoroughly corrupt Department of Justice is going to let the President ’ s crony simply walk away .
Americans are right to be furious and worried about the continued erosion of our rule of law , ” Nadler said in a statement .
The Justice Department decision comes as Flynn ’ s attorneys have leveled a series of accusations about the FBI ’ s actions , including that their client was improperly trapped into lying .
As part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked to withdraw Flynn ’ s guilty plea .
On April 30 , Pence said he was “ more inclined ” to believe that Flynn had unintentionally misled him about contacts with the Russian ambassador after Flynn ’ s lawyers released new documents suggesting the FBI investigation could have been mishandled .
As part of a Justice Department process launched earlier this year to examine the handling of the case , Flynn ’ s attorneys received emails and notes from the FBI investigation .
One note from a senior FBI official related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flynn interview read : “ What ’ s our goal ?
Truth/admission or to get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired ?
” Other documents revealed that the FBI intended to drop its investigation into Flynn in the weeks before the January 2017 interview .
However , later that month FBI officials became more concerned by Flynn ’ s conversations with the Russian ambassador as the White House insisted that Flynn had never discussed sanctions with Kislyak .
In December 2017 , Flynn pleaded guilty to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Kislyak in December 2016 while he was still a private citizen .
One encouraged Russia not to retaliate against the United States for sanctions imposed by the Obama administration over election interference .
The other conversation was directed by a “ very senior member of the Presidential Transition Team ” to discuss derailing a UN Security Council Resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank .
Flynn also admitted to lying about his lobbying activity on behalf of the Turkish government .
Based on reporting by AP , Reuters , and dpa

The U.S. Justice Department has asked a judge to drop the criminal charges against President Donald Trump’s former national-security adviser, Michael Flynn.
Flynn was among the first individuals swept up in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump’s election campaign team in 2016.
In court documents filed on May 7, the Justice Department said it is asking a judge to drop the case against Flynn following a “review of all the facts and circumstances of this case.”
The judge must now rule on the motion.
For months, Flynn’s lawyers have been seeking to reverse a 2017 guilty plea on charges of lying to the FBI about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak weeks before Trump entered the White House.
Flynn was fired in February 2017, having served as national-security adviser for less than a month, after it emerged he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with the Russian ambassador.
In its filling, the Justice Department said it had concluded that Flynn’s January 2017 interview with the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador was “untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn.”
It also said that the interview was “conducted without any legitimate investigative basis.”
The Justice Department decision was swiftly welcomed by Trump and fellow Republicans, who have long rallied around Flynn as an innocent victim of the Russia probe.
“He was an innocent man,” Trump said of Flynn after the announcement, accusing officials from former President Barack Obama's administration of targeting the retired general.
"I hope a lot of people are going to pay a big price. They're scum," he added.
The Justice Department decision is likely to sharpen accusations from Trumps’ critics that Attorney General William Barr is politicizing the judiciary to please the president, who has repeatedly called the Russia investigation a “hoax.” Barr has repeatedly challenged the Russia probe.
The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, called the Justice Department’s decision “outrageous” and vowed to investigate the matter.
“The evidence against General Flynn is overwhelming. He pleaded guilty to lying to investigators. And now a politicized and thoroughly corrupt Department of Justice is going to let the President’s crony simply walk away. Americans are right to be furious and worried about the continued erosion of our rule of law,” Nadler said in a statement.
The Justice Department decision comes as Flynn’s attorneys have leveled a series of accusations about the FBI’s actions, including that their client was improperly trapped into lying. As part of the attorneys' offensive against the case they asked to withdraw Flynn’s guilty plea.
On April 30, Pence said he was “more inclined” to believe that Flynn had unintentionally misled him about contacts with the Russian ambassador after Flynn’s lawyers released new documents suggesting the FBI investigation could have been mishandled.
As part of a Justice Department process launched earlier this year to examine the handling of the case, Flynn’s attorneys received emails and notes from the FBI investigation.
One note from a senior FBI official related to internal deliberations about the aim of the Flynn interview read: “What’s our goal? Truth/admission or to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired?”
Other documents revealed that the FBI intended to drop its investigation into Flynn in the weeks before the January 2017 interview.
However, later that month FBI officials became more concerned by Flynn’s conversations with the Russian ambassador as the White House insisted that Flynn had never discussed sanctions with Kislyak.
In December 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about two conversations with Kislyak in December 2016 while he was still a private citizen.
One encouraged Russia not to retaliate against the United States for sanctions imposed by the Obama administration over election interference.
The other conversation was directed by a “very senior member of the Presidential Transition Team” to discuss derailing a UN Security Council Resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Flynn also admitted to lying about his lobbying activity on behalf of the Turkish government.
Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and dpa


rferl--2020-05-07--Moldovan Court Rules Russian Loan Violates Law

CHISINAU -- Moldova ’ s Constitutional Court has ruled that a 200 million-euro ( $ 216 million ) loan agreement with Russia is unconstitutional .
`` The court decision is final and can not be challenged , '' the head of the Constitutional Court , Domnica Manole said on May 7 , two weeks after the loan agreement was ratified by parliament .
The government had hoped the 10-year loan would help plug a rapidly growing budget deficit because of the coronavirus pandemic .
But the pro-Western opposition has criticized the agreement , saying that it poses a long-term `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would channel the money toward unnecessary projects that favor Russian companies .
It has also said that Russia 's motivation in providing the loan is to back the Moscow-friendly President Igor Dodon , who plans to run for a second term later this year .
Dodon condemned the Constitutional Court ’ s “ cynical ” decision , saying it will negatively “ affect employees , retirees , the medical system , the business environment , [ and ] the entire economy.
” Sandwiched between EU member Romania and Ukraine , Moldova is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has reported more than 4,600 coronavirus infections and 145 deaths so far .

CHISINAU -- Moldova’s Constitutional Court has ruled that a 200 million-euro ($216 million) loan agreement with Russia is unconstitutional.
"The court decision is final and cannot be challenged," the head of the Constitutional Court, Domnica Manole said on May 7, two weeks after the loan agreement was ratified by parliament.
The government had hoped the 10-year loan would help plug a rapidly growing budget deficit because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But the pro-Western opposition has criticized the agreement, saying that it poses a long-term "danger" because of obscure provisions that would channel the money toward unnecessary projects that favor Russian companies.
It has also said that Russia's motivation in providing the loan is to back the Moscow-friendly President Igor Dodon, who plans to run for a second term later this year.
Dodon condemned the Constitutional Court’s “cynical” decision, saying it will negatively “affect employees, retirees, the medical system, the business environment, [and] the entire economy.”
Sandwiched between EU member Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is one of Europe's poorest countries. It has reported more than 4,600 coronavirus infections and 145 deaths so far.


rferl--2020-05-07--Ukrainian President Names Saakashvili To Head Reform Council

KYIV -- Ukraine ’ s president has named former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to head the executive committee of Ukraine ’ s National Reform Council .
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued an order with the appointment on May 7 .
The council was created in 2014 to carry out strategic planning and coordinate reforms .
Saakashvili , 52 , served as Georgia ’ s president from 2004 until 2013 .
In January 2018 , a Georgian court convicted him in absentia of covering up evidence in the case of the killing of a Georgian banker and sentenced him to three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another court convicted him of abuse of power and sentenced him to six years in prison .
Saakashvili has denied all the accusations and says the charges are politically motivated .
In 2015-2016 , Saakashvili served as governor of Ukraine ’ s Odesa region .
When he resigned , he accused Zelenskiy ’ s predecessor , Petro Poroshenko , of corruption .
Poroshenko , in turn , stripped Saakashvili of his Ukrainian citizenship .
As one of his first acts as president last year , Zelenskiy restored Saakashvili ’ s Ukrainian citizenship , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Last month , Saakashvili said he had been offered the post of deputy prime minister in charge of reform .
But it was unclear if parliament would confirm him .
Georgia called the possible appointment “ unacceptable ” in view of Saakashvili ’ s convictions there and threatened to withdraw its ambassador to Kyiv for consultations .

KYIV -- Ukraine’s president has named former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to head the executive committee of Ukraine’s National Reform Council.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy issued an order with the appointment on May 7.
The council was created in 2014 to carry out strategic planning and coordinate reforms.
Saakashvili, 52, served as Georgia’s president from 2004 until 2013. In January 2018, a Georgian court convicted him in absentia of covering up evidence in the case of the killing of a Georgian banker and sentenced him to three years in prison. In June 2018, another court convicted him of abuse of power and sentenced him to six years in prison.
Saakashvili has denied all the accusations and says the charges are politically motivated.
In 2015-2016, Saakashvili served as governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region. When he resigned, he accused Zelenskiy’s predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, of corruption. Poroshenko, in turn, stripped Saakashvili of his Ukrainian citizenship.
As one of his first acts as president last year, Zelenskiy restored Saakashvili’s Ukrainian citizenship, facilitating Saakshvili’s return to Ukraine.
Last month, Saakashvili said he had been offered the post of deputy prime minister in charge of reform. But it was unclear if parliament would confirm him.
Georgia called the possible appointment “unacceptable” in view of Saakashvili’s convictions there and threatened to withdraw its ambassador to Kyiv for consultations.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-05-07--OSCE Media Representative Welcomes Kazakh Move To Decriminalize Libel

The OSCE representative on freedom of the media , Harlem Desir , has welcomed a May 6 decision by the lower house of Kazakhstan ’ s parliament to decriminalize defamation , calling it an “ important step forward.
” In a statement on May 7 , Desir urged the Kazakh authorities to “ move further and repeal ” a number of articles in the Criminal Code that he says “ may still stifle freedom of expression.
” He singles out two articles on “ Insult ” and “ Distribution Of Deliberately False Information , ” as well as other articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s first president , Nursultan Nazarbaev ; his successor , Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev ; parliamentarians ; and other officials .
“ Too many journalists have been criminally prosecuted or investigated , or have fallen victim to heavy fines , simply for performing their duty of informing citizens , ” Desir said in his statement .
Journalists “ must be able to pursue their work without fear of criminal reprisal , ” he added .
Kazakhstan is ranked 157th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders ’ s World Press Freedom Index .

The OSCE representative on freedom of the media, Harlem Desir, has welcomed a May 6 decision by the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament to decriminalize defamation, calling it an “important step forward.”
In a statement on May 7, Desir urged the Kazakh authorities to “move further and repeal” a number of articles in the Criminal Code that he says “may still stifle freedom of expression.”
He singles out two articles on “Insult” and “Distribution Of Deliberately False Information,” as well as other articles protecting the honor and dignity of Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbaev; his successor, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev; parliamentarians; and other officials.
“Too many journalists have been criminally prosecuted or investigated, or have fallen victim to heavy fines, simply for performing their duty of informing citizens,” Desir said in his statement.
Journalists “must be able to pursue their work without fear of criminal reprisal,” he added.
Kazakhstan is ranked 157th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’s World Press Freedom Index.


rferl--2020-05-07--Two Pakistani Soldiers Reported Killed In Northwestern Tribal Region

Two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a rocket attack in the North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan , officials @ @ @ @ @ RFE/RL that unidentified attackers fired two rockets at a security post near the town of @ @ @ @ @ .
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack .
There has been an increase @ @ @ @ @ forces in parts of North Waziristan over the past weeks .
Terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda @ @ @ @ @ the Afghan Taliban , and Pakistani militants have all been active in the region during @ @ @ @ @ Pakistani military managed to push militants out of their border-region strongholds through a series of @ @ @ @ @ militants continue to stage surprise attacks there .

Two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in a rocket attack in the North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan, officials say.
Security officials told RFE/RL that unidentified attackers fired two rockets at a security post near the town of Mir Ali on May 7.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
There has been an increase in attacks on Pakistani security forces in parts of North Waziristan over the past weeks.
Terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda, the Haqqani network of the Afghan Taliban, and Pakistani militants have all been active in the region during the past decade.
The Pakistani military managed to push militants out of their border-region strongholds through a series of offensives since 2014. But militants continue to stage surprise attacks there.


rferl--2020-05-07--Pandemic, Oil, And Arms Control Dominate Trump, Putin Phone Call

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on May 7 , discussing arms control , oil prices , and the global coronavirus pandemic , according to the White House and the Kremlin .
The presidents also discussed the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II .
The Kremlin said in a statement that the two leaders emphasized “ the historic significance of the World War II alliance between our peoples that allowed [ us ] to defeat the common enemy.
” The White House reported that Trump “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to effective arms control that includes not only Russia , but also China.
” The only remaining bilateral nuclear-arms agreement still in force is the 2010 New START treaty .
The agreement limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers .
It also includes rigorous on-site inspection provisions .
But it is set to expire in February 2021 unless the two sides agree to extend it by five more years .
Russia has agreed to an extension , but the Trump administration has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
Beijing has said China is not interested in participating in such talks .
The two presidents also reportedly discussed efforts to further stabilize oil prices , which have plummeted as global consumption was sharply reduced because of measures taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus .
The White House statement said that Trump informed Putin that “ the United States is working hard to care for Americans at home ” in response to the pandemic and “ is also ready to provide assistance to any country in need , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Putin asked for any assistance .
As of May 7 , Russia had officially reported 177,160 cases of coronavirus infection and 1,625 fatalities .
The United States has reported 1.27 million infection cases and 75,587 deaths .
With reporting by AP , Reuters , and Interfax

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone on May 7, discussing arms control, oil prices, and the global coronavirus pandemic, according to the White House and the Kremlin.
The presidents also discussed the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Allied defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
The Kremlin said in a statement that the two leaders emphasized “the historic significance of the World War II alliance between our peoples that allowed [us] to defeat the common enemy.”
The White House reported that Trump “reaffirmed that the United States is committed to effective arms control that includes not only Russia, but also China.”
The only remaining bilateral nuclear-arms agreement still in force is the 2010 New START treaty. The agreement limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. It also includes rigorous on-site inspection provisions.
But it is set to expire in February 2021 unless the two sides agree to extend it by five more years.
Russia has agreed to an extension, but the Trump administration has called for a new treaty that would include China.
Beijing has said China is not interested in participating in such talks.
The two presidents also reportedly discussed efforts to further stabilize oil prices, which have plummeted as global consumption was sharply reduced because of measures taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
The White House statement said that Trump informed Putin that “the United States is working hard to care for Americans at home” in response to the pandemic and “is also ready to provide assistance to any country in need, including Russia.”
It was not reported whether Putin asked for any assistance.
As of May 7, Russia had officially reported 177,160 cases of coronavirus infection and 1,625 fatalities. The United States has reported 1.27 million infection cases and 75,587 deaths.
With reporting by AP, Reuters, and Interfax


rferl--2020-05-07--European Rights Court Issues Third Ruling In Favor Of Azerbaijani Investigative Journalist

BAKU -- The European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) has ruled that Azerbaijan failed to protect investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova ’ s right to privacy , saying the country ’ s courts should have sanctioned a local newspaper for an article making salacious claims and commentary about her private and sexual life .
The Strasbourg-based court on May 7 held that the Azerbaijani state was to pay Ismayilova a total of 6,000 euros ( $ 6,500 ) for damages , costs , and expenses .
This is the ECHR ’ s third decision in favor of Ismayilova in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against her because of her journalistic activity .
The journalist -- who has conducted investigations into high-level corruption in Azerbaijan , including cases involving the family of President Ilham Aliyev -- was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison in 2015 on what human rights groups called trumped-up tax-evasion charges .
She was conditionally released in 2016 but is still subject to a travel ban .
Amnesty International ’ s South Caucasus researcher , Natalia Nozadze , said the ECHR ’ s latest judgement “ exposes the complicity of Azerbaijan ’ s judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking the right to freedom of expression in the country.
” “ Not only has Khadija Ismayilova served a prison sentence under false charges , she has suffered years of harassment by the authorities , intrusion into her personal life , and vilification in state-run media , ” Nozadze added .
In March 2012 , a video filmed secretly with a camera planted in Ismayilova ’ s bedroom and showing scenes of a sexual nature was posted online .
Months later , a pro-government newspaper published an article containing derogatory remarks about Ismayilova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ porn star and suggesting that she should engage in sexual liaisons with opposition-oriented journalists .
The reporter sued the newspaper , saying the article was insulting and damaging to her honor and dignity , her right to privacy , and her right to freedom of expression .
But Azerbaijani courts dismissed her claim and appeals in 2013 , arguing , among other things , that the statements made in the article in question were a manifestation of the author ’ s freedom of expression .
The ECHR on May 7 ruled that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s right to privacy , contrary to their obligation under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights .
“ The only discernible intent behind the statements made in respect of the applicant was to attack her or set her up for attack on grounds of morality , ” the court said .
“ By further exploiting the previous breach of her privacy , the article in question sought , by using offensive and derogatory language , to attribute to the applicant characteristics and behavior in a manner calculated to negatively and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society.
” In January 2019 , the ECHR ruled that Azerbaijan failed to investigate the sex-tape case , violating Ismayilova ’ s rights to privacy and freedom of expression .
And in February 2020 , the court ruled that the actual goal of her arrest and detention was to “ silence and punish her for her work .
”

BAKU -- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Azerbaijan failed to protect investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova’s right to privacy, saying the country’s courts should have sanctioned a local newspaper for an article making salacious claims and commentary about her private and sexual life.
The Strasbourg-based court on May 7 held that the Azerbaijani state was to pay Ismayilova a total of 6,000 euros ($6,500) for damages, costs, and expenses.
This is the ECHR’s third decision in favor of Ismayilova in relation to an alleged campaign of intimidation against her because of her journalistic activity.
The journalist -- who has conducted investigations into high-level corruption in Azerbaijan, including cases involving the family of President Ilham Aliyev -- was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison in 2015 on what human rights groups called trumped-up tax-evasion charges. She was conditionally released in 2016 but is still subject to a travel ban.
Amnesty International’s South Caucasus researcher, Natalia Nozadze, said the ECHR’s latest judgement “exposes the complicity of Azerbaijan’s judicial system in silencing a prominent journalist and attacking the right to freedom of expression in the country.”
“Not only has Khadija Ismayilova served a prison sentence under false charges, she has suffered years of harassment by the authorities, intrusion into her personal life, and vilification in state-run media,” Nozadze added.
In March 2012, a video filmed secretly with a camera planted in Ismayilova’s bedroom and showing scenes of a sexual nature was posted online.
Months later, a pro-government newspaper published an article containing derogatory remarks about Ismayilova, saying she should be considered a porn star and suggesting that she should engage in sexual liaisons with opposition-oriented journalists.
The reporter sued the newspaper, saying the article was insulting and damaging to her honor and dignity, her right to privacy, and her right to freedom of expression.
But Azerbaijani courts dismissed her claim and appeals in 2013, arguing, among other things, that the statements made in the article in question were a manifestation of the author’s freedom of expression.
The ECHR on May 7 ruled that the Azerbaijani authorities failed to protect Ismayilova’s right to privacy, contrary to their obligation under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
“The only discernible intent behind the statements made in respect of the applicant was to attack her or set her up for attack on grounds of morality,” the court said. “By further exploiting the previous breach of her privacy, the article in question sought, by using offensive and derogatory language, to attribute to the applicant characteristics and behavior in a manner calculated to negatively and radically influence how she was viewed in society.”
In January 2019, the ECHR ruled that Azerbaijan failed to investigate the sex-tape case, violating Ismayilova’s rights to privacy and freedom of expression.
And in February 2020, the court ruled that the actual goal of her arrest and detention was to “silence and punish her for her work.”


rferl--2020-05-07--New Greatness Activists' Trial Resumes In Moscow

A Moscow court extended the detention of accused members of the New Greatness youth activist group as the high-profile trial resumed on May 7 .
Defense lawyer Maksim Pashkov wrote on Telegram that the Lyublino District Court in Moscow had extended the defendants ’ detention until August 17 .
Defendants Maria Dubovik , Anna Pavlikova , and Maksim Roshchin will remain under house arrest while four other defendants -- Vyacheslav Kryukov , Ruslan Kostylenkov , Pyotr Karamzin , and Dmitry Poletayev -- will remain in a detention center until that date .
All the defendants have been charged with creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested in March 2018 .
Pavlikova was 17 at the time of her arrest .
She spent several months under house arrest , which sparked protests in Moscow and other cities .
The defendants say they had turned their online chat criticizing the government into a political movement called New Greatness at the suggestion of a group member .
Later , it was revealed that the man who proposed the idea , wrote the movement 's charter , and rented premises for the movement 's gatherings was a special agent of the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 2018 , demonstrations to support members of the group were held in Moscow , St. Petersburg , and several other cities across Russia .
Police detained dozens of protesters .
In April 2019 , another member of the group , Pavel Rebrovsky , was sentenced to 29 months in prison .
Both pleaded guilty and cut deals with investigators .
One more member of the group , Sergei Gavrilov , who was under house arrest , fled to Ukraine in October 2019 , where he has asked for political asylum .

A Moscow court extended the detention of accused members of the New Greatness youth activist group as the high-profile trial resumed on May 7.
Defense lawyer Maksim Pashkov wrote on Telegram that the Lyublino District Court in Moscow had extended the defendants’ detention until August 17.
Defendants Maria Dubovik, Anna Pavlikova, and Maksim Roshchin will remain under house arrest while four other defendants -- Vyacheslav Kryukov, Ruslan Kostylenkov, Pyotr Karamzin, and Dmitry Poletayev -- will remain in a detention center until that date.
All the defendants have been charged with creating an extremist group, and they were arrested in March 2018.
Pavlikova was 17 at the time of her arrest. She spent several months under house arrest, which sparked protests in Moscow and other cities.
The defendants say they had turned their online chat criticizing the government into a political movement called New Greatness at the suggestion of a group member. Later, it was revealed that the man who proposed the idea, wrote the movement's charter, and rented premises for the movement's gatherings was a special agent of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
In October 2018, demonstrations to support members of the group were held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and several other cities across Russia. Police detained dozens of protesters.
In April 2019, another member of the group, Pavel Rebrovsky, was sentenced to 29 months in prison.
Earlier, another member, Rustam Rustamov, received a suspended 18-month prison sentence.
Both pleaded guilty and cut deals with investigators.
One more member of the group, Sergei Gavrilov, who was under house arrest, fled to Ukraine in October 2019, where he has asked for political asylum.
With reporting by Mediazona


rferl--2020-05-07--Belarus Election Commission Confirms Presidential Election In August

Belarus will hold its presidential election between August 9 and August 30 , the chairwoman of the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ ) said on May 7 .
CEC head Lidziya Yarmoshina told Russia ’ s Interfax @ @ @ @ @ will ask lawmakers to select a specific date within that interval .
Earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ the press service of the House of Representatives of Belarus , Vitaliy Ermolovich , told @ @ @ @ @ hold an extraordinary session on May 8 to decide the date of the election .
@ @ @ @ @ May 4 that the presidential poll will be held `` in a timely manner in @ @ @ @ @ August 30 .
He also repeated his earlier statements confirming that he will seek another @ @ @ @ @ has ruled the country of 9.5 million people since 1994 and is currently serving his @ @ @ @ @ abolished presidential term limits in a referendum in 2004 .
Based on reporting by Interfax @ @ @ @ @

Belarus will hold its presidential election between August 9 and August 30, the chairwoman of the country’s Central Election Commission (CEC) said on May 7.
CEC head Lidziya Yarmoshina told Russia’s Interfax news agency that her commission will ask lawmakers to select a specific date within that interval.
Earlier in the day, the chief of the press service of the House of Representatives of Belarus, Vitaliy Ermolovich, told reporters that the legislature would hold an extraordinary session on May 8 to decide the date of the election.
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka said on May 4 that the presidential poll will be held "in a timely manner in accordance with the constitution before August 30. He also repeated his earlier statements confirming that he will seek another term in office.
Lukashenka has ruled the country of 9.5 million people since 1994 and is currently serving his fifth presidential term. Belarus abolished presidential term limits in a referendum in 2004.
Based on reporting by Interfax, Belapan, and BelTA