rferl--2020-10-14--Residents In Pakistan Tribal Region Continue Protest Demanding Release Of Detainees

A sit-in protest by residents of Pakistan ’ s remote North Waziristan tribal district continued for a second consecutive day on October 14 as they demanded the release of all the locals allegedly detained by security forces following a roadside bombing last month .
Dozens of women who started the protest in the Dattakhel area were told by tribal leaders to leave on October 14 , while the men who had joined them in the action remained .
The sit-in is aimed at gaining the release of around 15 men who were rounded up during a security raid after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 .
Said Anwar , a local member of the Pashtun Protection Movement , told RFE/RL that several local men had been rounded up during a security raid in the Muhammadkhei area following a roadside bomb blast on a military convoy in the area on September 15 .
A senior military official in the area told RFE/RL that all those arrested were involved in `` generating insecurity '' in the area and were supporters of militant groups .
The women have said the protest will continue until the men are released .
North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local and foreign militants until 2014 , when Pakistan ’ s army launched a massive military operation to clear the region of combatants .
Despite the army ’ s claims of success , the region on the border of Afghanistan has continued to be the scene of violent attacks , targeted killings , and roadside bombs .
Last month , two Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shoot-out with militants during a search operation in North Waziristan .
Earlier that same month , the Pakistani Taliban took responsibility for a powerful roadside bombing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military vehicle , killing three soldiers and wounding four .
The Pakistani Taliban , also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan , are a separate insurgent group from the Afghan Taliban , although Pakistan ’ s militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border in Afghanistan .

A sit-in protest by residents of Pakistan’s remote North Waziristan tribal district continued for a second consecutive day on October 14 as they demanded the release of all the locals allegedly detained by security forces following a roadside bombing last month.
Dozens of women who started the protest in the Dattakhel area were told by tribal leaders to leave on October 14, while the men who had joined them in the action remained.
The sit-in is aimed at gaining the release of around 15 men who were rounded up during a security raid after the attack on a military convoy on September 15.
Said Anwar, a local member of the Pashtun Protection Movement, told RFE/RL that several local men had been rounded up during a security raid in the Muhammadkhei area following a roadside bomb blast on a military convoy in the area on September 15.
A senior military official in the area told RFE/RL that all those arrested were involved in "generating insecurity" in the area and were supporters of militant groups.
The women have said the protest will continue until the men are released.
North Waziristan has served as a stronghold for local and foreign militants until 2014, when Pakistan’s army launched a massive military operation to clear the region of combatants.
Despite the army’s claims of success, the region on the border of Afghanistan has continued to be the scene of violent attacks, targeted killings, and roadside bombs.
Last month, two Pakistani soldiers were killed in a shoot-out with militants during a search operation in North Waziristan.
Earlier that same month, the Pakistani Taliban took responsibility for a powerful roadside bombing in the same district that targeted a military vehicle, killing three soldiers and wounding four.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, are a separate insurgent group from the Afghan Taliban, although Pakistan’s militant groups are often interlinked with those across the border in Afghanistan.


rferl--2020-10-14--EU Reportedly Agrees To Sanctions On Russian Officials, Entity Over Navalny Poisoning

The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions against six people and one entity over the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny with a Soviet-style chemical agent in August , diplomats have been quoted as saying .
Western news agencies quoted unidentified diplomats as saying the agreement came at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on October 14 , two days after the bloc 's foreign ministers backed a proposal to impose punishing measures on Russian individuals believed to be responsible for the poisoning that nearly took Navalny 's life , as well as an entity involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok .
The asset freezes and travel bans could be implemented within days , according to dpa , which quoted EU sources as saying Russia 's security services were among the targeted individuals .
The agency said the entity in question was the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology , which was responsible for developing the Novichok nerve agents during the Soviet era , the sources said .
Paris and Berlin have pushed for punitive measures after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany , France , and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok group .
Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny 's poisoning and holding anyone to account .
In August , the United States blacklisted the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology and two other Russian scientific facilities over the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter , Yulia .
Novichok was identified by British authorities as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the English city of Salisbury .
Navalny , a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and prominent anti-corruption campaigner , has blamed the poisoning on the Russian president .
He was released from a Berlin hospital on September 22 after spending 32 days in the clinic .
The Russian authorities have firmly denied allegations of involvement , resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation , and accused Western leaders of launching a disinformation campaign over Navalny 's illness .
`` The Germans are n't going to present any facts in disregard of every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symmetrically [ to sanctions ] , consistent with diplomatic practice , '' Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russian radio stations on October 14 .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Russia `` is n't ready to encounter the attitude we 're coming up against following from the incident with the Berlin patient . ''
With reporting by AFP , dpa , and Interfax

The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions against six people and one entity over the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny with a Soviet-style chemical agent in August, diplomats have been quoted as saying.
Western news agencies quoted unidentified diplomats as saying the agreement came at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels on October 14, two days after the bloc's foreign ministers backed a proposal to impose punishing measures on Russian individuals believed to be responsible for the poisoning that nearly took Navalny's life, as well as an entity involved in the program that has produced a group of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok.
The asset freezes and travel bans could be implemented within days, according to dpa, which quoted EU sources as saying Russia's security services were among the targeted individuals.
The agency said the entity in question was the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, which was responsible for developing the Novichok nerve agents during the Soviet era, the sources said.
Paris and Berlin have pushed for punitive measures after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on October 6 confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany, France, and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok group.
Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny's poisoning and holding anyone to account.
In August, the United States blacklisted the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology and two other Russian scientific facilities over the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.
Novichok was identified by British authorities as the toxin used in the 2018 incident in the English city of Salisbury.
Navalny, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and prominent anti-corruption campaigner, has blamed the poisoning on the Russian president. He was released from a Berlin hospital on September 22 after spending 32 days in the clinic.
The Russian authorities have firmly denied allegations of involvement, resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation, and accused Western leaders of launching a disinformation campaign over Navalny's illness.
"The Germans aren't going to present any facts in disregard of every international legal obligation. We will respond symmetrically [to sanctions], consistent with diplomatic practice," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Russian radio stations on October 14.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Russia "isn't ready to encounter the attitude we're coming up against following from the incident with the Berlin patient."
With reporting by AFP, dpa, and Interfax


rferl--2020-10-14--Azerbaijan Confirms Strike Inside Armenian Territory; Russia Renews Call For Diplomatic Solution

STEPANAKERT -- Azerbaijan has confirmed striking a missile-launch site in Armenia that Baku claims was being used to target civilian areas , marking the first time in a two-week escalation in fighting that it has acknowledged hitting targets inside Armenian territory .
The Caucasus neighbors are mired in a decades-old conflict over the breakaway Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh , but there are fears that the current flare-up could draw Russia and regional power Turkey into a wider conflict .
Ankara and Moscow on October 14 each encouraged a return to internationally mediated talks to resolve the status of Nagorno-Karabakh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupied lands '' be returned to Azerbaijan .
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for cooperation between leaders to end the fighting in a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , the Kremlin said .
The two leaders `` stressed the urgent need for joint efforts to end the bloodshed as soon as possible and move to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem , '' according to a Kremlin readout of the call -- their first since fighting erupted late last month .
Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry announced on October 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballistic-missile system `` in the border regions of Armenia near the occupied Kalbajar region . ''
It said there was `` no civilian infrastructure '' at the site .
An Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman confirmed the Azerbaijani strike on its missile site , but denied her country had been firing into Azerbaijan or targeting civilian areas .
Hinting at possible retaliation against targets in Azerbaijan , Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said that `` by the same logic , the [ Armenian armed forces ] henceforth preserve the right to target any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory . ''
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian , meanwhile , called the situation `` very difficult '' and said Azerbaijan 's intention is to take control of Nagorno-Karabakh completely .
Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey , he said , do not want `` to stop their aggression . ''
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused the Armenian side of `` trying to attack and take control of our pipelines . ''
Speaking to a Turkish news outlet , Aliyev warned that if the effort continued , `` I can say that the outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , which brokered a humanitarian cease-fire between the two sides that took force on October 10 , again urged an immediate halt to the violence , which erupted on September 27 .
Moscow added that the conflict should be resolved through diplomatic means .
The extension of the fighting into Armenian territory is particularly significant as it could invoke defense obligations from the Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) , of which Armenia is a member along with Russia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , and Tajikistan .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ [ in ] case of aggression commission ( an armed attack menacing safety , stability , territorial integrity , and sovereignty ) to any of the member states , all the other member states at request of this member state shall immediately provide the latter with the necessary help , including military one.
” Putin on October 7 said that Russia 's commitments to Armenia as part of the CSTO do not include the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh , which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , which is not an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regrettable that the hostilities continue , but they are not taking place on Armenian territory , ” Putin said .
On October 14 , Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged a deployment of Russian military observers to the Line of Contact that separates ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani forces near Nagorno-Karabakh , if both sides agreed .
Meanwhile , the de facto Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh said on October 14 that it had recorded another 23 fatalities among its forces , pushing the military death toll to 555 since fighting with Azerbaijani forces erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement on October 14 , the International Crisis Group warned all actors involved in the conflict about the need to prevent civilian casualties .
`` It is critical that both sides cease targeting civilians and undertake efforts to prevent and alleviate humanitarian suffering , '' the statement said .
Azerbaijan was said to have struck targets in Armenia previously , including a bus reportedly destroyed by an Azerbaijani drone strike in the eastern Armenian town of Vardenis on September 28 .
On October 1 , Armenia said it had shot down four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Gegharkunik , just north of the capital , Yerevan .
But neither side has confirmed such incidents .
Aliyev has meanwhile asked that Turkey be involved in peace negotiations .
Turkey , which has no diplomatic relations with Armenia and has never acknowledged blame for the mass Ottoman-era killings of ethnic Armenians , is a NATO member and a staunch Azerbaijani ally .
There are unconfirmed reports that Turkey has been funneling fighters from Syria to the region .
Armenian President Armen Sarkisian has suggested that Armenians `` from all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Armenian side .
Erdogan on October 14 accused the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group that has been supervising mostly dormant peace talks for over a decade of dragging its feet .
`` The United States , Russia , and France are still putting this off with their stalling tactics , '' Erdogan told Turkish lawmakers .
`` Just give them the occupied lands .
Let them do what they want in their own lands .
`` What you need to do is finish your negotiations and hand over the lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Figures from the Turkish Exporters ' Assembly showed a sixfold increase in military exports to Azerbaijan , including tens of millions of dollars in the kind of drones and other military equipment that have fed the current military operations in and around Nagorno-Karabakh .
The military sales spiked after days of deadly fighting flared up in July near the internationally recognized border between Azerbaijan and Armenia .
Aliyev reportedly challenged Russian officials after accusing Moscow of sharply increasing its military equipment shipments to Armenia after the July outbreak of fighting .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was spurning talks in favor of a military resolution of the dispute .
`` We do not agree with the position voiced by Turkey , that was also expressed several times by President Aliyev , '' Lavrov said .
The `` frozen conflict '' over Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running in the former Soviet Union .
There have been occasional skirmishes but none on a par with the current conflagration , which has killed hundreds .
A 1994 cease-fire ended intense fighting that left an estimated 30,000 people dead as the region broke away @ @ @

STEPANAKERT -- Azerbaijan has confirmed striking a missile-launch site in Armenia that Baku claims was being used to target civilian areas, marking the first time in a two-week escalation in fighting that it has acknowledged hitting targets inside Armenian territory.
The Caucasus neighbors are mired in a decades-old conflict over the breakaway Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, but there are fears that the current flare-up could draw Russia and regional power Turkey into a wider conflict.
Ankara and Moscow on October 14 each encouraged a return to internationally mediated talks to resolve the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, although Turkey included a demand that "occupied lands" be returned to Azerbaijan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for cooperation between leaders to end the fighting in a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Kremlin said.
The two leaders "stressed the urgent need for joint efforts to end the bloodshed as soon as possible and move to a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem," according to a Kremlin readout of the call -- their first since fighting erupted late last month.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry announced on October 14 that it had destroyed an Armenian tactical ballistic-missile system "in the border regions of Armenia near the occupied Kalbajar region." It said there was "no civilian infrastructure" at the site.
An Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman confirmed the Azerbaijani strike on its missile site, but denied her country had been firing into Azerbaijan or targeting civilian areas.
Hinting at possible retaliation against targets in Azerbaijan, Armenian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanian said that "by the same logic, the [Armenian armed forces] henceforth preserve the right to target any military installations and combat movements in Azerbaijani territory."
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, meanwhile, called the situation "very difficult" and said Azerbaijan's intention is to take control of Nagorno-Karabakh completely.
Azerbaijan and its ally Turkey, he said, do not want "to stop their aggression."
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused the Armenian side of "trying to attack and take control of our pipelines."
Speaking to a Turkish news outlet, Aliyev warned that if the effort continued, "I can say that the outcome will be severe for them."
Russia, which brokered a humanitarian cease-fire between the two sides that took force on October 10, again urged an immediate halt to the violence, which erupted on September 27.
Moscow added that the conflict should be resolved through diplomatic means.
The extension of the fighting into Armenian territory is particularly significant as it could invoke defense obligations from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), of which Armenia is a member along with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
According to Article 4 of the CSTO treaty, “[in] case of aggression commission (an armed attack menacing safety, stability, territorial integrity, and sovereignty) to any of the member states, all the other member states at request of this member state shall immediately provide the latter with the necessary help, including military one.”
Putin on October 7 said that Russia's commitments to Armenia as part of the CSTO do not include the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, which is not an CSTO member.
“It is deeply regrettable that the hostilities continue, but they are not taking place on Armenian territory,” Putin said.
On October 14, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged a deployment of Russian military observers to the Line of Contact that separates ethnic Armenian and Azerbaijani forces near Nagorno-Karabakh, if both sides agreed.
Meanwhile, the de facto Defense Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh said on October 14 that it had recorded another 23 fatalities among its forces, pushing the military death toll to 555 since fighting with Azerbaijani forces erupted at the end of September.
In a statement on October 14, the International Crisis Group warned all actors involved in the conflict about the need to prevent civilian casualties.
"It is critical that both sides cease targeting civilians and undertake efforts to prevent and alleviate humanitarian suffering," the statement said.
Azerbaijan was said to have struck targets in Armenia previously, including a bus reportedly destroyed by an Azerbaijani drone strike in the eastern Armenian town of Vardenis on September 28.
On October 1, Armenia said it had shot down four Azerbaijani drones in the provinces of Kotayk and Gegharkunik, just north of the capital, Yerevan. But neither side has confirmed such incidents.
Aliyev has meanwhile asked that Turkey be involved in peace negotiations.
Turkey, which has no diplomatic relations with Armenia and has never acknowledged blame for the mass Ottoman-era killings of ethnic Armenians, is a NATO member and a staunch Azerbaijani ally.
There are unconfirmed reports that Turkey has been funneling fighters from Syria to the region.
Armenian President Armen Sarkisian has suggested that Armenians "from all over the world" might be among those fighting on the Armenian side.
Erdogan on October 14 accused the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group that has been supervising mostly dormant peace talks for over a decade of dragging its feet.
"The United States, Russia, and France are still putting this off with their stalling tactics," Erdogan told Turkish lawmakers. "Just give them the occupied lands. Let them do what they want in their own lands.
"What you need to do is finish your negotiations and hand over the lands to their owners," Erdogan said.
Figures from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly showed a sixfold increase in military exports to Azerbaijan, including tens of millions of dollars in the kind of drones and other military equipment that have fed the current military operations in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.
The military sales spiked after days of deadly fighting flared up in July near the internationally recognized border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Aliyev reportedly challenged Russian officials after accusing Moscow of sharply increasing its military equipment shipments to Armenia after the July outbreak of fighting.
Russia's Lavrov on October 14 suggested Ankara was spurning talks in favor of a military resolution of the dispute.
"We do not agree with the position voiced by Turkey, that was also expressed several times by President Aliyev," Lavrov said.
The "frozen conflict" over Nagorno-Karabakh is the longest-running in the former Soviet Union.
There have been occasional skirmishes but none on a par with the current conflagration, which has killed hundreds. A 1994 cease-fire ended intense fighting that left an estimated 30,000 people dead as the region broke away from Azerbaijan.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-10-14--Kyrgyz President Says He Will Step Down Only After A Repeat Of Parliamentary Polls

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov will resign only after the Central Asian nation holds a rerun of its parliamentary elections , his spokeswoman said on October 14 , a stance that might reignite tensions in the country .
The statement came after newly elected Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov met with Jeenbekov to urge him to keep a promise to resign as the country reels from a political crisis sparked by the disputed elections earlier this month .
`` The president will resign as soon as he returns the country to the legal field , or as soon as [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new presidential election is announced , '' Jeenbekov 's spokeswoman , Tolgonai Stamaliyeva , said on October 14 .
Jeenbekov met with Japarov after approving earlier in the day the parliament 's decision to confirm him as prime minister .
`` I think we have to get back to the initial agreement when the president promised to step down after the situation is stabilized , '' Japarov said .
The confirmation of Japarov , who was released from a prison where he was serving a lengthy prison term on kidnapping charges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward resolving the crisis sparked by the demonstrations over the official results of the October 4 parliamentary elections .
Official results showed a landslide victory for Jeenbekov 's allies .
The result was annulled after protesters -- angry at signs of vote-buying and other improprieties during the election -- seized government buildings on October 6 .
Jeenbekov , in one of his first statements after the mass protests ousted the government and parliament speaker , said he was ready to resign after a new cabinet is formed and the situation in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he will only resign after a repeat election threatens to generate new tensions .
Jeenbekov had called on political parties to resolve the ongoing political crisis by legal means after rejecting an October 10 attempt to appoint Japarov prime minister by a group of lawmakers , saying that there was no quorum at the parliamentary session .
Japarov quickly recommended some people to be part of a new cabinet , proposing Artyom Novikov to the post of first deputy prime minister and Ravshan Sabirov , Maksat Mamytkanov , and Aida Ismailova as deputy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kanatbek Isaev as the new speaker of parliament .
Kyrgyzstan 's 6.5 million people are currently under a state of emergency , but that failed to stop some Japarov 's supporters from gathering in central Bishkek , defying a ban on rallies , to demand that the president resign and parliament dissolve itself .
In the wake of protests , then-parliament speaker Dastan Jumabekov resigned and a group of lawmakers named Myktybek Abdyldaev as the new parliament chairman .
However , Abdyldaev resigned from the post on October 10 amid statements by some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his appointment .
The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek on October 13 voiced support for “ the efforts of President Jeenbekov , political leaders , civil society , and legal scholars to return the political life of the country to a constitutional order '' and warned about the threat that organized crime poses to Kyrgyz democracy .
`` It is clear that one of the obstacles towards democratic progress is the attempt by organized crime groups to exert influence over politics and elections , '' the embassy said in a statement , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was evident with vote-buying during the October 4 elections , violence and intimidation in Ala-Too Square on October 9 , and irregularities in the parliament session on October 10 . ''

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov will resign only after the Central Asian nation holds a rerun of its parliamentary elections, his spokeswoman said on October 14, a stance that might reignite tensions in the country.
The statement came after newly elected Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov met with Jeenbekov to urge him to keep a promise to resign as the country reels from a political crisis sparked by the disputed elections earlier this month.
"The president will resign as soon as he returns the country to the legal field, or as soon as [new] parliamentary elections are held and a new presidential election is announced," Jeenbekov's spokeswoman, Tolgonai Stamaliyeva, said on October 14.
Jeenbekov met with Japarov after approving earlier in the day the parliament's decision to confirm him as prime minister.
"I think we have to get back to the initial agreement when the president promised to step down after the situation is stabilized," Japarov said.
The confirmation of Japarov, who was released from a prison where he was serving a lengthy prison term on kidnapping charges, moves the Central Asian state a step toward resolving the crisis sparked by the demonstrations over the official results of the October 4 parliamentary elections.
Official results showed a landslide victory for Jeenbekov's allies. The result was annulled after protesters -- angry at signs of vote-buying and other improprieties during the election -- seized government buildings on October 6.
Jeenbekov, in one of his first statements after the mass protests ousted the government and parliament speaker, said he was ready to resign after a new cabinet is formed and the situation in the country is normalized.
But his announcement that he will only resign after a repeat election threatens to generate new tensions.
Jeenbekov had called on political parties to resolve the ongoing political crisis by legal means after rejecting an October 10 attempt to appoint Japarov prime minister by a group of lawmakers, saying that there was no quorum at the parliamentary session.
Japarov quickly recommended some people to be part of a new cabinet, proposing Artyom Novikov to the post of first deputy prime minister and Ravshan Sabirov, Maksat Mamytkanov, and Aida Ismailova as deputy prime ministers.
Lawmakers had already elected Kanatbek Isaev as the new speaker of parliament.
Kyrgyzstan's 6.5 million people are currently under a state of emergency, but that failed to stop some Japarov's supporters from gathering in central Bishkek, defying a ban on rallies, to demand that the president resign and parliament dissolve itself.
In the wake of protests, then-parliament speaker Dastan Jumabekov resigned and a group of lawmakers named Myktybek Abdyldaev as the new parliament chairman.
However, Abdyldaev resigned from the post on October 10 amid statements by some political parties and lawmakers questioning the legitimacy of his appointment.
The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek on October 13 voiced support for “the efforts of President Jeenbekov, political leaders, civil society, and legal scholars to return the political life of the country to a constitutional order" and warned about the threat that organized crime poses to Kyrgyz democracy.
"It is clear that one of the obstacles towards democratic progress is the attempt by organized crime groups to exert influence over politics and elections," the embassy said in a statement, adding that the impact of organized crime "was evident with vote-buying during the October 4 elections, violence and intimidation in Ala-Too Square on October 9, and irregularities in the parliament session on October 10."


rferl--2020-10-14--Russia, Uzbekistan Among Rights Abusers Elected To UN Human Rights Council

Russia and China were among 15 countries elected to the UN Human Rights Council on October 13 , drawing sharp criticism from rights groups and the United States over their abysmal human rights records .
The 193-member UN General Assembly also elected Ivory Coast , Gabon , Malawi , Cuba , Bolivia , Uzbekistan , France , and Britain to the 47-member council .
Senegal , Nepal , Pakistan , Ukraine , and Mexico were reelected for a second three-year term .
Last week , a coalition of Western human rights groups called on UN member states to oppose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia , Cuba , Pakistan and Uzbekistan , saying their human rights records made them `` unqualified . ''
`` Electing these dictatorships as UN judges on human rights is like making a gang of arsonists into the fire brigade , '' said Hillel Neuer , executive director of UN Watch .
Candidates were elected by secret ballot in geographical groups to ensure representation .
The Asia-Pacific group , which included Saudi Arabia , was the only competitive race , with five candidates vying for four seats .
Saudi Arabia failed in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia 's failure to win a seat on the Human Rights Council is a welcome reminder of the need for more competition in UN elections .
Had there been additional candidates , China , Cuba and Russia might have lost too , '' said Human Rights Watch UN director Louis Charbonneau .
China has been condemned by Western countries for its treatment of ethnic minorities in the country 's Xinjiang region and the crushing of Hong Kong 's pro-democracy movement .
Rights group also criticize Russia for its support of Syria 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as repression of dissent at home .
In 2018 , the United States withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council due to its alleged anti-Israel bias and election of the world 's worst human rights offenders to the body .
`` Today the UN General Assembly once again elected countries with abhorrent human rights records , including China , Russia , and Cuba .
Venezuela was elected in 2019 , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement .
`` These elections only further validate the U.S. decision to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect and promote universal human rights . ''
The Geneva-based Human Rights Council can highlight abuses and has special monitors watching certain countries and issues .
It also periodically reviews human rights in UN member countries .
The new members will begin their term on January 1 , 2021 .
With reporting by AP , dpa , and Reuters

A former top FBI counterintelligence agent pleaded guilty to charges related to his work for notorious Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, changing his plea after federal prosecutors filed new, reduced charges of conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on Russia by working for the billionaire industrialist.
The move by Charles McGonigal, made on August 15 before a federal judge in New York City, ends a prosecution that had stunned the FBI, where McGonigal had investigated Russian influence operations for years while climbing the bureau’s ranks.
The 55-year-old also still faces a separate set of foreign agent charges in Washington, D.C., related to work he did for Albanian officials.
McGonigal, who retired as head counterintelligence in the FBI's New York bureau in 2018, was originally indicted in January by a grand jury on more serious charges of money laundering and violating U.S. sanctions.
Prosecutors alleged that McGonigal and a former Russian diplomat with whom he was associated, were paid more than $200,000 to do work for Deripaska, a wealthy Russian metals tycoon who has long been seen as a Kremlin insider. Deripaska was hit with sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2018.
U.S. authorities said McGonigal was hired to dig up negative information on Vladimir Potanin, a rival oligarch to Deripaska. McGonigal and the former diplomat, Sergei Shestakov, also worked to try and get Deripaska removed from U.S. sanctions lists.
Shestakov has pleaded not guilty to the more serious charges than had been originally filed against McGonigal.
They "attempted to conceal Deripaska's involvement by, among other means, not directly naming Deripaska in electronic communications, using shell companies as counterparties in the contract that outlined the services to be performed, using a forged signature on that contract, and using the same shell companies to send and receive payment from Deripaska," the Justice Department said in a press release after McGonigal entered his plea.
McGonigal could receive up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in December.
The separate case filed in Washington, D.C., by federal prosecutors centers on work McGonigal allegedly did on behalf of a former Albanian intelligence officer, for which he was paid $225,000.
McGonigal also allegedly lied to the FBI about his contacts with foreign nationals and foreign travel while he was still employed by the bureau.
Deripaska also faces charges of violating U.S. sanctions through real estate deals and a complicated scheme under which he allegedly arranged for his girlfriend to travel to the United States to give birth to two of their children.


rferl--2020-10-15--Moscow Court Refuses To Try Pussy Riot Member For Joining Anti-Homophobia Rally

A court in Moscow has refused to look into a case brought by police against a member of the well-known Pussy Riot protest group who was detained over his participation in an anti-homophobia rally on President Vladimir Putin 's birthday last week .
The Tver district court late on October 14 said it was sending the case against Temuuzhin Sambuudavaagiyn back to the police .
Sambudavaagiyn was detained a day earlier and charged with the `` repeated violation of regulations for holding public events , '' for which he could face up to 30 days in jail if found guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's action against `` state homophobic policies '' on October 7 , Putin 's 68th birthday .
The group placed LGBT rainbow flags on the buildings of the Federal Security Service , presidential administration , the Supreme Court , a police headquarters in Moscow 's district , and Culture Ministry , The group demanded Putin investigate the abductions and torture of gays in Chechnya , stop the persecution of LGTB rights defenders , legalize same-gender partnerships , and cancel the controversial law on so-called nontraditional sexual relations among minors .
Several members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of whom , Aleksandr Sofeyev , was sentenced to 30 days in jail on October 9 .
Two journalists , Denis Styazhkin and an RFE/RL correspondent Artyom Radygin , were briefly detained by police while covering the demonstration .
Based on reporting by Interfax and Ekho Moskvy

A court in Moscow has refused to look into a case brought by police against a member of the well-known Pussy Riot protest group who was detained over his participation in an anti-homophobia rally on President Vladimir Putin's birthday last week.
The Tver district court late on October 14 said it was sending the case against Temuuzhin Sambuudavaagiyn back to the police.
Sambudavaagiyn was detained a day earlier and charged with the "repeated violation of regulations for holding public events," for which he could face up to 30 days in jail if found guilty.
Sambudavaagiyn took part in Pussy Riot's action against "state homophobic policies" on October 7, Putin's 68th birthday.
The group placed LGBT rainbow flags on the buildings of the Federal Security Service, presidential administration, the Supreme Court, a police headquarters in Moscow's district, and Culture Ministry,
The group demanded Putin investigate the abductions and torture of gays in Chechnya, stop the persecution of LGTB rights defenders, legalize same-gender partnerships, and cancel the controversial law on so-called nontraditional sexual relations among minors.
Several members of the groups were detained after the action, one of whom, Aleksandr Sofeyev, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on October 9.
Two journalists, Denis Styazhkin and an RFE/RL correspondent Artyom Radygin, were briefly detained by police while covering the demonstration.
Based on reporting by Interfax and Ekho Moskvy


rferl--2020-10-15--EU Slaps Sanctions On Russia Over Navalny 'Assassination' Attempt, Libya Meddling

The European Union and Britain have moved quickly to impose asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials and one entity for the `` attempted assassination '' of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny with a Soviet-style chemical agent in August .
The EU Official Journal on October 15 published the names of the targeted individuals believed to be responsible for the poisoning that nearly took Navalny ’ s life , as well as the entity involved in the program that has produced a group of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok .
The officials include Aleksandr Bortnikov , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Service ( FSB ) , two deputy defense ministers , Aleksei Kirivoruchko and Pavel Popov , Andrei Yarin and Sergei Kiriyenko of the presidential office , as well as Sergei Menyailo , President Vladimir Putin ’ s envoy to the Siberian Federal District .
The targeted organization is the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology , which was responsible for developing the Novichok nerve agents during the Soviet era .
Unlike the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain in 2018 , when the EU took almost a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bloc targeted officials it believes planned and helped carry out the poisoning .
The British government announced shortly afterward that it would apply the EU sanctions , which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called a “ deliberate unfriendly step toward Russia ” that will harm relations with Moscow and prompt retaliation .
Separately , the bloc also hit a Kremlin-connected businessman , Yevgeny Prigozhi , known as `` Putin ’ s Chef '' because his company has done catering for the Kremlin , over his role in Libya 's civil war .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Aleksei Navalny .
The use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law , the journal states .
`` In view of the continued threat posed by the proliferation and use of chemical weapons , six persons and one entity should be included in the list of natural and legal persons , entities , and bodies subject to restrictive measures , '' it added .
Unlike the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter , Yulia , in Britain in 2018 , when the EU took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents , the bloc moved quickly on the Navalny case .
Paris and Berlin have pushed for EU punitive measures after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) on October 6 confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany , France , and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok group .
Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny ’ s poisoning and holding anyone to account .
Last year , the EU blacklisted the head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Igor Kostyukov , and his deputy Vladimir Alekseyev , along with the two suspected GRU agents accused by Britain of carrying out the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter , Yulia .
Novichok was identified by British authorities as the toxin used in the 2018 incident in the English city of Salisbury .
Navalny , a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and prominent anti-corruption campaigner , has blamed the poisoning on the Russian president .
He was released from a Berlin hospital on September 22 after spending 32 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have firmly denied allegations of involvement , resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation , and accused Western leaders of launching a disinformation campaign over Navalny 's illness .
According to the EU Official Journal , Prigozhin was also slapped with an asset freeze and travel ban , saying he “ is engaged in and providing support for the Wagner Group ’ s activities in Libya , which threaten the country ’ s peace , stability , and security.
” The Vagner Group is a Russian military contractor force active in Libya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States had previously sanctioned Prigozhin for his interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .

The European Union and Britain have moved quickly to impose asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials and one entity for the "attempted assassination" of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny with a Soviet-style chemical agent in August.
The EU Official Journal on October 15 published the names of the targeted individuals believed to be responsible for the poisoning that nearly took Navalny’s life, as well as the entity involved in the program that has produced a group of military-grade nerve agents known as Novichok.
The officials include Aleksandr Bortnikov, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), two deputy defense ministers, Aleksei Kirivoruchko and Pavel Popov, Andrei Yarin and Sergei Kiriyenko of the presidential office, as well as Sergei Menyailo, President Vladimir Putin’s envoy to the Siberian Federal District.
The targeted organization is the State Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, which was responsible for developing the Novichok nerve agents during the Soviet era.
Unlike the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain in 2018, when the EU took almost a year to sanction military intelligence agents, the bloc targeted officials it believes planned and helped carry out the poisoning.
The British government announced shortly afterward that it would apply the EU sanctions, which Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called a “deliberate unfriendly step toward Russia” that will harm relations with Moscow and prompt retaliation.
Separately, the bloc also hit a Kremlin-connected businessman, Yevgeny Prigozhi, known as "Putin’s Chef" because his company has done catering for the Kremlin, over his role in Libya's civil war.
"The European Council...condemned the assassination attempt on Aleksei Navalny. The use of chemical weapons constitutes a serious breach of international law, the journal states.
"In view of the continued threat posed by the proliferation and use of chemical weapons, six persons and one entity should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities, and bodies subject to restrictive measures," it added.
Unlike the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in Britain in 2018, when the EU took almost a year to sanction military intelligence agents, the bloc moved quickly on the Navalny case.
Paris and Berlin have pushed for EU punitive measures after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on October 6 confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany, France, and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok group.
Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny’s poisoning and holding anyone to account.
Last year, the EU blacklisted the head of Russia’s military intelligence GRU, Igor Kostyukov, and his deputy Vladimir Alekseyev, along with the two suspected GRU agents accused by Britain of carrying out the near-fatal poisoning of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.
Novichok was identified by British authorities as the toxin used in the 2018 incident in the English city of Salisbury.
Navalny, a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and prominent anti-corruption campaigner, has blamed the poisoning on the Russian president. He was released from a Berlin hospital on September 22 after spending 32 days in the clinic.
Russian authorities have firmly denied allegations of involvement, resisted international pressure to launch a criminal investigation, and accused Western leaders of launching a disinformation campaign over Navalny's illness.
According to the EU Official Journal, Prigozhin was also slapped with an asset freeze and travel ban, saying he “is engaged in and providing support for the Wagner Group’s activities in Libya, which threaten the country’s peace, stability, and security.”
The Vagner Group is a Russian military contractor force active in Libya, Syria, and Africa.
The United States had previously sanctioned Prigozhin for his interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.


rferl--2020-10-15--Eight Pakistani Troops Killed In Attacks In Northwestern Tribal Region

DERA ISMAIL KHAN , Pakistan -- Pakistani officials say eight of its soldiers have been killed in two separate attacks in the country ’ s northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan .
Six troops died after their vehicles struck two roadside bombs in the Shaktoi area of the South Waziristan district on October 14 , district police officer Shaukat Ali and intelligence sources told RFE/RL .
Ali said a captain was among those killed in the first blast .
As another military vehicle rushed to the scene , a second explosion killed five more soldiers .
The attacks were claimed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the Pakistani Taliban .
The Pakistani military said one soldier was killed and another wounded in another attack on a border security post in the Bajaur tribal district .
The military 's media wing tweeted that “ terrorists ” had fired from the Afghan side of the frontier .
No one immediately claimed responsibility for that attack .
Bajaur and South Waziristan are both located in Pakistan ’ s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province .
Pakistan ’ s border areas served as a militant base until recent years when Pakistan said its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Taliban and other militant groups .

Pakistani officials say 14 security troops have been killed in two attacks in the country’s northwestern and southwestern regions bordering Afghanistan.
Six members of the paramilitary Frontier Corps died in an ambush in the restive Balochistan Province on October 15, the military said.
A statement from the Armed Forces' Inter-Services Public Relations said the troops were killed when attackers opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket launchers on a convoy of the state-owned oil- and gas-exploration company OGDCL.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, in which several vehicles of the military and the OGDCL were destroyed.
The resource-rich southwestern province of Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, has been plagued by sectarian violence, attacks by Islamist militants, and a separatist insurgency that has led to thousands of casualties since 2004.
In Pakistan’s northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials told RFE/RL that eight soldiers were killed in two separate attacks on October 14.
Six of them died after their vehicles struck two roadside bombs in the Shaktoi area of the South Waziristan district, police officer Shaukat Ali and intelligence sources said.
Ali said a captain was among those killed in the first blast. As another military vehicle rushed to the scene, a second explosion killed five more soldiers.
The attacks were claimed by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban.
The Pakistani military said one soldier was killed and another wounded in a separate attack on a border security post in the Bajaur tribal district.
The military's media wing tweeted that “terrorists” had fired from the Afghan side of the frontier.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for that attack.
Bajaur and South Waziristan are both located in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Pakistan’s border areas served as a militant base until recent years when Pakistan said its operations there had cleared the area of the Taliban and other militant groups.


rferl--2020-10-15--Fear Grows Over Afghan Civilians 'Trapped' In Helmand's Capital

LASHKAR GAH , Afghanistan -- Concerns are rising for the fate of tens of thousands of civilians caught up in battles between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand .
More than 6,000 families have taken refuge in the provincial capital , Lashkar Gah , following several days of clashes , local officials told RFE/RL on October 15 .
United Nations agencies say the heavy fighting , in which Afghan forces supported by U.S. air strikes are defending Lashkar Gah from a Taliban assault , has taken out electricity and telecommunication lines in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and blocked all exit routes .
Amnesty International has called on both sides to give civilians `` safe passage ” in order to avoid “ a humanitarian disaster.
” '' The situation for civilians in Lashkar Gah is grave and could deteriorate rapidly in the coming days .
Tens of thousands of people are trapped in the middle of a bloody battle that shows no sign of abating , ” according to Omar Waraich , head of South Asia at the London-based human rights group .
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` take all feasible measures to protect civilians , '' including `` safe paths for those wishing to leave . ''
On October 14 , Doctors Without Borders ( MSF ) in Afghanistan reported that the main trauma hospital in Lashkar Gah “ continues to be at capacity with treating injured.
” “ The MSF-supported Boost Provincial Hospital is acting as an over-flow facility .
Additional 20 patients admitted over 24 hrs .
Total is now 40 , including pregnant women and children , ” the charity tweeted .
“ Our patients have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gunshot wounds -- and fractures from when they were fleeing , ” according to MSF hospital coordinator Mariana Cortesi .
Two Afghan military helicopters collided in Helmand on October 14 while evacuating wounded soldiers , killing nine people on board , officials said .
According to the Defense Ministry the collision was due to `` technical issues.
” The battle over Lashkar Gah is the first big Taliban offensive since peace talks between government representatives and Taliban negotiators began last month in the Qatari capital , Doha .
There has been no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are meant to end Afghanistan 's decades-long long war , following a deal signed by the United States and the Taliban in Doha in February .
UNAMA on October 15 reiterated “ the urgency to halt violence and to focus on achieving a peaceful negotiated settlement ” to the war in Afghanistan .
saying violence “ only heaps further hardship and misery on ordinary Afghans and undermines efforts for progress and building bridges between parties at the historic Afghanistan peace talks ” in Qatar .
According to the UN mission , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 2,176 others were wounded , in the first six months of the year .

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


rferl--2020-10-15--Belarusian Athlete Leuchanka, Who Supported Anti-Lukashenka Protests, Rearrested While Leaving Jail

MINSK -- Basketball player Alena Leuchanka , one of Belarus 's best-known athletes , has been rearrested after serving 15 days in jail for taking part in ongoing protests against authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
The athlete 's father , Stsyapan Leuchanka , told RFE/RL that his daughter was placed under 72-hour preliminary arrest on October 15 immediately after she left a detention center where her relatives and dozens of supporters gathered to greet her .
It was not clear why Leuchanka was rearrested .
A Minsk court sentenced Leuchanka to 15 days in jail on September 30 after finding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings .
Earlier that day , Leuchanka , a member of the Free Association of Athletes ( SOS BY ) movement , was detained at the Minsk airport as she attempted to leave the country for medical treatment .
Leuchanka is one of the most well-known athletes of Belarus , having played basketball for the national team , as well as in Russia 's Superleague and the WNBA in the United States .
Several prominent Belarusian athletes have been handed jail terms of 10 to 15 days for their open support of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation .
In August , nearly 350 Belarusian athletes and other members of the sports community threw down the gauntlet to Lukashenka by signing an open letter calling for an August 9 presidential election to be annulled and for all `` political prisoners '' and those detained during mass demonstrations that followed to be released .
The demonstrators say the vote was rigged in Lukashenka 's favor and are demanding that he step down and hold new elections .
Lukashenka , who has refused to resign , had himself secretly sworn in on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and abroad .
Western governments have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus and have called on him to peacefully transfer power .

MINSK -- Former WNBA and Belarusian national basketball team star Alena Leuchanka has been fined following a brief rearrest after she served 15 days in jail for taking part in ongoing protests against authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Her father, Stsyapan Leuchanka, told RFE/RL that his daughter was placed under 72-hour preliminary arrest on October 15 immediately after she left a detention center where her relatives and dozens of supporters gathered to greet her.
She was then tried via videolink while being kept at the Akrestsin Street detention center in Minsk as riot policemen waited in a minibus outside the facility.
She was fined 810 Belarusian rubles ($314) for participating in an unauthorized protest action on September 20, reportedly a different one from the one that prompted her just-completed jail sentence, before once again being released.
The evidence against her reportedly included an Instagram image of Leuchanka carrying a sign that read "People -- champion."
Leuchanka refused to testify in the proceedings and said she had not been allowed access to a lawyer after being presented with the new charge the day before.
Leuchanka complained of the conditions during her two-week stint in jail, saying it had exacerbated chronic ailments.
A Minsk court had sentenced Leuchanka to 15 days in jail on September 30 after finding her guilty of violating regulations on public gatherings.
Earlier that day, Leuchanka, a member of the Free Association of Athletes (SOS BY) movement, was detained at the Minsk airport as she attempted to leave the country for medical treatment.
Leuchanka is one of Belarus's best-known athletes, having played basketball for the national team as well as in Russia's Superleague and the WNBA in the United States.
Several prominent Belarusian athletes have been handed jail terms of 10 to 15 days for their open support of the ongoing protests, demanding Lukashenka's resignation.
In August, nearly 350 Belarusian athletes and other members of the sports community threw down the gauntlet to Lukashenka by signing an open letter calling for an August 9 presidential election to be annulled and for all "political prisoners" and those detained during mass demonstrations that followed to be released.
The demonstrators say the vote was rigged in Lukashenka's favor and are demanding that he step down and hold new elections.
Lukashenka, who has refused to resign, had himself secretly sworn in on September 23, sparking outrage at home and abroad.
Western governments have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus and have called on him to peacefully transfer power.


rferl--2020-10-15--Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov Resigns Following Unrest Over General Elections

Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned following mass protests against official results of parliamentary elections that handed victory to political parties associated with him and his government .
In a statement on October 15 , Jeenbekov said that he decided to resign `` because peace and unity in our country is more important than any post . ''
`` I am not holding onto power .
I do not want to be known in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who spilled blood and shot at his own citizens , '' he said .
`` So I decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his approval of parliament ’ s decision a day earlier to elect Sadyr Japarov as the country 's new prime minister , `` the aggressive moods did not disappear and calls for my resignation continued . ''
His statement said that protesters and law enforcement officers are `` currently on the edge of clashes '' and should `` stay away from provocations . ''
Jeenbekov also called on supporters of Japarov and other political figures to stop ongoing rallies .
Until supporters broke him out of jail on October 6 , Japarov had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being convicted in 2017 of taking a government official hostage and other crimes .
A court struck down the verdict last week during the unrest .
His October 14 confirmation as prime minister moved Kyrgyzstan toward resolving the crisis sparked by the demonstrations over the official results of October 4 parliamentary elections .
The election results were annulled after protesters -- angry at signs of vote-buying and other improprieties during the election -- seized government buildings on October 6 .
Jeenbekov , in one of his first statements after the mass protests ousted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he was willing to resign after a new cabinet was formed and the situation in the country had calmed .
It is the third time in 15 years that public protests have brought down a president in the former Soviet republic in Central Asia .

A convicted kidnapper who was sprung from prison and made prime minister this week amid unrest following Kyrgyzstsan's disputed election told a crowd outside the government building late on October 15 that the president has resigned and "all power is in my hands from now on."
Prime Minister Sadyr Japarov's declaration came hours after President Sooronbai Jeenbekov announced his resignation via his official website in the face of mass protests against the official results of parliamentary elections on October 4 that handed victory to political parties associated with Jeenbekov and his government.
"Former President Sooronbai Jeenbekov has resigned. The parliament speaker said it was impossible to perform [the president's] duties and resigned. Today, the duties of the acting president and the prime minister have passed to me," Japarov told the early evening crowd in downtown Bishkek.
"Thank you very much, you can go home now."
It was initially unclear how protesters who have mobilized in recent weeks to support various factions would respond to the declaration, or whether other senior officials would accede to Japarov's move.
Parliament was expected to convene on October 16.
Jeenbekov made no public appearances on October 15.
In a statement on his website earlier in the day, Jeenbekov said that he had decided to resign "because peace and unity in our country is more important than any post."
He would be the third Kyrgyz president in 15 years to be pushed out of office during a popular upheaval.
"I am not holding onto power. I do not want to be known in the history of Kyrgyzstan as a president who spilled blood and shot at his own citizens," he said. "So I decided to resign."
Jeenbekov said that despite his approval of parliament’s decision a day earlier to elect Japarov as the country's new prime minister, "the aggressive moods did not disappear and calls for my resignation continued."
His statement noted that protesters and law enforcement officers were "currently on the edge of clashes" and should "stay away from provocations."
Jeenbekov also called on supporters of Japarov and other political figures to stop ongoing rallies to ease tensions.
Japarov was released from a prison in the initial days of mass protests sparked by allegations of vote-buying and other improprieties during the October 4 parliamentary elections. Japaraov was serving a lengthy term after being convicted of kidnapping in 2017.
His supporters continued rallies in downtown Bishkek after Jeenbekov's resignation was made public, this time chanting "Japarov is our president!"
They were also demanding parliament's dissolution and the resignation of legislative speaker Kanatbek Isaev.
Isaev was voted in as parliament speaker on October 13 in what appeared to be a move to make way for a transition to ease the postelection tensions.
According to the Kyrgyz Constitution, before the election of a new president, parliament's speaker is to run the country as acting president.
But Isaev told the online media outlet 24.kg that he had "no moral right" to the presidency because of the lame duck status of the parliament, which faces a rerun of the disputed election.
Some lawmakers suggested on October 15 that they would believe the president had stepped down only after he appeared in public to confirm that he resigned of his own free will.
They said their skepticism was fueled by the insistence of about a dozen politicians, who met with Jeenbekov early in the morning on October 15, and said he told them that he was not going to step down and planned to stay in office until a new parliament was elected.
Japarov's October 14 confirmation as prime minister moved Kyrgyzstan toward resolving the crisis sparked by the demonstrations over the official results of October 4 parliamentary elections.
The election results were annulled after protesters -- angry at signs of vote-buying and other improprieties during the election -- seized government buildings on October 6.
Jeenbekov, in one of his first statements after the mass protests ousted the government and parliament's speaker, said he was willing to resign after a new cabinet was formed and the situation in the country had calmed.
It is the third time in 15 years that public protests have brought down a president in the former Soviet republic in Central Asia.
With reporting by 24.kg


rferl--2020-10-15--Rights Group: Syrian-Russian Attacks On Rebel-Held Idlib May Amount To Crimes Against Humanity

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) says the Syrian government and its Russian ally have shown “ callous disregard ” for the lives of millions of civilians during their military offensive to retake the last rebel-held enclave in northwestern Syria .
In a report released on October 15 , the New York-based human rights group said indiscriminate air and ground attacks on civilian areas in Idlib Province may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity .
“ The repeated Syrian-Russian alliance attacks on civilian infrastructure in populated areas in which there was no apparent military objective suggests that these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in its report , titled Targeting Life in Idlib : Syrian and Russian Strikes on Civilian Infrastructure .
According to the report , dozens of air and ground strikes on hospitals , schools , and markets during an 11-month period spanning from April 2019 to March killed hundreds of civilians .
The attacks may have been intended to “ deprive local residents of the means to sustain themselves , to force the civilian population to flee and make it easier for Syrian ground forces to take territory , or simply to instill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to achieve victory , ” it said .
Russia ’ s military intervention in Syria in 2015 turned the tide of the war , allowing President Bashar al-Assad ’ s forces to regain control over much of the country ’ s territory and population .
The Syrian government has vowed to retake Idlib Province , which is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , Syria 's former Al-Qaeda affiliate .
The group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States , United Nations , and Russia .
Idlib hosts nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowded into refugee camps after being previously displaced from other parts of Syria .
In April 2019 , the Syrian government and Russia launched a large military offensive to retake Idlib and surrounding areas in northwestern Syria , saying that their forces were coming under attack from rebel factions and were countering “ terrorism.
” After pro-government forces retook as much as half the province , a fragile cease-fire negotiated by Russia and Turkey in March 2020 has reduced fighting .
The offensive killed at least 1,600 civilians , destroyed and damaged civilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated 1.4 million people , according to HRW .
The watchdog said it had documented 46 ground and air attacks , including the use of cluster munitions , carried out by the Syrian-Russian alliance on civilian areas , including homes , schools , health-care facilities , and markets .
These strikes killed at least 212 civilians and wounded 560 .
Although only a fraction of total attacks , “ they reveal repeated violations of the laws of war that were apparent war crimes , and may amount to crimes against humanity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority of attacks targeted civilian areas where there was no legitimate military target , far from active fighting between Syrian government forces and anti-government armed groups .
Damage caused to infrastructure has since made many towns and villages unlivable , with food , water , shelter , health care , and education all lacking .
Making the situation worse , both Russia and Syria worked to hinder humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in need .
Meanwhile , “ the chance of renewed fighting , and the dangers to civilians , loom large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report names 10 senior Syrian and Russian civilian and military officials who may be responsible for possible war crimes because they knew or should have known about the abuses and did nothing to stop them or punish those directly responsible .
Among them are Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin , as well as top military commanders from both countries .
“ Given the lack of accountability in Syria and Russia , as well as the deadlock in the UN Security Council that has prevented the situation in Syria from being referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should consider unilateral targeted sanctions against those senior officials and commanders credibly implicated in abuses , ” HRW said .
Syria ’ s brutal nine-year war has claimed more than 400,000 lives , displaced over 6 million internally , and forced at least another 5.5 million to live as refugees , according to UN agencies .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the Syrian government and its Russian ally have shown “callous disregard” for the lives of millions of civilians during their military offensive to retake the last rebel-held enclave in northwestern Syria.
In a report released on October 15, the New York-based human rights group said indiscriminate air and ground attacks on civilian areas in Idlib Province may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“The repeated Syrian-Russian alliance attacks on civilian infrastructure in populated areas in which there was no apparent military objective suggests that these unlawful attacks were deliberate,” HRW said in its report, titled Targeting Life in Idlib: Syrian and Russian Strikes on Civilian Infrastructure.
According to the report, dozens of air and ground strikes on hospitals, schools, and markets during an 11-month period spanning from April 2019 to March killed hundreds of civilians.
The attacks may have been intended to “deprive local residents of the means to sustain themselves, to force the civilian population to flee and make it easier for Syrian ground forces to take territory, or simply to instill terror in the civilian population as a way to achieve victory,” it said.
Russia’s military intervention in Syria in 2015 turned the tide of the war, allowing President Bashar al-Assad’s forces to regain control over much of the country’s territory and population.
The Syrian government has vowed to retake Idlib Province, which is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, United Nations, and Russia.
Idlib hosts nearly 3 million civilians, many of them crowded into refugee camps after being previously displaced from other parts of Syria.
In April 2019, the Syrian government and Russia launched a large military offensive to retake Idlib and surrounding areas in northwestern Syria, saying that their forces were coming under attack from rebel factions and were countering “terrorism.”
After pro-government forces retook as much as half the province, a fragile cease-fire negotiated by Russia and Turkey in March 2020 has reduced fighting.
The offensive killed at least 1,600 civilians, destroyed and damaged civilian infrastructure, and forced the displacement of an estimated 1.4 million people, according to HRW.
The watchdog said it had documented 46 ground and air attacks, including the use of cluster munitions, carried out by the Syrian-Russian alliance on civilian areas, including homes, schools, health-care facilities, and markets.
These strikes killed at least 212 civilians and wounded 560.
Although only a fraction of total attacks, “they reveal repeated violations of the laws of war that were apparent war crimes, and may amount to crimes against humanity,” HRW said.
The report found the majority of attacks targeted civilian areas where there was no legitimate military target, far from active fighting between Syrian government forces and anti-government armed groups.
Damage caused to infrastructure has since made many towns and villages unlivable, with food, water, shelter, health care, and education all lacking. Making the situation worse, both Russia and Syria worked to hinder humanitarian aid from reaching civilians in need.
Meanwhile, “the chance of renewed fighting, and the dangers to civilians, loom large,” according to HRW.
The report names 10 senior Syrian and Russian civilian and military officials who may be responsible for possible war crimes because they knew or should have known about the abuses and did nothing to stop them or punish those directly responsible.
Among them are Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as top military commanders from both countries.
“Given the lack of accountability in Syria and Russia, as well as the deadlock in the UN Security Council that has prevented the situation in Syria from being referred to the International Criminal Court, concerned governments should consider unilateral targeted sanctions against those senior officials and commanders credibly implicated in abuses,” HRW said.
Syria’s brutal nine-year war has claimed more than 400,000 lives, displaced over 6 million internally, and forced at least another 5.5 million to live as refugees, according to UN agencies.


rferl--2020-10-15--Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Shelled After Brief Lull In Fighting

The capital of Azerbaijan 's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh came under artillery fire on October 15 after a shaky pause in shelling brought on by a five-day-old cease-fire brokered by Russia , according to Yerevan and ethnic Armenian separatists in the province .
The renewed attacks on Stepanakert further erode hopes for an early break in the heavy fighting that flared up two weeks ago .
There are fears that the decades-old Caucasus conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region could spread into a wider conflagration involving allies Turkey and Russia .
“ Five days into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cessation of fire , and Azerbaijan continues to torpedo its implementation , ” Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian tweeted .
Armenia 's Defense Ministry said Azerbaijani forces in the morning had resumed “ intense artillery fire ” targeting sections of the Line of Contact that has separated the Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian sides in northeastern and southeastern Karabakh .
`` Heavy fighting is now under way at the same sections , ” a ministry spokesman wrote on Facebook .
Meanwhile , the emergency services arm of the de facto leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` civilian targets '' in Stepanakert .
An AFP journalist there reported hearing nine blasts and said smoke could be seen rising near residential buildings on the outskirts of the city , which normally has around 55,000 of Nagorno-Karabakh 's 150,000 or so residents .
Stepanakert has been bombed repeatedly since fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces erupted late last month in clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives , including civilians .
The ethnic Armenian authorities who have controlled Nagorno-Karabakh for decades with Yerevan 's backing said on October 14 that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation in Stepanakert had been calm since the longstanding ex-Soviet rivals agreed to halt fighting last week to exchange prisoners and the remains of those killed in the fighting .
Armenia on October 15 accused Turkey of blocking flights carrying emergency aid from using its airspace , as the fresh fighting threatened to pitch the region into a humanitarian crisis .
Regional power Turkey is Azerbaijan 's main ally , and has been accused by Armenia of backing Baku with military equipment and fighters .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian acknowledged on October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to withdraw from positions in the north and south , describing the situation as `` very serious . ''
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but is mostly populated by ethnic Armenians .
Azerbaijan 's president , Ilham Aliyev , said on October 15 that he believed the conflict might finally be solved after almost 30 years of talks , but warned that his army would take all regions around the enclave if Armenia continued to `` act negatively . ''
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV , Aliyev said his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five major regions and that they would take them all unless Yerevan agreed to withdraw from the area under a specific timeline .
With reporting by AFP , Interfax , and Reuters

The capital of Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh came under artillery fire on October 15 after a shaky pause in shelling brought on by a five-day-old cease-fire brokered by Russia, according to Yerevan and ethnic Armenian separatists in the province.
The renewed attacks on Stepanakert further erode hopes for an early break in the heavy fighting that flared up two weeks ago.
There are fears that the decades-old Caucasus conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region could spread into a wider conflagration involving allies Turkey and Russia.
“Five days into the Moscow Joint Statement of October 10 on cessation of fire, and Azerbaijan continues to torpedo its implementation,” Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian tweeted.
Armenia's Defense Ministry said Azerbaijani forces in the morning had resumed “intense artillery fire” targeting sections of the Line of Contact that has separated the Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian sides in northeastern and southeastern Karabakh.
"Heavy fighting is now under way at the same sections,” a ministry spokesman wrote on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the emergency services arm of the de facto leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh wrote on Facebook that Azerbaijani forces had struck "civilian targets" in Stepanakert.
An AFP journalist there reported hearing nine blasts and said smoke could be seen rising near residential buildings on the outskirts of the city, which normally has around 55,000 of Nagorno-Karabakh's 150,000 or so residents.
Stepanakert has been bombed repeatedly since fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces erupted late last month in clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives, including civilians.
The ethnic Armenian authorities who have controlled Nagorno-Karabakh for decades with Yerevan's backing said on October 14 that their forces had lost 555 fighters.
The situation in Stepanakert had been calm since the longstanding ex-Soviet rivals agreed to halt fighting last week to exchange prisoners and the remains of those killed in the fighting.
Armenia on October 15 accused Turkey of blocking flights carrying emergency aid from using its airspace, as the fresh fighting threatened to pitch the region into a humanitarian crisis.
Regional power Turkey is Azerbaijan's main ally, and has been accused by Armenia of backing Baku with military equipment and fighters.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian acknowledged on October 14 that separatist fighters had been forced to withdraw from positions in the north and south, describing the situation as "very serious."
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but is mostly populated by ethnic Armenians.
Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, said on October 15 that he believed the conflict might finally be solved after almost 30 years of talks, but warned that his army would take all regions around the enclave if Armenia continued to "act negatively."
Speaking to Turkish broadcaster NTV, Aliyev said his military already controlled two of Nagorno-Karabakh's five major regions and that they would take them all unless Yerevan agreed to withdraw from the area under a specific timeline.
With reporting by AFP, Interfax, and Reuters


rferl--2020-10-15--ECHR Rejects Turkey's Bid To Lift Interim Measure Requested By Armenia

The European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) has rejected a Turkish request to rescind a ruling urging all states involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to avoid putting civilians at risk and to respect their obligations to respect human rights under a European convention .
The Strasbourg-based ECHR 's decision , outlined in a press release on October 14 , was a response to an Armenian request after the start of the latest outbreak of fighting in the breakaway region .
Yerevan on September 28 requested that the Court take action known as an interim measure against Azerbaijan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the targeting of the civilian population and civilian settlements along the Line Of Contact between the two sides .
The ECHR on September 29 issued an interim measure saying that `` the current situation gives rise to a risk of serious violations of the [ European ] Convention [ on Human Rights ] '' and called upon both Azerbaijan and Armenia `` to refrain from taking any measures , in particular military action , which might entail breaches of the Convention rights of the civilian population , including putting their life and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their engagements under the Convention . ''
On October 6 , the court reissued the interim measure , based on what it said was evidence indicating that `` certain Contracting States ( participating in the European Convention on Human Rights ) were directly or indirectly involved in the conflict . ''
Although it was not addressed solely to Turkey , but to all the states concerned , the reissued measure prompted Ankara to request on October 7 that the court reconsider its decision , arguing that it was directed against the Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the conflict over the separatist region controlled by ethnic Armenians backed by Yerevan , saying that mediation led by France , the United States , and Russia was stalling and that Nagorno-Karabakh must be given back to Azerbaijan .
The court said on October 14 that the serious escalation in the conflict and the danger it posed to civilians prompted it to reject Turkey 's request and declined to rescind its October 6 ruling .
`` Having examined the objections expressed by the Government of Turkey and again taking account of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Court does not find any reason to amend its decision or to lift any part of the interim measure previously indicated . ''
The statement reiterated that the interim measure represented `` an urgent action in situations where it perceives an imminent risk of irreparable harm '' to civilians , but added that it could be amended in future if the situation improves .
`` The indication is of a provisional nature and does not prejudge any subsequent examinations as to the admissibility and merits of the case in question which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the statement said .
Both sides say that scores of civilians have been killed in the conflict along with hundreds of troops .


rferl--2020-10-15--Italian Officials Imprisoned Over 'Unlawful' Deportation Of Former Kazakh Banker's Wife, Daughter

Seven senior former Italian police and immigration officials have received prison sentences for their roles in the `` unlawful '' deportation of the wife and daughter of fugitive Kazakh banker and opposition organizer politician Mukhtar Ablyazov seven years ago .
A court in the central Italian city of Perugia on October 14 sentenced a former chief commissioner and other ex-commanders , a judge , and the onetime head of the immigration office in the capital , to prison terms of between 2 1/2 and five years .
Ablyazov has been accused by Kazakh authorities of embezzling billions during his tenure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest banks in a case that he and his supporters say is politically motivated .
He has resided in Europe for more than a decade .
Ablyazov 's wife , Alma Shalabaeva , and the couple 's 6-year-old daughter Alua were taken into custody in an Italian raid in 2013 and forcibly returned to Kazakhstan in a case that sparked public outrage .
Kazakh authorities allowed Shalabaeva and her daughter to return to Italy six months later following appeals by the Italian government , and they were eventually granted refugee status .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the deportations were `` manifestly illegitimate . ''
Ablyazov , a former CEO of BTA bank , has reportedly continued to organize activities in Kazakhstan for his Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement , including protest rallies throughout the country .
Late last month , a French court granted Ablyazov asylum in a ruling that cited `` obvious attempts by outside agents to exert influence on the asylum authorities . ''
Earlier this month , Ablyazov was charged in Paris with embezzling $ 7.5 billion before BTA 's nationalization in a case brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his lawyers .

Seven senior former Italian police and immigration officials have received prison sentences for their roles in the "unlawful" deportation of the wife and daughter of fugitive Kazakh banker and opposition organizer politician Mukhtar Ablyazov seven years ago.
A court in the central Italian city of Perugia on October 14 sentenced a former chief commissioner and other ex-commanders, a judge, and the onetime head of the immigration office in the capital, to prison terms of between 2 1/2 and five years.
Ablyazov has been accused by Kazakh authorities of embezzling billions during his tenure at one of that post-Soviet country's biggest banks in a case that he and his supporters say is politically motivated.
He has resided in Europe for more than a decade.
Ablyazov's wife, Alma Shalabaeva, and the couple's 6-year-old daughter Alua were taken into custody in an Italian raid in 2013 and forcibly returned to Kazakhstan in a case that sparked public outrage.
Kazakh authorities allowed Shalabaeva and her daughter to return to Italy six months later following appeals by the Italian government, and they were eventually granted refugee status.
In mid-2014, an Italian high court ruled that the deportations were "manifestly illegitimate."
Ablyazov, a former CEO of BTA bank, has reportedly continued to organize activities in Kazakhstan for his Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, including protest rallies throughout the country.
Late last month, a French court granted Ablyazov asylum in a ruling that cited "obvious attempts by outside agents to exert influence on the asylum authorities."
Earlier this month, Ablyazov was charged in Paris with embezzling $7.5 billion before BTA's nationalization in a case brought by Kazakhstan, according to one of his lawyers.
With reporting by La Repubblica