rferl--2020-03-17--U.S. Drops Criminal Case Against Russian Company Accused Of Election Interference

WASHINGTON -- The United States has dropped its criminal case against a company controlled by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin that allegedly funded an infamous social-media campaign to meddle in the 2016 presidential elections .
The Justice Department announced on March 16 that it was withdrawing the eight-count indictment of Concord Management and Consulting , a company owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin , a man dubbed “ Putin ’ s chef , ” to avoid disclosing investigative techniques to the Russians .
The United States had accused Concord Management of funding the Internet Research Agency , the St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media and created fake online accounts among other tactics with the aim of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and boosting then-candidate Donald Trump 's prospects .
Special Counsel Robert Mueller , who led the two-year U.S. investigation into Russian interference , filed the criminal complaint against Concord Management , Concord Catering , the Internet Research Agency , and 13 Russian individuals , including Prigozhin , in February 2018 .
Concord Management has used its legal rights to obtain information from the United States regarding the government ’ s efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference '' while ignoring all of its other obligations as a defendant , the Justice Department said in its filing to dismiss the case .
“ The government has concluded that further proceedings as to Concord , a Russian company with no presence in the United States and no exposure to meaningful punishment in the event of a conviction , promotes neither the interests of justice nor the nation ’ s security , ” it said .
The Justice Department is also seeking to drop the case against Concord Catering , another firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason , it said in the filing .

WASHINGTON -- The United States has dropped its criminal case against a company controlled by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin that allegedly funded an infamous social-media campaign to meddle in the 2016 presidential elections.
The Justice Department announced on March 16 that it was withdrawing the eight-count indictment of Concord Management and Consulting, a company owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a man dubbed “Putin’s chef,” to avoid disclosing investigative techniques to the Russians.
The United States had accused Concord Management of funding the Internet Research Agency, the St. Petersburg-based troll factory that pumped out disinformation on social media and created fake online accounts among other tactics with the aim of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and boosting then-candidate Donald Trump's prospects.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who led the two-year U.S. investigation into Russian interference, filed the criminal complaint against Concord Management, Concord Catering, the Internet Research Agency, and 13 Russian individuals, including Prigozhin, in February 2018.
Concord Management has used its legal rights to obtain information from the United States regarding the government’s efforts "to detect and deter foreign election interference" while ignoring all of its other obligations as a defendant, the Justice Department said in its filing to dismiss the case.
“The government has concluded that further proceedings as to Concord, a Russian company with no presence in the United States and no exposure to meaningful punishment in the event of a conviction, promotes neither the interests of justice nor the nation’s security,” it said.
The Justice Department is also seeking to drop the case against Concord Catering, another firm owned by Prigozhin, for the same reason, it said in the filing.


rferl--2020-03-17--Zelenskiy Calls On Oligarchs To Help Finance Virus Fight As China's Ma Donates Testing Kits

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on the nation ’ s wealthiest businessmen to donate funds and equipment to help fight the coronavirus inside the country .
Zelenskiy met with the top business owners at his office in Kyiv on March 16 as the country registered its fifth case of the COVID-19 infection .
The president said he told the tycoons that the country needed 500 ambulances and as much as 13 billion hryvnya ( $ 490 million ) for medicine .
“ Business should be socially responsible during diffucult times for the government .
Ukrainians should feel protected when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I insist that you help now , ” Zelenskiy told the businessmen .
Ukraine is one of Europe ’ s poorest countries with an outdated and underfunded health-care system that could be quickly overwhelmed if coronavirus cases spike inside the country .
The attendees included among others Rinat Akhmetov , the nation ’ s wealthiest man , and Ihor Kolomoyskiy , a billionaire who has business ties with Zelenskiy and was seen by many as being one of his main backers during his presidential campaign last year .
Akhmetov donated four artificial lung-ventilation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as hazmat suits , thermometers , and face masks .
Viktor Pinchuk , the billionaire owner of a pipe company , has donated 10 lung-ventilation devices to hospitals in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine .
Akhmetov , Kolomoyskiy , and Pinchuk made their initial wealth by scooping up Ukrainian state assets on the cheap during the turbulent 1990s in a process that many citizens consider to have been unfair .
They are among a group of businessmen , known as oligarchs , that control a massive swath of the Ukrainian economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilation devices in the United States for delivery to Ukraine .
Jack Ma , the billionaire founder of the Alibaba Group , one of China ’ s largest technology companies , financed the purchase of 1 million coronavirus testing kits for Ukraine at a cost of $ 80 million , Zelenskiy said .
The testing kits will arrive on March 21 from China , he added .
With reporting by AFP and Kyiv Post

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on the nation’s wealthiest businessmen to donate funds and equipment to help fight the coronavirus inside the country.
Zelenskiy met with the top business owners at his office in Kyiv on March 16 as the country registered its fifth case of the COVID-19 infection. The president said he told the tycoons that the country needed 500 ambulances and as much as 13 billion hryvnya ($490 million) for medicine.
“Business should be socially responsible during diffucult times for the government. Ukrainians should feel protected when they go to state hospitals. And I insist that you help now,” Zelenskiy told the businessmen.
Ukraine is one of Europe’s poorest countries with an outdated and underfunded health-care system that could be quickly overwhelmed if coronavirus cases spike inside the country.
The attendees included among others Rinat Akhmetov, the nation’s wealthiest man, and Ihor Kolomoyskiy, a billionaire who has business ties with Zelenskiy and was seen by many as being one of his main backers during his presidential campaign last year.
Akhmetov donated four artificial lung-ventilation devices to the Health Ministry as well as hazmat suits, thermometers, and face masks.
Viktor Pinchuk, the billionaire owner of a pipe company, has donated 10 lung-ventilation devices to hospitals in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine.
Akhmetov, Kolomoyskiy, and Pinchuk made their initial wealth by scooping up Ukrainian state assets on the cheap during the turbulent 1990s in a process that many citizens consider to have been unfair.
They are among a group of businessmen, known as oligarchs, that control a massive swath of the Ukrainian economy.
Several other wealthy businessmen are purchasing used ventilation devices in the United States for delivery to Ukraine.
Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of the Alibaba Group, one of China’s largest technology companies, financed the purchase of 1 million coronavirus testing kits for Ukraine at a cost of $80 million, Zelenskiy said. The testing kits will arrive on March 21 from China, he added.
With reporting by AFP and Kyiv Post


rferl--2020-03-17--Russian President Signs Decree For National Vote On Constitutional Amendments

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree for a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that open the possibility of him remaining in power for a further 16 years .
Putin on March 17 signed the decree setting the date for April 22 , but he said the referendum could be postponed `` if the situation requires , '' as Russia , along with the rest of the world , battles to stem the coronavirus pandemic .
Central Election Commission Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova , who met with Putin , said that `` in the complicated epidemiological situation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will hold this vote only if this situation allows for holding such events . ''
Russia , which has reported nearly 100 cases of the virus so far but no deaths , has taken measures to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus , including a ban on the entry of most foreign nationals until at least May 1 .
On March 16 , Russia 's Constitutional Court approved the constitutional amendments , after both chambers of the national parliament and all Russian regions backed the controversial bill .
Final approval will require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s voters in the referendum .
The legislation sets Putin 's previous presidential term count back to zero because of the sweeping changes to the constitution .
Putin 's current term , his second consecutive six-year term , was slated to end in 2024 .
The previous rules forbade him from running for a third consecutive mandate , but that changes with the provisions of the amendments , meaning he can seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024 , and conceivably a sixth in 2030 .
Putin , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia as a president or prime minister for more than 20 years .
With reporting by Reuters and Interfax

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree for a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that open the possibility of him remaining in power for a further 16 years.
Putin on March 17 signed the decree setting the date for April 22, but he said the referendum could be postponed "if the situation requires," as Russia, along with the rest of the world, battles to stem the coronavirus pandemic.
Central Election Commission Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova, who met with Putin, said that "in the complicated epidemiological situation that is evolving in the world...we will hold this vote only if this situation allows for holding such events."
Russia, which has reported nearly 100 cases of the virus so far but no deaths, has taken measures to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including a ban on the entry of most foreign nationals until at least May 1.
On March 16, Russia's Constitutional Court approved the constitutional amendments, after both chambers of the national parliament and all Russian regions backed the controversial bill.
Final approval will require the support of more than half of the country’s voters in the referendum.
The legislation sets Putin's previous presidential term count back to zero because of the sweeping changes to the constitution.
Putin's current term, his second consecutive six-year term, was slated to end in 2024. The previous rules forbade him from running for a third consecutive mandate, but that changes with the provisions of the amendments, meaning he can seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024, and conceivably a sixth in 2030.
Putin, a 67-year-old former KGB officer, has ruled Russia as a president or prime minister for more than 20 years.
With reporting by Reuters and Interfax


rferl--2020-03-17--Russia Urged To Drop Terrorism Charges Against Journalist Prokopyeva

The representative on freedom of the media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) has expressed `` serious concerns '' about the ongoing prosecution of Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva .
OSCE representative Harlem Desir on March 17 reiterated his call for Russian authorities to drop the terrorism charges brought against Prokopyeva , saying she `` had no involvement in any terrorist activity or an intention to condone terrorism . ''
Desir 's plea came a day after Prokopyeva , a freelance contributor for RFE/RL 's Russian Service , said she had been handed an indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pskov .
Prokopyeva has denies the charge .
She describes the criminal case against her as an attempt to `` murder the freedom of speech '' in Russia .
If convicted , she faces up to seven years in prison .
The charges against Prokopyeva stem from a November 2018 commentary for the Pskov affiliate of Ekho Moskvy in which she discussed a bombing that occurred the previous week outside the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) offices in the far northern city of Arkhangelsk .
Russian media reported that the suspected bomber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion , had posted statements on social media accusing the FSB of falsifying criminal cases .
In her commentary , Prokopyeva linked the teenager 's statements to the political climate in Russia under President Vladimir Putin .
She suggested that political activism in the country was severely restricted , leading people to despair .
In his March 17 statement , Desir said that `` her comments , however critical , had nothing to do with the promotion or support of terrorism . ''
RFE/RL President Jamie Fly has said the charges were brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to silence an independent journalist . ''
The case has drawn criticism from media rights groups like Reporters Without Borders , the Committee to Protect Journalists , and the European Federation of Journalists .

The representative on freedom of the media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed "serious concerns" about the ongoing prosecution of Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva.
OSCE representative Harlem Desir on March 17 reiterated his call for Russian authorities to drop the terrorism charges brought against Prokopyeva, saying she "had no involvement in any terrorist activity or an intention to condone terrorism."
Desir's plea came a day after Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor for RFE/RL's Russian Service, said she had been handed an indictment document at the prosecutor's office in Pskov.
Prokopyeva has denies the charge. She describes the criminal case against her as an attempt to "murder the freedom of speech" in Russia.
If convicted, she faces up to seven years in prison.
The charges against Prokopyeva stem from a November 2018 commentary for the Pskov affiliate of Ekho Moskvy in which she discussed a bombing that occurred the previous week outside the Federal Security Service (FSB) offices in the far northern city of Arkhangelsk.
Russian media reported that the suspected bomber, a teenager who died in the explosion, had posted statements on social media accusing the FSB of falsifying criminal cases.
In her commentary, Prokopyeva linked the teenager's statements to the political climate in Russia under President Vladimir Putin. She suggested that political activism in the country was severely restricted, leading people to despair.
In his March 17 statement, Desir said that "her comments, however critical, had nothing to do with the promotion or support of terrorism."
RFE/RL President Jamie Fly has said the charges were brought against Prokopyeva "in a cynical effort to silence an independent journalist."
The case has drawn criticism from media rights groups like Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and the European Federation of Journalists.


rferl--2020-03-17--Russian Writer, Dissident Eduard Limonov Dies At Age 77 In Moscow

Russian writer Eduard Limonov , founder of a radical nationalist political party called The Other Russia , has died at @ @ @ @ @ Moscow .
The Other Russia announced Limonov 's death on its website on March 17 @ @ @ @ @ the cause of his death .
Limonov also co-founded Russia 's oldest radical youth organization @ @ @ @ @ Party ( NBP ) , in 1994 together with Eurasianism ideologue Aleksandr Dugin , rock @ @ @ @ @ Kurikhin , and other counterculture personalities .
However , Dugin and his allies split with @ @ @ @ @ the NBP .
As an opposition leader , Limonov led protests against Russian President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ some support for Putin after the Kremlin 's 2014 military seizure and annexation of the @ @ @ @ @ Basd on reporting by Meduza , Interfax , TASS , and AFP

Russian writer Eduard Limonov, founder of a radical nationalist political party called The Other Russia, has died at the age of 77 in Moscow.
The Other Russia announced Limonov's death on its website on March 17. It did not reveal the cause of his death.
Limonov also co-founded Russia's oldest radical youth organization, the banned National Bolshevik Party (NBP), in 1994 together with Eurasianism ideologue Aleksandr Dugin, rock musicians Yego Letov and Sergei Kurikhin, and other counterculture personalities.
However, Dugin and his allies split with Limonov in 1998 and left the NBP.
As an opposition leader, Limonov led protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But Limonov expressed some support for Putin after the Kremlin's 2014 military seizure and annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
Basd on reporting by Meduza, Interfax, TASS, and AFP


rferl--2020-03-17--U.S. Group Praises Georgia For 'Spectacular' Gains On Economic Freedom, Blasts Iran, Turkmenistan

Georgia has placed 12th in the Heritage Foundation 's global Index of Economic Freedom for 2020 , continuing what the conservative Washington-based think tank called its `` spectacular '' rise among the `` mostly free '' economies of the world .
Armenia and Bulgaria also placed in the `` mostly free '' category in the report published on March 17 , ranking 34th and 36th , respectively .
The harshest language was directed at Iran and Turkmenistan , which ranked near the bottom in the `` repressed '' category .
The Heritage Foundation -- which looked at the rule of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and open markets -- said the average economic-freedom rating for the current report was the highest ever recorded in the index 's 26-year history .
The report said Georgia , which ranked sixth among 45 European countries , increased its ranking with `` noticeable improvements on all indicators related to the rule of law . ''
`` The Georgian economy continues its spectacular , seven-year run up the ranks of the 'mostly free , ' '' it said , adding that the South Caucasus country 's gross domestic product ( GDP ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy rate for the past five years . ''
The report also praised Tbilisi 's efforts to reduce corruption , slash regulations , and simplify taxes .
`` A top-10 ranking will require even more intensive efforts to improve perceptions of government integrity and judicial effectiveness .
A good first step to avoid controversies over judicial appointments would be legislative action to protect the independence of the judiciary , '' it said .
In neighboring Armenia , Heritage said that `` economic freedom has remained fairly constant '' over the past 15 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'moderately free ' and 'mostly free . '
'' `` GDP growth in the past two years has been especially robust as the economy has rebounded from a 2015-16 regional slowdown .
The government is pursuing structural reforms , export promotion , and greater foreign investment to boost future economic growth , '' according to the report .
`` To attract greater investment and finally break out of its holding pattern to move higher into the 'mostly free ' category , Armenia will need to focus more intently on improving judicial effectiveness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , which ranked 94th , moved up to the `` moderately free '' category for the first time , helped by what Heritage called a higher `` fiscal health '' score .
`` The Russian economy is ranked 'moderately free ' for the first time this year after more than a decade in the ranks of the 'mostly unfree . '
GDP growth has been weak over the past five years , burdened by structural weaknesses , low levels of investment , and a poor demographic outlook , but improved in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also criticized Moscow for pursuing `` statist , nationalist , and protectionist economic policies . ''
`` A subservient judiciary , rampant corruption , and links among bureaucrats and organized criminal groups compromise government integrity , '' making it difficult for the country to move up to the “ mostly free ” group , it added .
With RFE/RL 's broadcast area , Romania ( 38th place ) , Kazakhstan ( 39 ) , North Macedonia ( 41 ) , Azerbaijan ( 44 ) , Serbia ( 65 ) , Kyrgyzstan , ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Moldova ( 87 ) , Belarus ( 88 ) , and Montenegro ( 91 ) were also labeled `` moderately free . ''
Among the `` mostly unfree '' were Uzbekistan ( 114 ) , Ukraine ( 134 ) , Pakistan ( 135 ) , Afghanistan ( 136 ) , and Tajikistan ( 155 ) .
Near the bottom , in the `` repressed '' category , were Iran ( 164 ) and Turkmenistan ( 170 ) .
On Iran , the report said that `` powerful interest groups , mostly linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are opposed to the pursuit of economic liberalization and reengagement with the global economy . ''
`` Given Iran 's excessive reliance on the oil sector , sustainable economic growth will remain a long-term objective rather than a short-term possibility , '' it said .
Heritage described Turkmenistan , led by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov , as `` a repressive authoritarian state in which political rights and civil liberties are almost completely denied in practice . ''
`` Economic freedom is not attainable in any meaningful sense as the governing regime is currently constituted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hong Kong , New Zealand , Australia , Switzerland , and Ireland were ranked first through sixth and were the only countries to qualify as `` free '' economies .
Britain ranked seventh , while the United States was 17th and China was 103rd .

Georgia has placed 12th in the Heritage Foundation's global Index of Economic Freedom for 2020, continuing what the conservative Washington-based think tank called its "spectacular" rise among the "mostly free" economies of the world.
Armenia and Bulgaria also placed in the "mostly free" category in the report published on March 17, ranking 34th and 36th, respectively.
The harshest language was directed at Iran and Turkmenistan, which ranked near the bottom in the "repressed" category.
The Heritage Foundation -- which looked at the rule of law, government size, regulatory efficiency, and open markets -- said the average economic-freedom rating for the current report was the highest ever recorded in the index's 26-year history.
The report said Georgia, which ranked sixth among 45 European countries, increased its ranking with "noticeable improvements on all indicators related to the rule of law."
"The Georgian economy continues its spectacular, seven-year run up the ranks of the 'mostly free,'" it said, adding that the South Caucasus country's gross domestic product (GDP) "has also been expanding at a healthy rate for the past five years."
The report also praised Tbilisi's efforts to reduce corruption, slash regulations, and simplify taxes.
"A top-10 ranking will require even more intensive efforts to improve perceptions of government integrity and judicial effectiveness. A good first step to avoid controversies over judicial appointments would be legislative action to protect the independence of the judiciary," it said.
In neighboring Armenia, Heritage said that "economic freedom has remained fairly constant" over the past 15 years, "with the economy vacillating between 'moderately free' and 'mostly free.'"
"GDP growth in the past two years has been especially robust as the economy has rebounded from a 2015-16 regional slowdown. The government is pursuing structural reforms, export promotion, and greater foreign investment to boost future economic growth," according to the report.
"To attract greater investment and finally break out of its holding pattern to move higher into the 'mostly free' category, Armenia will need to focus more intently on improving judicial effectiveness and government integrity," it said.
Russia, which ranked 94th, moved up to the "moderately free" category for the first time, helped by what Heritage called a higher "fiscal health" score.
"The Russian economy is ranked 'moderately free' for the first time this year after more than a decade in the ranks of the 'mostly unfree.' GDP growth has been weak over the past five years, burdened by structural weaknesses, low levels of investment, and a poor demographic outlook, but improved in 2018," the report said.
It also criticized Moscow for pursuing "statist, nationalist, and protectionist economic policies."
"A subservient judiciary, rampant corruption, and links among bureaucrats and organized criminal groups compromise government integrity," making it difficult for the country to move up to the “mostly free” group, it added.
With RFE/RL's broadcast area, Romania (38th place), Kazakhstan (39), North Macedonia (41), Azerbaijan (44), Serbia (65), Kyrgyzstan, (81), Bosnia-Herzegovina (82), Moldova (87), Belarus (88), and Montenegro (91) were also labeled "moderately free."
Among the "mostly unfree" were Uzbekistan (114), Ukraine (134), Pakistan (135), Afghanistan (136), and Tajikistan (155).
Near the bottom, in the "repressed" category, were Iran (164) and Turkmenistan (170).
On Iran, the report said that "powerful interest groups, mostly linked to the security and religious establishments, are opposed to the pursuit of economic liberalization and reengagement with the global economy."
"Given Iran's excessive reliance on the oil sector, sustainable economic growth will remain a long-term objective rather than a short-term possibility," it said.
Heritage described Turkmenistan, led by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, as "a repressive authoritarian state in which political rights and civil liberties are almost completely denied in practice."
"Economic freedom is not attainable in any meaningful sense as the governing regime is currently constituted," the report said.
Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, and Ireland were ranked first through sixth and were the only countries to qualify as "free" economies.
Britain ranked seventh, while the United States was 17th and China was 103rd.


rferl--2020-03-17--Rights Group Says Kazakh Journalist Subjected To 'Full-Blown Harassment'

Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) is calling on Kazakhstan to stop harassing an opposition journalist who claims she was assaulted while trying to film the arrest of her husband and was forced to resign as a newspaper editor .
In a statement on March 17 , the Paris-based media-rights group urged authorities to conduct a `` transparent and effective '' investigation into the attack against Inga Imanbai , who it said was being subjected to `` full-blown harassment . ''
Imanbai 's husband , Zhanbolat Mamai , is a leading figure in the newly founded opposition Democratic Party .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eve of a planned protest rally in Almaty and sentenced to three days in administrative detention .
Imanbai said she tried to use her phone to film the plainclothes police officers who had come to take her husband to a police station .
But she said the device was snatched out of her hands , even though she had shown her accreditation as a journalist .
She also says her head was slammed against a metal fence .
Imanbai , who is several months ' pregnant , said she had to seek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a slight concussion as a result of the attack .
RSF said the police in Kazakhstan had done nothing in response to the complaint that Imanbai filed on March 1 about the attack .
Imanbai had been appointed as editor of the independent daily Zhas Alash newspaper in early January .
But she was sidelined from the position and then forced to resign on February 20 , shortly before demonstrations were staged in Almaty and other Kazakh cities in support of the Democratic Party .
Imanbai says she was sidelined under pressure from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about former President Nursultan Nazarbaev and his family , and because of her husband ’ s role in the Democratic Party .
Jeanne Cavelier , the head of RSF ’ s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk , said free media were `` essential for a democratic debate and for the credibility of the reformist discourse '' employed by Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev , who has been in office for nearly a year .
Police prevented several journalists from covering the February 22 protests .
More than 100 people were detained at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 180 countries in RSF 's 2019 World Press Freedom Index .

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling on Kazakhstan to stop harassing an opposition journalist who claims she was assaulted while trying to film the arrest of her husband and was forced to resign as a newspaper editor.
In a statement on March 17, the Paris-based media-rights group urged authorities to conduct a "transparent and effective" investigation into the attack against Inga Imanbai, who it said was being subjected to "full-blown harassment."
Imanbai's husband, Zhanbolat Mamai, is a leading figure in the newly founded opposition Democratic Party. He was arrested on February 21 on the eve of a planned protest rally in Almaty and sentenced to three days in administrative detention.
Imanbai said she tried to use her phone to film the plainclothes police officers who had come to take her husband to a police station.
But she said the device was snatched out of her hands, even though she had shown her accreditation as a journalist. She also says her head was slammed against a metal fence.
Imanbai, who is several months' pregnant, said she had to seek emergency medical attention at a hospital for a slight concussion as a result of the attack.
RSF said the police in Kazakhstan had done nothing in response to the complaint that Imanbai filed on March 1 about the attack.
Imanbai had been appointed as editor of the independent daily Zhas Alash newspaper in early January.
But she was sidelined from the position and then forced to resign on February 20, shortly before demonstrations were staged in Almaty and other Kazakh cities in support of the Democratic Party.
Imanbai says she was sidelined under pressure from the authorities because of articles she wrote about former President Nursultan Nazarbaev and his family, and because of her husband’s role in the Democratic Party.
Jeanne Cavelier, the head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, said free media were "essential for a democratic debate and for the credibility of the reformist discourse" employed by Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, who has been in office for nearly a year.
Police prevented several journalists from covering the February 22 protests. More than 100 people were detained at the demonstrations.
Kazakhstan is ranked 158th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index.


rferl--2020-03-17--Georgian Lawmakers Approve Kadagidze To Head Supreme Court

TBILISI -- Georgian lawmakers have approved Nino Kadagidze as the new head of the country 's Supreme Court .
Kadagidze @ @ @ @ @ all 82 lawmakers present at the parliamentary session on March 17 .
Opposition parties did @ @ @ @ @ session .
The High Council of Justice officially proposed Kadagidze to the post on March @ @ @ @ @ been vacant since August , when Kadagidze 's predecessor , Nino Gvenetadze , resigned for @ @ @ @ @ issues .
Kadagidze became a member of the Supreme Court in December .
Before rising @ @ @ @ @ 's chairwoman , Kadagidze served as a deputy chairwoman of the court and headed the @ @ @ @ @

TBILISI -- Georgian lawmakers have approved Nino Kadagidze as the new head of the country's Supreme Court.
Kadagidze's candidacy was supported by all 82 lawmakers present at the parliamentary session on March 17. Opposition parties did not take part in the session.
The High Council of Justice officially proposed Kadagidze to the post on March 11.
The position had been vacant since August, when Kadagidze's predecessor, Nino Gvenetadze, resigned for what she described as health issues.
Kadagidze became a member of the Supreme Court in December.
Before rising to become the Supreme Court's chairwoman, Kadagidze served as a deputy chairwoman of the court and headed the Chamber of Administrative Affairs.


rferl--2020-03-17--Kazakh Ex-Official Gets Seven Years In Prison For Ordering Attack On Activist

TALGHAR , Kazakhstan -- A former local official has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Kazakhstan 's southern Talghar district for ordering the shooting of a civil-rights activist .
The Talghar district court on March 17 found Nurghali Appazov , the former governor of the subdistrict of Panfilov , guilty of abuse of office and inflicting bodily harm on Galina Arzamasova , and sentenced him the same day .
The court also ordered Appazov to pay 1.4 million tenges ( $ 3,400 ) to Arzamasova as compensation and barred Appazov from serving in public office for life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ late August 2019 as she was approaching the local governor 's office , with whom she was scheduled to discuss government plans to sell land belonging to local parks .
A day after the incident , Appazov 's driver , Ghani Smanov , was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting .
Smanov was found guilty of inflicting bodily harm but the court released him from custody because Arzamasova forgave him .
A small projectile , possibly shot from an air rifle from a vehicle , hit Arzamasova in the pelvis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ confident the attack was linked to her civil-rights activities .
The 64-year-old activist , well-known for her campaign demanding more transparency in local politics , has said she was attacked twice by unknown assailants in 2017 .
She also says her house was once burglarized and targeted in an attempted arson attack .

TALGHAR, Kazakhstan -- A former local official has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Kazakhstan's southern Talghar district for ordering the shooting of a civil-rights activist.
The Talghar district court on March 17 found Nurghali Appazov, the former governor of the subdistrict of Panfilov, guilty of abuse of office and inflicting bodily harm on Galina Arzamasova, and sentenced him the same day.
The court also ordered Appazov to pay 1.4 million tenges ($3,400) to Arzamasova as compensation and barred Appazov from serving in public office for life.
Arzamasova was shot from a distance in late August 2019 as she was approaching the local governor's office, with whom she was scheduled to discuss government plans to sell land belonging to local parks.
A day after the incident, Appazov's driver, Ghani Smanov, was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. Smanov was found guilty of inflicting bodily harm but the court released him from custody because Arzamasova forgave him.
A small projectile, possibly shot from an air rifle from a vehicle, hit Arzamasova in the pelvis. She told RFE/RL then that she was confident the attack was linked to her civil-rights activities.
The 64-year-old activist, well-known for her campaign demanding more transparency in local politics, has said she was attacked twice by unknown assailants in 2017. She also says her house was once burglarized and targeted in an attempted arson attack.


rferl--2020-03-17--Ukrainian Investigative Director Who Clashed With Activists Approved As Prosecutor-General

KYIV -- Lawmakers have approved Iryna Venedyktova , a top investigative official who has clashed with reporters and civil society activists , as Ukraine ’ s new prosecutor-general .
The March 17 vote by the Verkhovna Rada was the latest in a series of top-level government personnel changes by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy .
Some of Zelenskiy 's moves have worried civil-society activists , who fear he is backsliding on reforms and reverting to policies that have hobbled Ukraine for years .
Venedyktova , 41 , is the first woman to head Ukraine ’ s top prosecutorial office .
She 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Investigations ( DBR ) , a corruption-fighting agency that lawmakers voted to revamp in December after the bureau 's then-director was forced out amid questions of conflict of interest .
Earlier this month , Venedyktova sued the newspaper Ukrayinska pravda for republishing an article by the Anti-Corruption Action Center , that alleged her husband was influencing personnel policy at the DBR .
Venedyktova also sued the action center , a nongovernmental organization that has been at the heart of efforts to root out the country 's notorious graft problem .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was nominated to the position by Zelenskiy .
Ryaboshapka was well-regarded by anti-corruption activists for his efforts to streamline and professionalize the scandal-ridden prosecutor-general ’ s office .
He was forced out in a no-confidence vote on March 5 .
Venedyktova reportedly clashed with Ryaboshapka over an investigation the DBR was conducting into Zelenskiy ’ s predecessor , Petro Poroshenko .
Olena Halushka , director of international relations with the Anti-Corruption Action Center , said Venedyktova 's new position raised doubts about the reform efforts that Ryaboshapka had undertaken .
Halushka said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal law , and had made several controversial appointments during her brief tenure as head of the DBR .
`` Given her background and previous activities , as well as the context in which Ryaboshapka was dismissed and she [ was ] appointed , there are doubts she will be an independent and efficient prosecutor-general , ” she told RFE/RL .
Zelenskiy 's shake-up of the government , which included firing his prime minister , worried not only civil society activists , but also Western financial backers .
Kyiv has been negotiating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the International Monetary Fund , which is seen as crucial to economic stability and investor confidence .
Public trust in Zelenskiy has slid sharply since his landslide election in April 2019 .
His trust ratings dropped to around 50 percent last month from 80 percent in September , according to the Kyiv-based Razumkov Center .

KYIV -- Lawmakers have approved Iryna Venedyktova, a top investigative official who has clashed with reporters and civil society activists, as Ukraine’s new prosecutor-general.
The March 17 vote by the Verkhovna Rada was the latest in a series of top-level government personnel changes by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Some of Zelenskiy's moves have worried civil-society activists, who fear he is backsliding on reforms and reverting to policies that have hobbled Ukraine for years.
Venedyktova, 41, is the first woman to head Ukraine’s top prosecutorial office.
She's currently the acting director of the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR), a corruption-fighting agency that lawmakers voted to revamp in December after the bureau's then-director was forced out amid questions of conflict of interest.
Earlier this month, Venedyktova sued the newspaper Ukrayinska pravda for republishing an article by the Anti-Corruption Action Center, that alleged her husband was influencing personnel policy at the DBR.
Venedyktova also sued the action center, a nongovernmental organization that has been at the heart of efforts to root out the country's notorious graft problem.
As prosecutor-general, Venedyktova replaces Ruslan Ryaboshapka, who was nominated to the position by Zelenskiy.
Ryaboshapka was well-regarded by anti-corruption activists for his efforts to streamline and professionalize the scandal-ridden prosecutor-general’s office. He was forced out in a no-confidence vote on March 5.
Venedyktova reportedly clashed with Ryaboshapka over an investigation the DBR was conducting into Zelenskiy’s predecessor, Petro Poroshenko.
Olena Halushka, director of international relations with the Anti-Corruption Action Center, said Venedyktova's new position raised doubts about the reform efforts that Ryaboshapka had undertaken.
Halushka said Venedyktova did not have a background in criminal law, and had made several controversial appointments during her brief tenure as head of the DBR.
"Given her background and previous activities, as well as the context in which Ryaboshapka was dismissed and she [was] appointed, there are doubts she will be an independent and efficient prosecutor-general,” she told RFE/RL.
Zelenskiy's shake-up of the government, which included firing his prime minister, worried not only civil society activists, but also Western financial backers.
Kyiv has been negotiating a long-delayed $5.5 billion loan program with the International Monetary Fund, which is seen as crucial to economic stability and investor confidence.
Public trust in Zelenskiy has slid sharply since his landslide election in April 2019. His trust ratings dropped to around 50 percent last month from 80 percent in September, according to the Kyiv-based Razumkov Center.


rferl--2020-03-17--COVID-19: Kazakhstan Locks Down Two Main Cities; Iran Warns Virus Could Kill 'Millions'

Kazakh authorities have imposed a quarantine on the capital , Nur-Sultan , and largest city , Almaty , after the number of people infected with coronavirus in the country more than doubled overnight to 33 .
The Health Ministry said in three different announcements on March 17 that 18 people had been diagnosed with the deadly virus in Nur-Sultan and 15 in Almaty .
After the announcement , Prime Minister Asqar Mamin held a gathering of the presidential commission on the implementation of the state emergency -- which runs until April 15 -- introduced by Presidnet Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impose the quarantine at midnight on March 19 to prevent the further spread of the deadly virus .
The measures include dividing the two cities into sectors and creating checkpoints to control access , limiting the population 's movement by foot and by vehicles in the two cities , regulating the operations of medical institutions in which patients infected or suspected of coming into contact with the coronavirus are being treated .
Also , all stores and shopping malls in the two major cities will be closed and only grocery and drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quarantine .
According to the website , special points to distribute food , medicine , and other items will be defined in Nur-Sultan and Almaty .
Last week , Toqaev canceled Norouz holiday celebrations scheduled for March 21-23 and a military parade devoted to the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany scheduled for May 9 , due to the coronavirus .
Interactive Coronavirus Map : The Spread Of The Infection Iran 's state television has warned , with the official coronavirus death toll at nearly 1,000 people , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Islamic republic if the public kept ignoring health measures .
The warning was broadcast at midday on March 17 , after the Health Ministry said 135 more people had died over the past day , a 13 percent spike that pushed the death toll to 988 .
Iran has the third-most registered cases after China and Italy .
`` Reports by more than 56 laboratories indicated that we have had 1,178 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the past 24 hours , '' Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases to 16,169 as of today noon , '' he added .
The rise in deaths came amid the temporary release of some 85,000 inmates earlier on March 17 -- a measure that authorities said was meant to help curb the COVID-19 outbreak in the country .
The husband of the jailed British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe said his wife was among those temporarily released .
Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been detained in Iran since April 3 , 2016 .
In September 2016 she was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly `` plotting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prosecutor-general of Tehran said in October 2017 that she was being held for running `` a BBC Persian online journalism course that was aimed at recruiting and training people to spread propaganda against Iran . ''
The charges have been rejected by Zaghari-Ratcliffe , the BBC , and international rights groups as politically motivated .
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili confirmed that those who were temporarily freed on March 17 included political prisoners , which Iranian authorities describe as `` security-related prisoners . ''
`` Some 50 percent of those released are security-related @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have taken precautionary measures to confront the outbreak , '' Esmaili said , giving no further details .
There are suspicions that the outbreak in the Islamic republic -- whose government is known for its opaqueness and censorship -- is far worse than authorities are admitting .
President Hassan Rohani on March 16 urged Iranians to stay home for the Norouz holiday celebrations on March 20 and to avoid traveling over the festive period , while state TV announced the temporary closure of Shi'ite shrines to limit exposure to the corunavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Shi'ite faithful to storm into the courtyards of two major shrines -- Mashhad 's Imam Reza shrine and Qom 's Fatima Masumeh shrine -- late on March 16 .
Crowds typically pray there 24 hours a day , seven days a week , touching and kissing the shrine .
That 's worried health officials , who for weeks have ordered Iran 's Shi'ite clergy to close them .
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan has more than doubled for a second straight day , reaching 195 -- mainly due to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quarantine of travelers who recently returned from Iran .
Thousands of Pakistanis , mostly pilgrims , have been placed into quarantine in recent weeks at the Taftan border crossing in the southwestern province of Balochistan after returning from Iran , one of the world 's worst-affected countries .
However , at least 119 of those people who were released have since tested positive after entering other regions of the country , officials said .
The chief minister of Balochistan said the area had housed some 5,000 people who had reentered Pakistan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in known cases , Pakistani authorities have moved to discourage crowds and gatherings .
Islamabad on March 17 announced that all gyms , swimming pools , religious shrines , and children 's parks will remain closed for three weeks .
Health officials in Punjab , Pakistan 's largest province , on March 17 urged the public to avoid unnecessary social contacts or traveling and to stay indoors .
Serbia has declared a nighttime curfew and ordered that all elderly people remain at home as the Balkan country steps up measures to fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 17 said the new , stricter regulations were necessary because many people had not followed earlier , less-restrictive recommendations in the country of some 7 million people .
Serbia has 72 confirmed infections of the coronavirus , which has affected every country in Europe as well as most countries worldwide since the outbreak began in China .
Under the new measures , people will not be able to move about in the evening hours as of March 18 , Vucic said .
`` There is a ban on the movement of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5 a.m. No one can be on the street , except the appropriate authorities who are on duty and those employed to work on the third shift , '' the president said .
He added that as of 10 a.m. on March 18 , `` it is absolutely forbidden for people over 65 to move about in urban areas and for those over 70 to go out in smaller towns and rural regions . ''
Most people who contract the highly contagious virus suffer only light to moderate effects , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older people and those with underlying medical conditions .
Vucic said the penalties for those who do not respect the measures `` will be very , very harsh . ''
Public transport will be suspended , except for special buses designated for workers in essential industries , the president said .
Vucic added that all border crossings , migrant centers , and hospitals will be under the control of Serbia ’ s military .
`` Several doctors have been assaulted during this crisis .
Medical staff will feel much safer with armed soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already delayed general elections scheduled for April 26 until after the abolishment of a state of emergency previously imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak .
It also closed its borders to most foreigners and imposed quarantines on Serbian citizens returning from abroad .
KYIV -- Ukraine 's government has suspended the operation of subways in three major cities , Kyiv -- the capital , and the eastern cities of Dnipro and Kharkiv -- as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
Transport officials in Kyiv said on March 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopped later in the day , but did not give an exact time .
Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes said that subway operations in the city will be suspended as of 8 p.m. on that day until April 3 .
In Dnipro , an official with the Transportation Department at the city council said that all public transportation units are working and that any changes in operations will be announced later .
The government announced on March 16 that subway operations would be suspended as of March 17 , while all rail , air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities , as well as interregional passenger links will be stopped on March 18 .
To date , 14 coronavirus cases have been registered in Ukraine , up from seven the previous day .
Two deaths have been reported .
Armenia has banned all public events involving more than two dozen people after the number of coronavirus cases nearly doubled in a day , pushing authorities to declare a national emergency .
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian , who was appointed chief coordinator of the 30-day state of emergency , said the temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theatrical performances , sports as well as cultural , educational , and entertainment events .
The government has also placed a temporary limit of 20 people for private events , including , but not limited to , birthday , wedding and engagement parties , memorial services and funerals .
`` As regards funerals and memorial services , we will try to provide a slightly wider opportunity for participation while keeping an eye out for crowding during ceremonies , '' Avinian said .
Under the state-of-emergency decree , Armenia has also prohibited entry to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus .
The strict measures come after Armenia 's Health Ministry reported an additional 22 cases on March 16 , bringing the total number of patients in the country to 52 .
In a live broadcast , Health Minister Arsen Torosian said that a vast majority of patients identified in Armenia do not even have noticeable symptoms .
He said some of the new patients had only been tested because they had been in close contact with infected people .
“ Only two of the patients have developed pneumonia , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the minister said .
Following the declaration of a state of emergency in Armenia , the Armenian Apostolic Church said it would conduct all liturgies behind closed doors , but will schedule regular open hours for believers to make individual visits .
The church also announced it would suspend marriage ceremonies and limit its services during funerals to graveyard ceremonies .
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also called on people to take basic protective measures to reduce the risk of contracting the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus .
He also assured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of food supply and urged people not to buy more than they needed .
Some 6,000 Romanians have been blocked at the border between Austria and Hungary after Budapest closed its border crossings to slow the spread of coronavirus , Romania 's government says .
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban 's government imposed the sweeping restrictions just after at midnight on March 17 , closing land crossings to foreigners as well as border crossings at airports .
Most of the delayed Romanians are returning from Italy and Spain , the world 's second- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 20-kilometer-long traffic jam at the Nickelsdorf-Hegyeshalom border crossing on the Austrian side on March 17 , with cars and trucks waiting to enter Hungary .
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said that some 6,000 Romanians -- including young children and elderly people -- had been prevented from crossing into Hungary since midnight .
Aurescu asked Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto for Budapest to take urgent measures to allow the Romanian citizens to pass through Hungary , his ministry said in a statement .
Aurescu `` called for support for the opening of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Hungary for all Romanian citizens currently waiting at the Austrian border with Hungary , '' the ministry said .
It said the blockage was caused by the lack of prior official notice from Hungary about its intention to close the borders .
The statement from Bucharest quoted Szijjarto as saying that Hungary would allow , `` as an exceptional , onetime measure , '' the repatriation of Romanian citizens as soon as possible .
Meanwhile , Szijjarto confirmed on Facebook that Hungary will permit the one-off transit of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the step was being taken at the request of the Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers .
He said they will have to take a designated transit route .
`` We expect Austrian authorities to maintain order on the Austrian side of the border and allow Hungarian citizens and freight traffic to use the border crossing , '' Szijjarto said .
Hungary reported having 50 confirmed coronavirus infections on March 17 , up from 39 on March 16 .
Moldova has declared a 60-day state of emergency in a bid to slow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted unanimously in favor of the measure presented to parliament by Prime Minister Ion Chicu .
Moldova , a country of 3.5 million sandwiched between EU member Romania and Ukraine , has reported 29 confirmed coronavirus cases , with no deaths recorded .
The country , one of the poorest in Europe , has already temporarily shut its borders and suspended all international flights from March 17 .
Separately , Moldova 's breakaway region of Transdniester declared a state of emergency until April 5 in the wake of the outbreak .
Transdniester declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war with Moldova two years later .
It is unrecognized by the international community but is unofficially backed by Russia , which stations hundreds of troops in the region .
Montenegro ’ s government has confirmed the first two cases of the coronavirus in the Western Balkan country , becoming the final European country to report infections to the potentially deadly disease .
The government made the announcement in a brief Twitter statement late on March 17 .
Prime Minister Dusko Markovic identified the patients as two females who had arrived from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both have been hospitalized , he said .
Montenegro , a former Yugoslav republic on the Adriatic coast with around 620,000 people , had previously sealed its borders , halted public transport , and closed schools and restaurants in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus .
Although the cases reported on March 17 were the first registered in the country , Montenegro has placed nearly 400 people in quarantine after they were potentially exposed to others with the virus .
North Macedonia 's main political parties have agreed to delay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of fears over the spread of the coronavirus .
Leaders from the parties met with President Stevo Pendarovski on March 17 to discuss the move .
No new date for the vote was given .
`` If the elections are postponed for a month or two , it will not be a collapse of the world , '' Pendarovski told a recent news conference .
The snap poll was called after former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev failed to get the go-ahead from the European Union to start accession talks in October 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus , with no fatalities , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Uzbek authorities have warned against spreading `` wrong '' information to incite `` panic '' and fear among the public about the new coronavirus outbreak , saying offenders could face heavy fines and up to eight years in prison .
The country ’ s Justice Ministry said that , according to Uzbek laws , those involved in preparing material with the intention of inciting panic among the public -- and those saving such material for the purpose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 9,400 in fines or up to three years in prison .
Those who spread such information through media and the Internet would face up to eight years in prison , the ministry said on March 16 .
The statement came a day after the Central Asian nation announced its first confirmed coronavirus infection , which prompted the government to introduce sweeping measures to contain the outbreak .
The country has closed its borders , suspended international flights , shuttered schools , and banned public gatherings .
The number of infections rose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 , the Health Ministry said .
The Health Ministry provides regular updates on its social-media accounts on the coronavirus situation in the country , frequently using the hashtag “ quarantine without panic ” in the Uzbek and Russian languages .
It also posts measures that the government has been taking to contain the spread of the virus and to protect the population .
The ministry said some of the precautionary measures have led to `` misinterpretations and false rumors '' on social media .
For example , the ministry said the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rose considerably as students began going home following the closure of universities on March 16 .
“ This situation was misinterpreted by some residents , and incorrect information circulated on social media that all transport links to and from Tashkent will be suspended soon , and that people who come from provinces will be forcibly sent back to their home regions , ” the ministry said .
The ministry said that this was “ entirely groundless information ” and that flights and train and bus services between the capital and provinces will continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led to panic buying and food price hikes in grocery shops and bazaars across the country , while there was an immediate shortage of face masks and hand sanitizers in pharmacies .
The state-backed food agency , Uzbek-oziq-ovqat-holding , sought to reassure people that there “ won ’ t be food shortages in Uzbekistan ” despite the temporary border closure .
The agency said 98 percent of the food products Uzbeks consume is produced domestically and that only nonstaples , “ such as cocoa and coffee grains and citrus fruits , '' are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said on March 17 that more than 640 people who were believed to have been exposed to the virus had been placed in quarantine in hospitals , while some 5,660 others were under quarantine at home .
Uzbek authorities say that the 10 individuals who tested positive for the coronavirus are all Uzbek citizens returning from Europe and Turkey .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Armenian , Kazakh , Romanian , Ukrainian , Uzbek services and Radio Mashaal , AP , dpa , IRNA , Reuters , UNIAN , Ukrayinska pravda , Nashe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hotnews.ro , Digi24.ro , and G4media.ro

Kazakh authorities have imposed a quarantine on the capital, Nur-Sultan, and largest city, Almaty, after the number of people infected with coronavirus in the country more than doubled overnight to 33.
The Health Ministry said in three different announcements on March 17 that 18 people had been diagnosed with the deadly virus in Nur-Sultan and 15 in Almaty.
After the announcement, Prime Minister Asqar Mamin held a gathering of the presidential commission on the implementation of the state emergency -- which runs until April 15 -- introduced by Presidnet Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev the day before
It was decided at the gathering to impose the quarantine at midnight on March 19 to prevent the further spread of the deadly virus.
The measures include dividing the two cities into sectors and creating checkpoints to control access, limiting the population's movement by foot and by vehicles in the two cities, regulating the operations of medical institutions in which patients infected or suspected of coming into contact with the coronavirus are being treated.
Also, all stores and shopping malls in the two major cities will be closed and only grocery and drug stores will be allowed to operate during the quarantine.
According to the website, special points to distribute food, medicine, and other items will be defined in Nur-Sultan and Almaty.
Last week, Toqaev canceled Norouz holiday celebrations scheduled for March 21-23 and a military parade devoted to the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany scheduled for May 9, due to the coronavirus.
Iran
Iran's state television has warned, with the official coronavirus death toll at nearly 1,000 people, that the outbreak could kill "millions" in the Islamic republic if the public kept ignoring health measures.
The warning was broadcast at midday on March 17, after the Health Ministry said 135 more people had died over the past day, a 13 percent spike that pushed the death toll to 988.
Iran has the third-most registered cases after China and Italy.
"Reports by more than 56 laboratories indicated that we have had 1,178 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in the past 24 hours," Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said.
"This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 16,169 as of today noon," he added.
The rise in deaths came amid the temporary release of some 85,000 inmates earlier on March 17 -- a measure that authorities said was meant to help curb the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
The husband of the jailed British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe said his wife was among those temporarily released.
Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been detained in Iran since April 3, 2016. In September 2016 she was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly "plotting to topple the Iranian government."
The prosecutor-general of Tehran said in October 2017 that she was being held for running "a BBC Persian online journalism course that was aimed at recruiting and training people to spread propaganda against Iran."
The charges have been rejected by Zaghari-Ratcliffe, the BBC, and international rights groups as politically motivated.
Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili confirmed that those who were temporarily freed on March 17 included political prisoners, which Iranian authorities describe as "security-related prisoners."
"Some 50 percent of those released are security-related prisoners.... Also in the jails we have taken precautionary measures to confront the outbreak," Esmaili said, giving no further details.
There are suspicions that the outbreak in the Islamic republic -- whose government is known for its opaqueness and censorship -- is far worse than authorities are admitting.
President Hassan Rohani on March 16 urged Iranians to stay home for the Norouz holiday celebrations on March 20 and to avoid traveling over the festive period, while state TV announced the temporary closure of Shi'ite shrines to limit exposure to the corunavirus.
The announcement prompted angry crowds of hard-line Shi'ite faithful to storm into the courtyards of two major shrines -- Mashhad's Imam Reza shrine and Qom's Fatima Masumeh shrine -- late on March 16.
Crowds typically pray there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, touching and kissing the shrine. That's worried health officials, who for weeks have ordered Iran's Shi'ite clergy to close them.
Pakistan
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan has more than doubled for a second straight day, reaching 195 -- mainly due to what authorities said were mistakes in testing and the quarantine of travelers who recently returned from Iran.
Thousands of Pakistanis, mostly pilgrims, have been placed into quarantine in recent weeks at the Taftan border crossing in the southwestern province of Balochistan after returning from Iran, one of the world's worst-affected countries.
However, at least 119 of those people who were released have since tested positive after entering other regions of the country, officials said.
The chief minister of Balochistan said the area had housed some 5,000 people who had reentered Pakistan in recent weeks.
Amid the steep rise in known cases, Pakistani authorities have moved to discourage crowds and gatherings.
Islamabad on March 17 announced that all gyms, swimming pools, religious shrines, and children's parks will remain closed for three weeks.
Health officials in Punjab, Pakistan's largest province, on March 17 urged the public to avoid unnecessary social contacts or traveling and to stay indoors.
Pakistan also postponed its Super League cricket tournament.
Serbia
Serbia has declared a nighttime curfew and ordered that all elderly people remain at home as the Balkan country steps up measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
President Aleksandar Vucic on March 17 said the new, stricter regulations were necessary because many people had not followed earlier, less-restrictive recommendations in the country of some 7 million people.
Serbia has 72 confirmed infections of the coronavirus, which has affected every country in Europe as well as most countries worldwide since the outbreak began in China.
Under the new measures, people will not be able to move about in the evening hours as of March 18, Vucic said.
"There is a ban on the movement of all persons of any age from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. No one can be on the street, except the appropriate authorities who are on duty and those employed to work on the third shift," the president said.
He added that as of 10 a.m. on March 18, "it is absolutely forbidden for people over 65 to move about in urban areas and for those over 70 to go out in smaller towns and rural regions."
Most people who contract the highly contagious virus suffer only light to moderate effects, but it has proven to be fatal to many older people and those with underlying medical conditions.
Vucic said the penalties for those who do not respect the measures "will be very, very harsh."
Public transport will be suspended, except for special buses designated for workers in essential industries, the president said.
Vucic added that all border crossings, migrant centers, and hospitals will be under the control of Serbia’s military.
"Several doctors have been assaulted during this crisis. Medical staff will feel much safer with armed soldiers outside," Vucic said.
Serbia had already delayed general elections scheduled for April 26 until after the abolishment of a state of emergency previously imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It also closed its borders to most foreigners and imposed quarantines on Serbian citizens returning from abroad.
Ukraine
KYIV -- Ukraine's government has suspended the operation of subways in three major cities, Kyiv -- the capital, and the eastern cities of Dnipro and Kharkiv -- as a measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Transport officials in Kyiv said on March 17 that the underground transportation operations will be stopped later in the day, but did not give an exact time.
Kharkiv Mayor Hennadiy Kernes said that subway operations in the city will be suspended as of 8 p.m. on that day until April 3.
In Dnipro, an official with the Transportation Department at the city council said that all public transportation units are working and that any changes in operations will be announced later.
The government announced on March 16 that subway operations would be suspended as of March 17, while all rail, air, and bus transportation between towns and cities, as well as interregional passenger links will be stopped on March 18.
To date, 14 coronavirus cases have been registered in Ukraine, up from seven the previous day. Two deaths have been reported.
Armenia
Armenia has banned all public events involving more than two dozen people after the number of coronavirus cases nearly doubled in a day, pushing authorities to declare a national emergency.
Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian, who was appointed chief coordinator of the 30-day state of emergency, said the temporary measure applies to concerts, exhibitions, theatrical performances, sports as well as cultural, educational, and entertainment events.
The government has also placed a temporary limit of 20 people for private events, including, but not limited to, birthday, wedding and engagement parties, memorial services and funerals.
"As regards funerals and memorial services, we will try to provide a slightly wider opportunity for participation while keeping an eye out for crowding during ceremonies," Avinian said.
Under the state-of-emergency decree, Armenia has also prohibited entry to foreigners coming from countries most hit by the new coronavirus.
The strict measures come after Armenia's Health Ministry reported an additional 22 cases on March 16, bringing the total number of patients in the country to 52.
In a live broadcast, Health Minister Arsen Torosian said that a vast majority of patients identified in Armenia do not even have noticeable symptoms.
He said some of the new patients had only been tested because they had been in close contact with infected people.
“Only two of the patients have developed pneumonia, but they have it in a mild form,” the minister said.
Following the declaration of a state of emergency in Armenia, the Armenian Apostolic Church said it would conduct all liturgies behind closed doors, but will schedule regular open hours for believers to make individual visits.
The church also announced it would suspend marriage ceremonies and limit its services during funerals to graveyard ceremonies.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian also called on people to take basic protective measures to reduce the risk of contracting the highly contagious and potentially deadly virus.
He also assured the public that Armenia has no shortage of food supply and urged people not to buy more than they needed.
Romania
Some 6,000 Romanians have been blocked at the border between Austria and Hungary after Budapest closed its border crossings to slow the spread of coronavirus, Romania's government says.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government imposed the sweeping restrictions just after at midnight on March 17, closing land crossings to foreigners as well as border crossings at airports.
Most of the delayed Romanians are returning from Italy and Spain, the world's second- and fourth-most affected countries.
There was a 20-kilometer-long traffic jam at the Nickelsdorf-Hegyeshalom border crossing on the Austrian side on March 17, with cars and trucks waiting to enter Hungary.
Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said that some 6,000 Romanians -- including young children and elderly people -- had been prevented from crossing into Hungary since midnight.
Aurescu asked Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto for Budapest to take urgent measures to allow the Romanian citizens to pass through Hungary, his ministry said in a statement.
Aurescu "called for support for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow the uninterrupted access through Hungary for all Romanian citizens currently waiting at the Austrian border with Hungary," the ministry said.
It said the blockage was caused by the lack of prior official notice from Hungary about its intention to close the borders.
The statement from Bucharest quoted Szijjarto as saying that Hungary would allow, "as an exceptional, onetime measure," the repatriation of Romanian citizens as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Szijjarto confirmed on Facebook that Hungary will permit the one-off transit of Romanian and Bulgarian citizens who are stuck in Austria.
Szijjarto said the step was being taken at the request of the Bulgarian and Romanian foreign ministers. He said they will have to take a designated transit route.
"We expect Austrian authorities to maintain order on the Austrian side of the border and allow Hungarian citizens and freight traffic to use the border crossing," Szijjarto said.
Hungary reported having 50 confirmed coronavirus infections on March 17, up from 39 on March 16.
Moldova
Moldova has declared a 60-day state of emergency in a bid to slow the coronavirus outbreak.
Lawmakers on March 17 voted unanimously in favor of the measure presented to parliament by Prime Minister Ion Chicu.
Moldova, a country of 3.5 million sandwiched between EU member Romania and Ukraine, has reported 29 confirmed coronavirus cases, with no deaths recorded.
The country, one of the poorest in Europe, has already temporarily shut its borders and suspended all international flights from March 17.
Separately, Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester declared a state of emergency until April 5 in the wake of the outbreak.
Transdniester declared independence in 1990 and fought a bloody war with Moldova two years later. It is unrecognized by the international community but is unofficially backed by Russia, which stations hundreds of troops in the region.
Montenegro
Montenegro’s government has confirmed the first two cases of the coronavirus in the Western Balkan country, becoming the final European country to report infections to the potentially deadly disease.
The government made the announcement in a brief Twitter statement late on March 17.
Prime Minister Dusko Markovic identified the patients as two females who had arrived from the United States and Spain 12 days ago.
Both have been hospitalized, he said.
Montenegro, a former Yugoslav republic on the Adriatic coast with around 620,000 people, had previously sealed its borders, halted public transport, and closed schools and restaurants in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Although the cases reported on March 17 were the first registered in the country, Montenegro has placed nearly 400 people in quarantine after they were potentially exposed to others with the virus.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia's main political parties have agreed to delay snap general elections scheduled for April 12 because of fears over the spread of the coronavirus.
Leaders from the parties met with President Stevo Pendarovski on March 17 to discuss the move. No new date for the vote was given.
"If the elections are postponed for a month or two, it will not be a collapse of the world," Pendarovski told a recent news conference.
The snap poll was called after former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev failed to get the go-ahead from the European Union to start accession talks in October 2019.
North Macedonia has confirmed 26 cases of the coronavirus, with no fatalities, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Uzbekistan
Uzbek authorities have warned against spreading "wrong" information to incite "panic" and fear among the public about the new coronavirus outbreak, saying offenders could face heavy fines and up to eight years in prison.
The country’s Justice Ministry said that, according to Uzbek laws, those involved in preparing material with the intention of inciting panic among the public -- and those saving such material for the purpose of distribution -- will face up to $9,400 in fines or up to three years in prison.
Those who spread such information through media and the Internet would face up to eight years in prison, the ministry said on March 16.
The statement came a day after the Central Asian nation announced its first confirmed coronavirus infection, which prompted the government to introduce sweeping measures to contain the outbreak.
The country has closed its borders, suspended international flights, shuttered schools, and banned public gatherings.
The number of infections rose to 10 as of the morning of March 17, the Health Ministry said.
The Health Ministry provides regular updates on its social-media accounts on the coronavirus situation in the country, frequently using the hashtag “quarantine without panic” in the Uzbek and Russian languages.
It also posts measures that the government has been taking to contain the spread of the virus and to protect the population.
The ministry said some of the precautionary measures have led to "misinterpretations and false rumors" on social media.
For example, the ministry said the number of passengers on intercity trains and buses rose considerably as students began going home following the closure of universities on March 16.
“This situation was misinterpreted by some residents, and incorrect information circulated on social media that all transport links to and from Tashkent will be suspended soon, and that people who come from provinces will be forcibly sent back to their home regions,” the ministry said.
The ministry said that this was “entirely groundless information” and that flights and train and bus services between the capital and provinces will continue “uninterrupted.”
The coronavirus outbreak also led to panic buying and food price hikes in grocery shops and bazaars across the country, while there was an immediate shortage of face masks and hand sanitizers in pharmacies.
The state-backed food agency, Uzbek-oziq-ovqat-holding, sought to reassure people that there “won’t be food shortages in Uzbekistan” despite the temporary border closure.
The agency said 98 percent of the food products Uzbeks consume is produced domestically and that only nonstaples, “such as cocoa and coffee grains and citrus fruits," are imported from abroad.
The Health Ministry said on March 17 that more than 640 people who were believed to have been exposed to the virus had been placed in quarantine in hospitals, while some 5,660 others were under quarantine at home.
Uzbek authorities say that the 10 individuals who tested positive for the coronavirus are all Uzbek citizens returning from Europe and Turkey.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian, Kazakh, Romanian, Ukrainian, Uzbek services and Radio Mashaal, AP, dpa, IRNA, Reuters, UNIAN, Ukrayinska pravda, Nashe misto, Obozrevatel, Interfax, TASS, Hotnews.ro, Digi24.ro, and G4media.ro


rferl--2020-03-18--Bulgarian Investigative Journalist Hospitalized After Being Beaten By Masked Men

Bulgaria 's Interior Ministry says veteran investigative journalist Slavi Angelov has been attacked by unidentified assailants near his home in Sofia .
Angelov , the editor in chief of the weekly newspaper 168 Hours , was beaten with metal pipes late on March 17 and is now in the hospital , the ministry said .
Angelov told the media from his hospital bed that he was attacked by two men wearing masks , while a third masked man filmed the assault on a mobile phone .
The assailants did not take anything from Angelov , who was carrying his laptop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In recent months , Angelov has covered cases such as the acquittal of a businessman who was brought to court for causing environmental damage to a campsite , and a prostitution ring that , according to the journalist , operates in Bulgaria and Greece .
Angelov also wrote extensively about the investigation into gambling tycoon Vasil Bozhkov over allegations of serious financial violations in the industry and his alleged links with the owner of online casino Efbet .
Bozhkov was arrested recently on charges of tax fraud , attempted bribery , and @ @

Bulgaria's Interior Ministry says veteran investigative journalist Slavi Angelov has been attacked by unidentified assailants near his home in Sofia.
Angelov, the editor in chief of the weekly newspaper 168 Hours, was beaten with metal pipes late on March 17 and is now in the hospital, the ministry said on March 18.
Angelov told journalists from his hospital bed that he was attacked by two men wearing masks. He said a third masked man filmed the assault on a mobile phone.
The assailants did not take anything from Angelov, although he was carrying his laptop at the time, police said.
"Most likely it is an attempted assassination," said Ivaylo Ivanov, the Interior Ministry's chief secretary.
The attack was condemned by the representative on freedom of the media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and journalist organizations in Bulgaria, which ranks 111th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' 2019 World Press Freedom Index.
Calling the violent attack "an unacceptable act of intimidation" against Angelov, OSCE representative Harlem Desir said it took place "amid the backdrop of Bulgaria sliding down in media-freedom indices."
"Such brutal and bold attacks, if left unpunished, may create an atmosphere of fear within the media community," Desir said in a statement.
Earlier, the Bulgarian branch of the Association of European Journalists said that "the known facts lead to the conclusion that the beating was a contract one."
The group urged the Bulgarian authorities to "track down, put before justice, and punish not only the physical perpetrators but also the contractors of this monstrous crime."
Snezhana Todorova, head of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists, called the assault "the next attempt to shut the mouth, in the most brutal way possible, of a journalist who preaches the truth, looks for the truth in order to defend the freedom of speech in Bulgaria."
In recent months, Angelov has reported on cases such as the acquittal of a businessman brought to court over environmental damage to a campsite, and a prostitution ring said to operate in Bulgaria and Greece.
Angelov also wrote extensively about an investigation into gambling tycoon Vasil Bozhkov.
That investigation is focusing on allegations of serious financial violations in the gambling industry and Bozhkov's alleged links to the owner of the online casino Efbet.
Bozhkov was arrested recently on charges of tax fraud, attempted bribery, and racketeering.
With reporting by AFP


rferl--2020-03-18--Controversial Head Of Moscow Election Authority Resigns

The longtime head of the Moscow Election Commission , Valentin Gorbunov , has resigned due to health reasons , local media reported .
Activists protesting the exclusion of opposition and independent candidates on the ballot of last year ’ s city council election in the Russian capital had demanded his ouster .
“ I leave my post over the state of my [ current ] health , ” Gorbunov said on March 16 , as cited by state news agency TASS .
Gorbunov , 66 , has headed Moscow ’ s election authority since 1995 .
He oversaw controversial elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , the disputed mayoral elections in 1999 and 2003 , and also local council elections in 2011 that were accompanied by protests .
The former Communist Party member has been involved in elections since the late 1970s when he worked with the Central Election Commission of the U.S.S.R .
He has worked at the Moscow election authority since 1993 and was reelected to head the Moscow Election Commission five times , the last time in 2016 .
Under former Mayor Yury Luzhkov , opposition activists alleged the city council was entirely controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His resignation was demanded numerous times by activists over the years .
Gorbunov ’ s tenure was supposed to end in 2021 , but he says he is currently hospitalized .
Based on reporting by Vedmosti and TASS

The longtime head of the Moscow Election Commission, Valentin Gorbunov, has resigned due to health reasons, local media reported.
Activists protesting the exclusion of opposition and independent candidates on the ballot of last year’s city council election in the Russian capital had demanded his ouster.
“I leave my post over the state of my [current] health,” Gorbunov said on March 16, as cited by state news agency TASS.
Gorbunov, 66, has headed Moscow’s election authority since 1995.
He oversaw controversial elections to the local legislature in 2009 and 2019, the disputed mayoral elections in 1999 and 2003, and also local council elections in 2011 that were accompanied by protests.
The former Communist Party member has been involved in elections since the late 1970s when he worked with the Central Election Commission of the U.S.S.R. He has worked at the Moscow election authority since 1993 and was reelected to head the Moscow Election Commission five times, the last time in 2016.
Under former Mayor Yury Luzhkov, opposition activists alleged the city council was entirely controlled by the city's power structure.
His resignation was demanded numerous times by activists over the years.
Gorbunov’s tenure was supposed to end in 2021, but he says he is currently hospitalized.
Based on reporting by Vedmosti and TASS