rferl--2020-11-12--Acting Kyrgyz President Reiterates Plan To Step Down To Be Eligible For January Vote

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan 's acting President Sadyr Japarov has reiterated that he plans to step down to be eligible to take part in a presidential election in January and vowed to secure fair and open voting .
`` If I lose the election , my supporters will not protest in the streets .
If cases of use of administrative resources during the election or cases of vote-buying are noticed , immediately tell us .
We will undertake measures to stop it .
We will introduce a blockchain system to prevent any possible rigging or fraud .
Our citizens abroad will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Japarov said in a wide-ranging press conference on November 12 .
Under current Kyrgyz law , anyone serving in an acting or interim capacity as president may not then run in an election for the post .
But Japarov has said several times that he will step down in December to be eligible to seek the presidency .
The 51-year-old became prime minister in the midst of protests against the official results of parliamentary elections last month .
The demonstrations prompted authorities to cancel the results of the poll and sparked a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government and President Sooronbai Jeenbekov .
Jeenbekov was the third president in the Central Asian nation toppled by anti-government protests since 2005 .
After Jeenbekov left office in mid-October , Japarov , who during the protests had been released from prison where he was serving a sentence for kidnapping a political rival , was handed presidential powers as well .
After becoming prime minister , Japarov initiated amendments to the constitution to change the rules for elections and signed legal changes that postponed fresh parliamentary elections -- tentatively set for December 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , despite a requirement that such a vote come within two months .
That move cleared the way for an early presidential election on January 10 .
Several lawmakers , politicians , and civil rights groups have called Japarov 's moves an attempt to `` usurp '' power .
Answering a question about the constitutional amendments possibly bringing a dictatorial system to the country , Japarov rejected the notion , saying dictatorship in Kyrgyzstan is `` impossible . ''
`` The nation of Kyrgyzstan has had three revolutions in 30 years .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair life .
A nation that has rejected dictatorship , lawlessness , injustice .
It does n't matter who wins the [ presidential poll ] -- me or somebody else after me .
The Kyrgyz nation will not allow a dictatorship , as you all witnessed , '' Japarov said .
As of November 12 , 15 other people had officially informed the Central Election Commission ( BShK ) of their intention to run for president .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's acting President Sadyr Japarov has reiterated that he plans to step down to be eligible to take part in a presidential election in January and vowed to secure fair and open voting.
"If I lose the election, my supporters will not protest in the streets. If cases of use of administrative resources during the election or cases of vote-buying are noticed, immediately tell us. We will undertake measures to stop it. We will introduce a blockchain system to prevent any possible rigging or fraud. Our citizens abroad will also be able to vote," Japarov said in a wide-ranging press conference on November 12.
Under current Kyrgyz law, anyone serving in an acting or interim capacity as president may not then run in an election for the post.
But Japarov has said several times that he will step down in December to be eligible to seek the presidency.
The 51-year-old became prime minister in the midst of protests against the official results of parliamentary elections last month.
The demonstrations prompted authorities to cancel the results of the poll and sparked a political crisis that led to the resignation of the government and President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
Jeenbekov was the third president in the Central Asian nation toppled by anti-government protests since 2005.
After Jeenbekov left office in mid-October, Japarov, who during the protests had been released from prison where he was serving a sentence for kidnapping a political rival, was handed presidential powers as well.
After becoming prime minister, Japarov initiated amendments to the constitution to change the rules for elections and signed legal changes that postponed fresh parliamentary elections -- tentatively set for December 20 -- to an unspecified date in 2021, despite a requirement that such a vote come within two months.
That move cleared the way for an early presidential election on January 10.
Several lawmakers, politicians, and civil rights groups have called Japarov's moves an attempt to "usurp" power.
Answering a question about the constitutional amendments possibly bringing a dictatorial system to the country, Japarov rejected the notion, saying dictatorship in Kyrgyzstan is "impossible."
"The nation of Kyrgyzstan has had three revolutions in 30 years. It is a nation that has chosen a fair life. A nation that has rejected dictatorship, lawlessness, injustice. It doesn't matter who wins the [presidential poll] -- me or somebody else after me. The Kyrgyz nation will not allow a dictatorship, as you all witnessed," Japarov said.
As of November 12, 15 other people had officially informed the Central Election Commission (BShK) of their intention to run for president.


rferl--2020-11-12--Investigation Launched Into Inmate's Death That Reportedly Sparked Prison Riot In Siberia

An investigation has been launched into the death of an inmate that reportedly caused a prison riot in Siberia .
The Novosibirsk Regional Prosecutor 's Office said on November 12 that the probe was launched into the `` murder '' of a 39-year-old inmate in the Correctional Colony No .
13 .
The inmate , whose identity was not disclosed , was found dead a day earlier , the statement said , adding that prosecutors had started an inspection of the penitentiary .
Media reports on November 11 cited sources as saying that inmates began to riot after the dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beaten .
To quash the riot , the reports said , the prison 's administration called riot police and the chief of the Federal Penitentiary Service ( FSIN ) regional branch , Andrei Paleto , to the site .
The Investigative Committee 's directorate in the Novosibirsk region denied the reports , calling them false .
FSIN said initially that `` all penitentiaries in the region are operating without any problems , '' but announced later that there had been a fight between inmates and that one prisoner was killed .
The Correctional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penitentiary with the capacity to house more than 1,000 inmates .
It is located in the village of Raisino in the Uba district of the Novosibirsk region .
For years , prisoners in Russian penitentiaries have rioted to protest jail conditions , often maiming themselves to draw attention to their plight .

An investigation has been launched into the death of an inmate that reportedly caused a prison riot in Siberia.
The Novosibirsk Regional Prosecutor's Office said on November 12 that the probe was launched into the "murder" of a 39-year-old inmate in the Correctional Colony No. 13.
The inmate, whose identity was not disclosed, was found dead a day earlier, the statement said, adding that prosecutors had started an inspection of the penitentiary.
Media reports on November 11 cited sources as saying that inmates began to riot after the dead man's body showed signs of being beaten.
To quash the riot, the reports said, the prison's administration called riot police and the chief of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) regional branch, Andrei Paleto, to the site.
The Investigative Committee's directorate in the Novosibirsk region denied the reports, calling them false. FSIN said initially that "all penitentiaries in the region are operating without any problems," but announced later that there had been a fight between inmates and that one prisoner was killed.
The Correctional Colony No. 13 is a maximum-security penitentiary with the capacity to house more than 1,000 inmates. It is located in the village of Raisino in the Uba district of the Novosibirsk region.
For years, prisoners in Russian penitentiaries have rioted to protest jail conditions, often maiming themselves to draw attention to their plight.


rferl--2020-11-12--Trial Begins Of Suspects Charged Following  Violent Clashes In Uzbekistan's Sokh Exclave

FERGHANA , Uzbekistan -- Twenty-two people have gone on trial in Uzbekistan 's volatile Sokh exclave within neighboring Kyrgyzstan for allegedly being involved in mass disorder .
Media reports on November 11 said that the Ferghana regional court in eastern Uzbekistan started the trial on November 9 .
Parents of one of the defendants in the case , 19-year old Firdaus Ahrorov , confirmed to RFE/RL that they had attended the trial 's first hearing .
They added that , due to coronavirus precautions , only two relatives of each defendant were allowed to attend the proceedings , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The defendants were charged with blocking an official from carrying out their duties and taking part in altercations that erupted in late May between residents of Sokh and Kyrgyzstan 's Kadamjai district , with thousands of people involved and several houses burned down on each side .
In total , 187 Uzbek nationals were hospitalized with various injuries , including three persons with gunshot wounds .
Kyrgyz authorities said at the time that 25 Kyrgyz nationals had been injured in the clashes , four of whom needed hospitalization .
The incident started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chechme and residents of the Uzbek village of Chashma argued about the ownership of a spring located in the area .
When Ferghana 's regional governor , Shuhrat Ganiev , arrived at the site , he was attacked and pelted with stones .
Many border areas in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley , where the borders of Tajikistan , Uzbekistan , and Kyrgyzstan meet @

FERGHANA, Uzbekistan -- Twenty-two people have gone on trial in Uzbekistan's volatile Sokh exclave within neighboring Kyrgyzstan for allegedly being involved in mass disorder.
Media reports on November 11 said that the Ferghana regional court in eastern Uzbekistan started the trial on November 9.
Parents of one of the defendants in the case, 19-year old Firdaus Ahrorov, confirmed to RFE/RL that they had attended the trial's first hearing.
They added that, due to coronavirus precautions, only two relatives of each defendant were allowed to attend the proceedings, and that the trial will resume on November 16.
The defendants were charged with blocking an official from carrying out their duties and taking part in altercations that erupted in late May between residents of Sokh and Kyrgyzstan's Kadamjai district, with thousands of people involved and several houses burned down on each side.
In total, 187 Uzbek nationals were hospitalized with various injuries, including three persons with gunshot wounds.
Kyrgyz authorities said at the time that 25 Kyrgyz nationals had been injured in the clashes, four of whom needed hospitalization.
The incident started after locals of the Kyrgyz village of Chechme and residents of the Uzbek village of Chashma argued about the ownership of a spring located in the area.
When Ferghana's regional governor, Shuhrat Ganiev, arrived at the site, he was attacked and pelted with stones.
Many border areas in the former Soviet republics of Central Asia have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan meet.


rferl--2020-11-12--New Anti-Government Protests Continue In Yerevan Amid Fury Over Karabakh Peace Deal

YEREVAN -- Armenian opposition groups are continuing their protests to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over the terms he agreed to in a Russian-brokered accord with Azerbaijan that ended more than six weeks of fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Hours before the planned rally on November 12 , the Special Investigation Service said 10 prominent opposition figures had been arrested for `` organizing illegal violent mass disorder.
” The announcement of the truce deal early on November 10 sparked an immediate and furious reaction in the Armenian capital , where angry protesters stormed government buildings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides , the deal has been rejected by many Armenians because it allows Azerbaijan to keep a sizable chunk of the small mountain region , along with the surrounding areas captured during the fighting .
The day after the agreement , thousands of demonstrators defied martial law and rallied in the center of the city , calling Pashinian a “ traitor.
” Those arrested in the criminal case initiated by the Special Investigation Service included Gagik Tsarukian , leader of the Prosperous Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Ishkhan Sagatelian and Gegham Manukian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( Dashnaktsutiun ) ; as well as Eduard Sharmazanov of the former ruling Republican Party ( HHK ) .
The opposition has denounced the arrests as illegal .
Nearly two dozen opposition parties have demanded Pashinian ’ s resignation over the trilateral truce deal , viewed by them as an act of surrender .
In an address to the nation on November 12 , Pashinian acknowledged that the document he signed was “ bad for us ” but “ should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The prime minister said it had prevented the collapse of Armenian defense lines and the encirclement of up to 25,000 soldiers .
He also called on Armenians to rally around his government , saying that its priority was the stability and security of the country .
The Russia-brokered deal is a major defeat for Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who have controlled Nagorno-Karabakh since a 1994 cease-fire ended all-out war .
Hundreds of Russian peacekeepers have already been deployed in the disputed area as part of a five-year mandate .
The peace deal came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and around Nagorno-Karabakh , including reports they were approaching the region ’ s main city , Stepanakert , after taking the nearby strategic town of Shushi , known as Susa in Azeri .
Nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers will eventually be active in the region , with 90 armored personnel carriers , as part of Russia ’ s peacekeeping mission .
There have been questions about whether troops from Turkey , Azerbaijan 's staunch ally , would also deploy to the region .
Turkish officials have insisted that was the case , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kremlin made no mention of it .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted on November 12 that `` no peacekeeping units of the Turkish Republic will be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh.
” Lavrov said the activity of Turkish observers would be restricted to the premises of a Russian-Turkish cease-fire control center being created in Azerbaijan .
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said a Russian delegation was scheduled to visit Turkey on November 13 to discuss details of how the joint center would operate .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
Efforts to resolve the conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia , France , and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992 .
Three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 have failed to hold .
With reporting @ @ @ @

YEREVAN -- Armenian opposition groups are continuing their protests to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over the terms he agreed to in a Russian-brokered accord with Azerbaijan that ended more than six weeks of fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Several thousand protesters marched through the streets of Yerevan on November 12, shouting anti-Pashinian slogans such as "Traitor, go away!”
Separately, supporters of the opposition group Sasna Tsrer held a rally in the central Freedom Square but canceled a planned march in the city after police told them to disband, citing martial law, under which rallies are banned.
A number of demonstrators who refused to leave the area were detained by security forces.
The announcement of the truce deal early on November 10 sparked an immediate and furious reaction in the Armenian capital, where angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament.
While ending fighting that has killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides, the deal has been rejected by many Armenians because it allows Azerbaijan to keep a sizable chunk of the small mountain region, along with the surrounding areas captured during the fighting.
The day after the agreement, thousands of demonstrators defied martial law and rallied in the center of the city, calling Pashinian a “traitor.”
The Special Investigation Service announced on November 12 the arrest of 10 prominent opposition figures accused of "organizing illegal violent mass disorder," a move denounced by the opposition as illegal.
Those arrested in the criminal case initiated by the Special Investigation Service included Gagik Tsarukian, leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party; Homeland party leader Arthur Vanetsian; Ishkhan Sagatelian and Gegham Manukian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutiun); as well as Eduard Sharmazanov of the former ruling Republican Party (HHK).
Vanetsian was later released, his assistant Vahagn Boiajian told RFE/RL.
Nearly two dozen opposition parties have demanded Pashinian’s resignation over the trilateral truce deal, viewed by them as an act of surrender.
In an address to the nation on November 12, Pashinian acknowledged that the document he signed was "bad for us" but "should not be presented as worse than it is."
The prime minister said it had prevented the collapse of Armenian defense lines and the encirclement of up to 25,000 soldiers.
He also called on Armenians to rally around his government, saying that its priority was the stability and security of the country.
The Russia-brokered deal is a major defeat for Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who have controlled Nagorno-Karabakh since a 1994 cease-fire ended all-out war.
Hundreds of Russian peacekeepers have already been deployed in the disputed area as part of a five-year mandate.
On November 12, a battalion of Russian peacekeepers entered Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh's largest city, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters.
The peace deal came after Azerbaijani forces made major battlefield gains in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, including reports they were approaching the region’s main city, Stepanakert, after taking the nearby strategic town of Shushi, known as Susa in Azeri.
Nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers will eventually be active in the region, with 90 armored personnel carriers, as part of Russia’s peacekeeping mission.
There have been questions about whether troops from Turkey, Azerbaijan's staunch ally, would also deploy to the region.
Turkish officials have insisted that was the case, but the text of the deal published by the Kremlin made no mention of it.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted on November 12 that "no peacekeeping units of the Turkish Republic will be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Lavrov said the activity of Turkish observers would be restricted to the premises of a Russian-Turkish cease-fire control center being created in Azerbaijan.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said a Russian delegation was scheduled to visit Turkey on November 13 to discuss details of how the joint center would operate.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule. They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
Efforts to resolve the conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992. Three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 have failed to hold.
With reporting by TASS and dpa


rferl--2020-11-12--HRW Denounces New Russian Bill Targeting NGOs As 'Repressive'

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) warns that the Russian government has submitted a bill to parliament this week that the New York-based watchdog said would further restrict the ability of independent groups in Russia to function .
“ This bill would create yet another repressive tool the government can use to harass independent groups , interfere with their work , and ultimately shut them down , ” Hugh Williamson , Europe and Central Asia director at HRW , said in a statement on November 12 .
The draft legislation “ should be dropped immediately , and the other repressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
The bill , introduced to parliament on November 10 , would expand reporting requirements for independent groups designated as “ foreign agents ” and would allow the Justice Ministry to ban any activity by those organizations , according to the statement .
Failure to comply would serve as grounds to close down the groups , it added .
Existing legislation already allows the Justice Ministry to ban a foreign group ’ s activity or project .
In addition , the new bill would introduce additional grounds for unscheduled government inspections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the authorities receive allegations that it participated in events organized or conducted by a foreign organization listed in Russia as “ undesirable.
” “ The draft does not clarify what constitutes ‘ participation , ’ does not differentiate between allegations that a group member ‘ participated ’ personally in such events or as a representative of the group , and does not limit such events to those in Russia , ” HRW said .
It added that the bill does not include “ qualifying criteria requiring the allegations to be credible before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cap on the number of these inspections.
” The draft law , if adopted , would “ create another persistent threat ” to independent nongovernmental organizations in a country where the authorities have used legislation governing these groups to “ increasingly restrict space for civic activity and penalize group leaders , as well as individual members , ” HRW said .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) warns that the Russian government has submitted a bill to parliament this week that the New York-based watchdog said would further restrict the ability of independent groups in Russia to function.
“This bill would create yet another repressive tool the government can use to harass independent groups, interfere with their work, and ultimately shut them down,” Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said in a statement on November 12.
The draft legislation “should be dropped immediately, and the other repressive laws need to go,” he added.
The bill, introduced to parliament on November 10, would expand reporting requirements for independent groups designated as “foreign agents” and would allow the Justice Ministry to ban any activity by those organizations, according to the statement.
Failure to comply would serve as grounds to close down the groups, it added.
Existing legislation already allows the Justice Ministry to ban a foreign group’s activity or project.
In addition, the new bill would introduce additional grounds for unscheduled government inspections of groups tagged as “foreign agents” if the authorities receive allegations that it participated in events organized or conducted by a foreign organization listed in Russia as “undesirable.”
“The draft does not clarify what constitutes ‘participation,’ does not differentiate between allegations that a group member ‘participated’ personally in such events or as a representative of the group, and does not limit such events to those in Russia,” HRW said.
It added that the bill does not include “qualifying criteria requiring the allegations to be credible before they trigger an inspection, nor any cap on the number of these inspections.”
The draft law, if adopted, would “create another persistent threat” to independent nongovernmental organizations in a country where the authorities have used legislation governing these groups to “increasingly restrict space for civic activity and penalize group leaders, as well as individual members,” HRW said.


rferl--2020-11-12--Ukraine's President, Chief Of Presidential Office Hospitalized Due To COVID-19

Ukraine 's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the head of his office have been hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus earlier this week .
Zelenskiy and the head of the presidential office , Andriy Yermak , are being treated at Kyiv ’ s Feofaniya Clinical Hospital , Yermak 's adviser , Mykhailo Podolyak , said in a November 12 interview with the online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda .
“ A special office has been equipped there to enable the president to hold conferences .
He has held a large number of conference calls today , '' Podolyak said .
He said Yermak has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` first went home but decided to move to Feofania [ hospital ] to accurately isolate and not expose anyone , '' Reuters quoted a presidential spokeswoman as saying .
`` There are better conditions for patients .
Nothing serious , '' she said , referring to the president 's condition .
On November 9 , Zelenskiy ’ s office said he had tested positive for the coronavirus , adding that the president “ is feeling well and will continue to perform his duties remotely in self-isolation.
” Minutes later , Yermak also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus and that he was feeling `` fine . ''
Also on November 12 , parliament speaker Dmytro Razumkov said he had tested positive for the corovanirus but that he was feeling `` well . ''
Other top Ukrainian officials , including the finance and defense ministers , were also reported to be infected .
Health authorities said on November 12 that the country registered a record 11,057 new coronavirus cases over the previous 24 hours , with 198 new deaths .
The new infections took the total confirmed cases to 500,865 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Reuters , UNIAN , and Interfax

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the head of his office have been hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus earlier this week.
Zelenskiy and the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, are being treated at Kyiv’s Feofaniya Clinical Hospital, Yermak's adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said in a November 12 interview with the online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
“A special office has been equipped there to enable the president to hold conferences. He has held a large number of conference calls today," Podolyak said.
He said Yermak has a separate, isolated ward.
Zelenskiy "first went home but decided to move to Feofania [hospital] to accurately isolate and not expose anyone," Reuters quoted a presidential spokeswoman as saying.
"There are better conditions for patients. Nothing serious," she said, referring to the president's condition.
On November 9, Zelenskiy’s office said he had tested positive for the coronavirus, adding that the president “is feeling well and will continue to perform his duties remotely in self-isolation.”
Minutes later, Yermak also announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus and that he was feeling "fine."
Also on November 12, parliament speaker Dmytro Razumkov said he had tested positive for the corovanirus but that he was feeling "well."
Other top Ukrainian officials, including the finance and defense ministers, were also reported to be infected.
Health authorities said on November 12 that the country registered a record 11,057 new coronavirus cases over the previous 24 hours, with 198 new deaths.
The new infections took the total confirmed cases to 500,865, with 9,145 deaths.
With reporting by Reuters, UNIAN, and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-12--Massive Purple-Pink Diamond From Russia Fetches $23.6 Million At Auction

An exquisite purple-pink diamond mined in Russia , which Sotheby 's described as having “ unparalleled qualities , ” sold for $ 23.6 million at an auction in Geneva .
Sotheby 's had estimated the flawless 14.83-carat diamond , which it said was the largest purple-pink diamond to ever appear at auction , would sell for between $ 23 million and $ 38 million at the November 11 bidding .
The final hammer price was $ 21 million , plus commission .
It was bought by a telephone bidder who chose to remain anonymous , Sotheby 's said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Rose after Vaslav Nijinsky ’ s ballet , Le Spectre de la rose , the most famous ballet performed by the Ballets Russes .
The rough diamond was unearthed by Alrosa , the world ’ s top diamond miner , in the Republic of Yakutia in the northeast of Russia in July 2017 .
It took an entire year for Alrosa experts to cut and polish the diamond .
`` The diamond ’ s character and immense presence is further enhanced by its perfect cut and oval shape .
The numerous facets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your eyes in a mesmerizing way , ” said Gary Schuler , the worldwide chairman of Sotheby ’ s jewelry division .
“ It is a natural wonder , steeped in Russia ’ s century-long diamond tradition and cultural heritage , ” he said .

An exquisite purple-pink diamond mined in Russia, which Sotheby's described as having “unparalleled qualities,” sold for $23.6 million at an auction in Geneva.
Sotheby's had estimated the flawless 14.83-carat diamond, which it said was the largest purple-pink diamond to ever appear at auction, would sell for between $23 million and $38 million at the November 11 bidding.
The final hammer price was $21 million, plus commission. It was bought by a telephone bidder who chose to remain anonymous, Sotheby's said.
The rare diamond is named The Spirit Of The Rose after Vaslav Nijinsky’s ballet, Le Spectre de la rose, the most famous ballet performed by the Ballets Russes.
The rough diamond was unearthed by Alrosa, the world’s top diamond miner, in the Republic of Yakutia in the northeast of Russia in July 2017.
It took an entire year for Alrosa experts to cut and polish the diamond.
"The diamond’s character and immense presence is further enhanced by its perfect cut and oval shape. The numerous facets and shades of pink dance in front of your eyes in a mesmerizing way,” said Gary Schuler, the worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s jewelry division.
“It is a natural wonder, steeped in Russia’s century-long diamond tradition and cultural heritage,” he said.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-11-11--Hungary Imposes Strict Restrictions As Coronavirus Situation Worsens

The Hungarian government has imposed its strictest pandemic measures so far amid a quickly worsening COVID-19 situation , drastically changing course after weeks of lax restrictions and an optimistic outlook from Prime Minister Viktor Orban .
The new restrictions kicked in early on November 11 and include an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew , restaurants and bars being limited to takeout and home delivery , mandatory mask-wearing in public areas , a 10-person ceiling on family gatherings , remote learning for high school and university students , and limits on sports events .
They new measures will remain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In announcing the lockdown on November 9 , Orban said that , if the number of infections continued to grow at the current rate , `` then our doctors ... and our hospitals [ won ’ t be able to ] cope with the burden . ''
Daily coronavirus deaths in Hungary jumped above 100 for the third time on November 11 , bringing the total to 2,697 -- with about half recorded in the past two weeks .
Nearly 123,000 confirmed infections have been reported so far in the country of nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s opposition have criticized the measures as being too little , too late .
Based on reporting by AFP , Reuters , and dpa

The Hungarian government has imposed its strictest pandemic measures so far amid a quickly worsening COVID-19 situation, drastically changing course after weeks of lax restrictions and an optimistic outlook from Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The new restrictions kicked in early on November 11 and include an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, restaurants and bars being limited to takeout and home delivery, mandatory mask-wearing in public areas, a 10-person ceiling on family gatherings, remote learning for high school and university students, and limits on sports events.
They new measures will remain in effect for at least 30 days.
In announcing the lockdown on November 9, Orban said that, if the number of infections continued to grow at the current rate, "then our doctors...and our hospitals [won’t be able to] cope with the burden."
Daily coronavirus deaths in Hungary jumped above 100 for the third time on November 11, bringing the total to 2,697 -- with about half recorded in the past two weeks.
Nearly 123,000 confirmed infections have been reported so far in the country of nearly 10 million.
Members of Hungary’s opposition have criticized the measures as being too little, too late.
Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa


rferl--2020-11-13--Thousands Mourn 'Hero' Reportedly Beaten To Death By Belarusian Security Forces

Thousands of people carrying flowers gathered in Minsk on November 12 to honor a 31-year-old man reportedly beaten to death by masked Belarussian security forces .
Witnesses say plainclothes men abducted Raman Bandarenka on November 11 after a scuffle in a square where they came to remove red-and-white ribbons that represent the opposition protest movement against strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
The interior ministry said “ unknown people ” were fighting and when police arrived they called an ambulance to take an injured Bandarenka to the hospital .
The witness said there was no ambulance , and instead , the masked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to those used by security forces .
More than an hour later , Bandarenka was reportedly admitted to an emergency room with severe head trauma and died on November 12 .
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , the opposition leader who fled the country due to threats against her and her family , described Bandarenka as a hero .
“ He became a victim of the regime 's inhumanity and terror for just being an active Belarusian thriving for freedom , ” Tsikhanouskaya said .
`` Shocked by the death of Raman Bandarenka , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
`` Astonishing cynicism , cruelty of the regime and blunt ignorance of people 's aspirations for changes . ''
Lukashenka , who has ruled Belarus for 26 years , has faced almost daily protests calling for his resignation since a presidential election on August 9 that the opposition says was rigged and that the West has refused to accept .
Several protesters have been killed and thousands of people arrested since authorities declared Lukashenka the landslide winner of the vote .
There have also been credible reports of torture during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country 's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country .
In response to the crackdown , the United States , Britain , and the European Union have imposed sanctions on dozens of Belarusian officials , including Lukashenka .

The European Union has again condemned Belarus's violent crackdown on protesters since a disputed August election and has threatened to impose more sanctions on the country following the death of a 31-year-old Belarusian citizen who was reportedly badly beaten by masked security forces.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the capital, Minsk, on November 13 to mourn the death of Raman Bandarenka and lay flowers at the site where he was arrested before his death.
Witnesses say plainclothes men abducted Bandarenka on November 11 after a scuffle in a square where they came to remove red-and-white ribbons that represent the opposition protest movement against strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The Interior Ministry said “unknown people” were fighting and when police arrived they called an ambulance to take the injured Bandarenka to the hospital.
One witness said there was no ambulance, and instead, the masked men took several people away in minivans similar to those used by security forces.
More than an hour later, Bandarenka was reportedly taken to a hospital with severe head trauma and died. .
"This is an outrageous and shameful result of the actions by the Belarusian authorities who have not only directly and violently carried out repression of their own population, but also created an environment whereby such lawless, violent acts can take place, thus ignoring not only the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Belarusian people but also disregarding their lives," EU spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement released on November 13.
"The European Union has already imposed sanctions on 55 individuals responsible for violent repression and intimidation, and stands ready to impose additional sanctions," Stano added, while expressing the EU's "deepest condolences" for the family and friends of Bandarenka.
Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years, has faced almost daily protests calling for his resignation since a presidential election on August 9 that the opposition says was rigged and which the West has refused to accept.
Several protesters have been killed and thousands of people arrested since authorities declared Lukashenka the landslide winner of the vote.
There have also been credible reports of torture during a widening security crackdown.
Most of the country's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country, including opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who described Bandarenka as a hero.
“He became a victim of the regime's inhumanity and terror for just being an active Belarusian [striving] for freedom,” Tsikhanouskaya said.
In response to the crackdown, the United States, Britain, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on dozens of Belarusian officials, including Lukashenka.
The foreign minister of neighboring Lithuania, where Tsikhanouskaya is currently living after leaving Belarus because of fears for her safety and that of her family, said he was "shocked" at Bandarenka's death.
"Astonishing cynicism, cruelty of the regime and blunt ignorance of people's aspirations for changes," Linas Linkevicius said on Twitter.


rferl--2020-11-12--U.S. Reiterates Call For Release Of Political Prisoners In Belarus

The United States has condemned the continued detention of political prisoners in Belarus , saying that more than 100 are currently being held for participating in peaceful protests .
`` These political prisoners have been subject to harsh and life-threatening detention conditions , including credible reports of torture , '' U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on November 12 .
The detainees `` are among the thousands of individuals who have been subjected to unjust detentions since the start of the violent crackdown , '' Pompeo said .
The United States again called on the authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of violence against peaceful demonstrators , release all political prisoners and other peaceful protesters who have been detained , and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Coordination Council and Belarusian civil society , '' Pompeo added .
The statement came the same day that a young protester died , reportedly beaten by security forces .
Raman Bandarenka , 31 , had been abducted by unidentified people in Minsk on November 11 .
He was then taken to hospital in critical condition and was declared dead on November 12 .
`` My condolences to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed , '' opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya tweeted on November 12 .
`` He was brutally beaten by Lukashenka 's thugs last night .
He became a victim of the regime 's inhumanity and terror for just being an active Belarusian thriving for freedom . ''
Several thousand people took part in the most recent large protest on November 8 , the 13th consecutive Sunday of protests calling for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and a new presidential election following a disputed vote three months ago .
The Vyasna human rights group said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained across Belarus in the November 8 protests .
Video and photographs posted on social media showed men , often in plainclothes , brutally wrestling demonstrators to the ground and forcing them into police transports .
Lukashenka has faced regular protests since the presidential election on August 9 in which he was declared the winner .
The opposition says the election was rigged and that the West has refused to accept it .
Most of the country 's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country .
In response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain , and the European Union have imposed sanctions on dozens of Belarusian officials , including Lukashenka .

The United States has condemned the continued detention of political prisoners in Belarus, saying that more than 100 are currently being held for participating in peaceful protests.
"These political prisoners have been subject to harsh and life-threatening detention conditions, including credible reports of torture," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on November 12.
The detainees "are among the thousands of individuals who have been subjected to unjust detentions since the start of the violent crackdown," Pompeo said.
The United States again called on the authorities "to immediately cease the escalating use of violence against peaceful demonstrators, release all political prisoners and other peaceful protesters who have been detained, and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Coordination Council and Belarusian civil society," Pompeo added.
The statement came the same day that a young protester died, reportedly beaten by security forces.
Raman Bandarenka, 31, had been abducted by unidentified people in Minsk on November 11. He was then taken to hospital in critical condition and was declared dead on November 12.
"My condolences to the family of Raman Bandarenka who was killed," opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya tweeted on November 12.
"He was brutally beaten by Lukashenka's thugs last night. He became a victim of the regime's inhumanity and terror for just being an active Belarusian thriving for freedom."
Several thousand people took part in the most recent large protest on November 8, the 13th consecutive Sunday of protests calling for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and a new presidential election following a disputed vote three months ago.
The Vyasna human rights group said more than more than 1,000 demonstrators were detained across Belarus in the November 8 protests. Video and photographs posted on social media showed men, often in plainclothes, brutally wrestling demonstrators to the ground and forcing them into police transports.
Lukashenka has faced regular protests since the presidential election on August 9 in which he was declared the winner.
The opposition says the election was rigged and that the West has refused to accept it. Most of the country's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country.
In response to the crackdown, the United States, Britain, and the European Union have imposed sanctions on dozens of Belarusian officials, including Lukashenka.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-11-12--Leaked Audio, Testimony Find Journalists At Hungarian State Broadcaster Instructed On News Coverage

An investigation by RFE/RL has found journalists at Hungary 's public broadcaster faced pressure leading up to European Parliament elections in 2019 , including orders to push , among other things , an anti-migrant narrative , a key issue of the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban .
RFE/RL obtained leaked audio recordings and other testimony , including internal e-mail , indicating that editors at Hungarian broadcaster MTVA instructed reporters on how to cover certain issues , including opposition parties and candidates .
In one recording , the voice of Balazs Bende , a senior MTVA editor , can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure no one will be surprised to hear that it is not the opposition 's list that enjoys the support of this institution . ''
`` Whoever is in charge must produce content according to the appropriate narrative , method , and direction , mostly about migrants and Brussels , '' Bende can be heard saying .
`` If anyone is not prepared to work under these conditions , he is free to file his resignation immediately , '' he added .
Internal e-mail and employee testimony obtained by RFE/RL indicate MTVA reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stance not only on migrant , but LGBT issues as well , along with climate change .
Orban , whose stated aim has been to transform Hungary into an `` illiberal democracy , '' has drawn censure abroad with his anti-immigration rhetoric and sweeping reforms that have earned him accusations of authoritarianism from the European Union .
He has denied these accusations .
He has nonetheless enjoyed enduring popularity at home , winning three straight terms to become Hungary 's longest-serving postcommunist leader , and has repeatedly shown his ability to bring tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the past 10 years , the Orban government has taken control of most of the country 's press outlets , either directly or indirectly .
Since 2010 , Hungary 's public television and radio stations and the state news agency have gradually come under much tighter political control than under previous governments .
In 2019 , about 500 private media outlets were concentrated into the Central European Press and Media Foundation ( KESMA ) , which has close ties to the Orban government .
Hungary suffered a 16-point plunge , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' 2020 World Press Freedom Index .

An investigation by RFE/RL has found journalists at Hungary's public broadcaster faced pressure leading up to European Parliament elections in 2019, including orders to push, among other things, an anti-migrant narrative, a key issue of the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
RFE/RL obtained leaked audio recordings and other testimony, including internal e-mail, indicating that editors at Hungarian broadcaster MTVA instructed reporters on how to cover certain issues, including opposition parties and candidates.
In one recording, the voice of Balazs Bende, a senior MTVA editor, can be heard telling reporters, "I'm sure no one will be surprised to hear that it is not the opposition's list that enjoys the support of this institution."
"Whoever is in charge must produce content according to the appropriate narrative, method, and direction, mostly about migrants and Brussels," Bende can be heard saying.
"If anyone is not prepared to work under these conditions, he is free to file his resignation immediately," he added.
Internal e-mail and employee testimony obtained by RFE/RL indicate MTVA reporters were also told to take a critical stance not only on migrant, but LGBT issues as well, along with climate change.
Orban, whose stated aim has been to transform Hungary into an "illiberal democracy," has drawn censure abroad with his anti-immigration rhetoric and sweeping reforms that have earned him accusations of authoritarianism from the European Union. He has denied these accusations.
He has nonetheless enjoyed enduring popularity at home, winning three straight terms to become Hungary's longest-serving postcommunist leader, and has repeatedly shown his ability to bring tens of thousands of supporters onto the streets.
Over the past 10 years, the Orban government has taken control of most of the country's press outlets, either directly or indirectly.
Since 2010, Hungary's public television and radio stations and the state news agency have gradually come under much tighter political control than under previous governments.
In 2019, about 500 private media outlets were concentrated into the Central European Press and Media Foundation (KESMA), which has close ties to the Orban government.
Hungary suffered a 16-point plunge, to 89th place, in Reporters Without Borders' 2020 World Press Freedom Index.


rferl--2020-11-12--Russia Cancels House Arrest Of U.S. Investor Calvey, Other Suspects In Embezzlement Case

MOSCOW -- Russia 's Supreme Court has eased the detention terms for U.S. investor Michael Calvey and six others from house arrest to a restriction on `` certain activities . ''
The court ruled on November 12 that the the seven businessmen , accused of embezzlement may not change their permanent addresses , leave their homes between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. , visit financial institutions involved with the case , communicate with other suspects in places other than the courtroom , send or receive mail , or use telephones unless it 's an emergency .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 , 2021 .
Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russian-based private-equity group Baring Vostok , including French national Philippe Delpal , were detained in Moscow in February 2019 and charged with financial fraud .
They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank .
Calvey was released under house arrest in April 2019 .
The arrests of Calvey and his associates stunned many Western investors and drew complaints from high-level Russian business leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivation of the courts and prosecutors .
Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia .
It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $ 3.7 billion in assets .
The company was an early major investor in Yandex , Russia 's dominant search engine .
Calvey is one of three Americans currently held in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless .
Paul Whelan , a former U.S. Marine , was sentenced in June to 16 years in prison on espionage charges that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Marine , Trevor Reed , was sentenced to nine years in prison in late July after a Moscow court found him guilty of assaulting two police officers , a charge that he refused to admit .
With reporting by Interfax and TASS

MOSCOW -- Russia's Supreme Court has eased the detention terms for U.S. investor Michael Calvey and six others from house arrest to a restriction on "certain activities."
The court ruled on November 12 that the the seven businessmen, accused of embezzlement may not change their permanent addresses, leave their homes between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., visit financial institutions involved with the case, communicate with other suspects in places other than the courtroom, send or receive mail, or use telephones unless it's an emergency.
The restrictions will last until at least January 13, 2021.
Calvey and several other executives and employees of the Russian-based private-equity group Baring Vostok, including French national Philippe Delpal, were detained in Moscow in February 2019 and charged with financial fraud.
They all deny any wrongdoing and say the case is being used against them in a corporate dispute over the control of a Russian bank. Calvey was released under house arrest in April 2019.
The arrests of Calvey and his associates stunned many Western investors and drew complaints from high-level Russian business leaders and government officials, who questioned the motivation of the courts and prosecutors.
Baring Vostok is one of the largest and oldest private-equity firms operating in Russia. It was founded in the early 1990s and manages more than $3.7 billion in assets. The company was an early major investor in Yandex, Russia's dominant search engine.
Calvey is one of three Americans currently held in Russia on charges supporters say are groundless. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was sentenced in June to 16 years in prison on espionage charges that he has vehemently rejected.
Another former U.S. Marine, Trevor Reed, was sentenced to nine years in prison in late July after a Moscow court found him guilty of assaulting two police officers, a charge that he refused to admit.
With reporting by Interfax and TASS


rferl--2020-11-12--Iran Arrests Separatist Leader Accused Of Deadly Attack On Military Parade

Iran 's Intelligence Ministry has confirmed the arrest of a separatist group leader allegedly involved in a deadly attack during a military parade in 2018 .
In a statement cited by state-run IRNA news agency on November 12 , the ministry said Farajollah Cha'ab had been identified and arrested .
Cha'ab was described as `` the main person in the terrorist attack '' in the southwestern city of Ahvaz in 2018 , adding that he had planned several other large attacks in Tehran and Khuzestan Province in recent years .
The statement did not elaborate on when or where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Movement has been active since 2005 .
It seeks a separate state in Iran 's oil-rich Khuzestan Province .
Al-Arabia previously quoted the group as saying that Iranian agents had kidnapped Cha'ab in Turkey with the `` cooperation of a third country . ''
Mojtaba Zulnoori , head of the parliament 's National Security Committee , later said that Iran ’ s security and intelligence services were `` interrogating '' Cha'ab .
On September 22 , 2018 , gunmen dressed in military uniforms opened fire on an annual military parade in Ahvaz , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attackers and at least 25 other people were reportedly killed , about half of them members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) .
The IRGC later claimed it had killed the `` mastermind '' behind the assault in an operation in neighboring Iraq .
The man , identified as Abu Zaha , was said to be a member of Islamic State ( IS ) , an extremist Sunni group that considers Iran 's Shi'ite Muslim majority to be heretics .
Both IS militants and the Ahwaz National Resistance , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Movement , claimed responsibility .
Neither group provided conclusive evidence to back up its claim .

A polytechnic school in Russia’s Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.
The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.
The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.
Since then, RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.
“My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away,” Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. “He said to me on the phone, ‘Come and get me or I’ll die,’ so I picked him up immediately.”
Zhanna, who asked that her underage son’s name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhny Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.
The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.
“This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation,” Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. “[Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies.”
The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.
Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.
“This was the last straw for me,” Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. “This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents.”
RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.
Making Iranian Drones In Russia
The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.
According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.
Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.
After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.
So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.
In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.
WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. Ordinary Ukrainians say they can already recognize the sound of the drones, which use two-stroke engines like lawnmowers or motorbikes. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.
The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.
The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.
Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education
Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.
Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.
In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the country’s military amid the war in Ukraine.
According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a “patriotic” character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.
Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a “patriotic” education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.
In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.
Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.
Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.
Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RL’s request for comment.
The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working “even if it's mom's birthday,” before ending his speech with, “Long live our great country.”
WATCH: Amid a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, analysts in Kyiv are gaining useful intelligence from a collection of downed Russian aerial weapons. They have been studying the remains of Iranian Shahed drones and Russian Kinzhal missiles, among others.
Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed “patriotic” enough.
According to Protokol and Razvorot’s investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised “world class” salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.
However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.
Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities


rferl--2020-11-12--RFE/RL Journalist Gets 15 Days In Jail For Covering Anti-Lukashenka Rally

MINSK -- Noted Belarusian journalist Aleh Hruzdzilovich has been sentenced to 15 days in jail over covering one of the ongoing mass rallies demanding Alyaksandr Lukashenka 's resignation .
Judge Maryna Yarokhina of the Frunze district court in Minsk on November 12 found the 61-year-old journalist and RFE/RL correspondent guilty of taking part in an unsanctioned mass gathering on October 25 , and ordered him jailed for 15 days .
Hruzdzilovich pleaded not guilty , insisting that he was covering the rally as a reporter for the Narodnaya Volya ( People 's Will ) newspaper , which granted him a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his RFE/RL accreditation .
However , Hruzdzilovich was found guilty and joined 15 other journalists who are serving administrative arrests over covering the ongoing rallies that erupted after August 9 presidential poll that election officials said was won by Lukashenka , while tens of thousands of protesters have insisted that the election was rigged .
Hruzdzilovich is one of Belarus 's most well-known journalists .
He worked for 25 years as an RFE/RL correspondent in Belarus .
After the Belarusian Foreign Ministry refused to prolong the accreditations of Hruzdzilovich and three other RFE/RL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspend his work for RFE/RL .
He has since been working with independent media outlets of the country .
There have been protests almost daily against Lukashenka in Minsk and elsewhere in the country since an August 9 presidential election that protesters alleged was rigged and that Western countries have refused to accept .
Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown that has included thousands of arrests , beatings , and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters , as well as expulsions of foreign journalists .
On November 4 , European Union member states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with 14 other Belarusian officials , in response to the crackdown .

MINSK -- Noted Belarusian journalist Aleh Hruzdzilovich has been sentenced to 15 days in jail over covering one of the ongoing mass rallies demanding Alyaksandr Lukashenka's resignation.
Judge Maryna Yarokhina of the Frunze district court in Minsk on November 12 found the 61-year-old journalist and RFE/RL correspondent guilty of taking part in an unsanctioned mass gathering on October 25, and ordered him jailed for 15 days.
Hruzdzilovich pleaded not guilty, insisting that he was covering the rally as a reporter for the Narodnaya Volya (People's Will) newspaper, which granted him a local press card after Belarusian authorities revoked his RFE/RL accreditation.
However, Hruzdzilovich was found guilty and joined 15 other journalists who are serving administrative arrests over covering the ongoing rallies that erupted after August 9 presidential poll that election officials said was won by Lukashenka, while tens of thousands of protesters have insisted that the election was rigged.
Hruzdzilovich is one of Belarus's most well-known journalists.
He worked for 25 years as an RFE/RL correspondent in Belarus. After the Belarusian Foreign Ministry refused to prolong the accreditations of Hruzdzilovich and three other RFE/RL correspondents in August, Hruzdzilovich had to suspend his work for RFE/RL.
He has since been working with independent media outlets of the country.
There have been protests almost daily against Lukashenka in Minsk and elsewhere in the country since an August 9 presidential election that protesters alleged was rigged and that Western countries have refused to accept.
Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown that has included thousands of arrests, beatings, and other mistreatment of peaceful protesters, as well as expulsions of foreign journalists.
On November 4, European Union member states agreed to slap sanctions on Lukashenka, along with 14 other Belarusian officials, in response to the crackdown.


rferl--2020-11-12--Anti-Government Protests Continue In Yerevan Amid Fury Over Karabakh Peace Deal

YEREVAN -- Armenian opposition groups are continuing their protests to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian over the terms he agreed to in a Russian-brokered accord with Azerbaijan that ended more than six weeks of fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Several thousand protesters marched through the streets of Yerevan on November 12 , shouting anti-Pashinian slogans such as `` Traitor , go away !
” Separately , supporters of the opposition group Sasna Tsrer held a rally in the central Freedom Square but canceled a planned march in the city after police told them to disband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallies are banned .
A number of demonstrators who refused to leave the area were detained by security forces .
The announcement of the truce deal early on November 10 sparked an immediate and furious reaction in the Armenian capital , where angry protesters stormed government buildings and parliament .
While ending fighting that has killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides , the deal has been rejected by many Armenians because it allows Azerbaijan to keep a sizable chunk of the small mountain region , along with the surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after the agreement , thousands of demonstrators defied martial law and rallied in the center of the city , calling Pashinian a “ traitor.
” The Special Investigation Service announced on November 12 the arrest of 10 prominent opposition figures accused of `` organizing illegal violent mass disorder , '' a move denounced by the opposition as illegal .
Those arrested in the criminal case initiated by the Special Investigation Service included Gagik Tsarukian , leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party ; Homeland party leader Arthur Vanetsian ; Ishkhan Sagatelian and Gegham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dashnaktsutiun ) ; as well as Eduard Sharmazanov of the former ruling Republican Party ( HHK ) .
Vanetsian was later released , his assistant Vahagn Boiajian told RFE/RL .
Nearly two dozen opposition parties have demanded Pashinian ’ s resignation over the trilateral truce deal , viewed by them as an act of surrender .
In an address to the nation on November 12 , Pashinian acknowledged that the document he signed was `` bad for us '' but `` should not be presented as worse than it is . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collapse of Armenian defense lines and the encirclement of up to 25,000 soldiers .
He also called on Armenians to rally around his government , saying that its priority was the stability and security of the country .
The Russia-brokered deal is a major defeat for Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who have controlled Nagorno-Karabakh since a 1994 cease-fire ended all-out war .
Hundreds of Russian peacekeepers have already been deployed in the disputed area as part of a five-year mandate .
The peace deal came after Azerbaijani forces made major battlefield gains in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were approaching the region ’ s main city , Stepanakert , after taking the nearby strategic town of Shushi , known as Susa in Azeri .
Nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeepers will eventually be active in the region , with 90 armored personnel carriers , as part of Russia ’ s peacekeeping mission .
There have been questions about whether troops from Turkey , Azerbaijan 's staunch ally , would also deploy to the region .
Turkish officials have insisted that was the case , but the text of the deal published by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted on November 12 that `` no peacekeeping units of the Turkish Republic will be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh.
” Lavrov said the activity of Turkish observers would be restricted to the premises of a Russian-Turkish cease-fire control center being created in Azerbaijan .
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said a Russian delegation was scheduled to visit Turkey on November 13 to discuss details of how the joint center would operate .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
Efforts to resolve the conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group -- co-chaired by Russia , France , and the United States -- have not brought any results since 1992 .
Three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 have failed to hold .
With reporting by TASS and dpa


rferl--2020-11-12--Russia Plans Red Sea Naval Base In Sudan

Russia plans to build a naval base in Sudan , according to a bilateral draft agreement between the two nations .
The agreement would allow Russia to establish a naval logistics base in Sudan for the repair and supply of warships as well as provide rest to sailors , according to the document published on November 11 on a Russian government website after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved it .
A naval base in Sudan would expand Russian influence in northeast Africa along vital shipping routes in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait .
The draft agreement says that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may stay at the naval logistics base , including ships with nuclear-propulsion systems .
Russia has economic and geopolitical interests in Sudan , a country rich in oil and other minerals .
Sudan is also one of the top importers of Russian arms in Africa .
The agreement states that Russia is willing to deliver weapons and military hardware to Sudan for free in order maintain the air defense of the Sudanese naval base at Port Sudan , where the Russian naval facility would be built .
Sudan 's economic crisis deepened following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Bashir in a coup that left the country in the hands of a joint civilian-military transitional government that is seeking to end the country ’ s international isolation .
Bashir first asked Russia to build a base along the Red Sea in 2017 , due in part to concerns about the United States .
Last month , the United States announced plans to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a diplomatic opening between Khartoum and Washington following Bashir ’ s ouster .
Saudi Arabia and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Sudan , providing much-needed financial aid to the new government .
With reporting by dpa , TASS , and Interfax

Russia plans to build a naval base in Sudan, according to a bilateral draft agreement between the two nations.
The agreement would allow Russia to establish a naval logistics base in Sudan for the repair and supply of warships as well as provide rest to sailors, according to the document published on November 11 on a Russian government website after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved it.
A naval base in Sudan would expand Russian influence in northeast Africa along vital shipping routes in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The draft agreement says that up to 300 crew and four warships may stay at the naval logistics base, including ships with nuclear-propulsion systems.
Russia has economic and geopolitical interests in Sudan, a country rich in oil and other minerals.
Sudan is also one of the top importers of Russian arms in Africa.
The agreement states that Russia is willing to deliver weapons and military hardware to Sudan for free in order maintain the air defense of the Sudanese naval base at Port Sudan, where the Russian naval facility would be built.
Sudan's economic crisis deepened following the 2019 ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in a coup that left the country in the hands of a joint civilian-military transitional government that is seeking to end the country’s international isolation.
Bashir first asked Russia to build a base along the Red Sea in 2017, due in part to concerns about the United States.
Last month, the United States announced plans to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of a diplomatic opening between Khartoum and Washington following Bashir’s ouster.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are also major players in Sudan, providing much-needed financial aid to the new government.
With reporting by dpa, TASS, and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-13--Man's Best Friend Honored As Turkmen Hero With Giant Statue

ASHGABAT -- Man 's best friend is now Turkmenistan 's latest hero .
The Central Asian nation 's authoritarian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov , who heads one of the world 's most oppressive governments , has unveiled a 6-meter-high golden statue of his favorite dog breed , the Alabay , an ancient livestock shepherd that 's also used for protection .
State media reported that the statue is located in a complex of residential and cultural facilities in the capital where civil servants live .
The statue was dedicated to a dog that has `` demonstrated respect and honor , exemplary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlight `` their role in the historical destiny of the nation , '' one news said .
The unveiling came amid a campaign to put down stray dogs in the country , RFE/RL correspondents report .
Videos showing men hunting strays across the country in recent days were provided to RFE/RL by local animals rights groups and activists .
Due to the graphic nature of the images , RFE/RL 's Turkmen Service has refrained from posting them on its website .
Residents of the eastern city of Turkmenabat told RFE/RL that they turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass killings of stray dogs in the city , but were in turn referred to the city sanitary control service .
Those officials said they had nothing to do with the killings .
Berdymukhammedov issued the order for the Alabay monument in November last year .
The president , who is often shown on state television as a musician , singer , horse rider , and military commando , has long promoted the Alabay breed , calling the dogs a national treasure .
He has even written books about them , and in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verses about the Alabay dog during a government session .
Media in the tightly controlled Central Asian nation do not report about stray animals being destroyed .
Amid an outcry by animal activists and media reports about mass killings of strays pets , Turkmen authorities announced in February 2019 plans to open a shelter for homeless domestic animals and started a fundraising campaign for the plan .
Last year authorities announced that special Alabay breeding grounds will be built across the country and asked citizens to contribute to that plan as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ personality since becoming Turkmenistan ’ s leader in 2006 after the death of his autocratic predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov .
Grandiose statues and monuments scattered across the country obscure a nation where many live in poverty despite Turkmenistan 's abundance of energy resources , mainly natural gas , which are exported .
Berdymukhammedov tight control of the media and freedom of expression -- Western rights organizations are banned from Turkmenistan -- have prompted Human Rights Watch to label it `` one of the most repressive and closed countries in the world . ''

ASHGABAT -- Man's best friend is now Turkmenistan's latest hero.
The Central Asian nation's authoritarian President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, who heads one of the world's most oppressive governments, has unveiled a 6-meter-high golden statue of his favorite dog breed, the Alabay, an ancient livestock shepherd that's also used for protection.
State media reported that the statue is located in a complex of residential and cultural facilities in the capital where civil servants live.
The statue was dedicated to a dog that has "demonstrated respect and honor, exemplary courage and a cordial heart" to highlight "their role in the historical destiny of the nation," one news said.
The unveiling came amid a campaign to put down stray dogs in the country, RFE/RL correspondents report.
Videos showing men hunting strays across the country in recent days were provided to RFE/RL by local animals rights groups and activists. Due to the graphic nature of the images, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service has refrained from posting them on its website.
Residents of the eastern city of Turkmenabat told RFE/RL that they turned to police to register complaints about the mass killings of stray dogs in the city, but were in turn referred to the city sanitary control service.
Those officials said they had nothing to do with the killings.
Berdymukhammedov issued the order for the Alabay monument in November last year.
The president, who is often shown on state television as a musician, singer, horse rider, and military commando, has long promoted the Alabay breed, calling the dogs a national treasure.
He has even written books about them, and in September 2019, Berdymukhammedov read aloud his verses about the Alabay dog during a government session.
Media in the tightly controlled Central Asian nation do not report about stray animals being destroyed.
Amid an outcry by animal activists and media reports about mass killings of strays pets, Turkmen authorities announced in February 2019 plans to open a shelter for homeless domestic animals and started a fundraising campaign for the plan.
Last year authorities announced that special Alabay breeding grounds will be built across the country and asked citizens to contribute to that plan as well.
Berdymukhammedov has established a pervasive cult of personality since becoming Turkmenistan’s leader in 2006 after the death of his autocratic predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov.
Grandiose statues and monuments scattered across the country obscure a nation where many live in poverty despite Turkmenistan's abundance of energy resources, mainly natural gas, which are exported.
Berdymukhammedov tight control of the media and freedom of expression -- Western rights organizations are banned from Turkmenistan -- have prompted Human Rights Watch to label it "one of the most repressive and closed countries in the world."


rferl--2020-11-13--Macron Says France Ready To Help Building Lasting Solution To Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

With a Russia-brokered truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan continuing to hold in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh , French President Emmanuel Macron says he is ready to help build a lasting and balanced solution for all sides in the conflict .
The peace deal , announced early on November 10 , came after Azerbaijani forces made major battlefield gains in and around Nagorno-Karabakh .
Three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 had failed to hold .
While ending fighting that has killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides , the deal has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allows Azerbaijan to keep a sizable chunk of the small mountain region , along with the surrounding areas captured during the fighting .
The deal includes the deployment of 2,000 Russian peacekeepers in the region .
France , part of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) -- co-chaired by Russia , France , and the United States -- has found itself somewhat sidelined by Moscow 's efforts in the conflict .
While Macron has been careful not to back one side or the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be wary with some 400,000 to 600,000 people of Armenian origin living in France .
`` The President expressed his satisfaction with the end of the fighting , recalled his friendship for Armenia and its people as well as his readiness to build a fair , lasting and acceptable political solution for all parties in Nagorno-Karabakh , '' the French presidency said in a statement detailing a call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian late on November 12 Speaking on November 13 , Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed criticism raised in Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military supplier to Yerevan , failed to offer the country considerable support in the conflict .
“ The accusation that Russia allegedly did not support Armenia enough is absolutely baseless .
Russia has never abandoned its commitments as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization .
Had anyone attacked Armenia , Russia would do everything to protect its ally , ” Peskov said .
Peskov also said that Russia has accepted Baku ’ s apology over the downing of a Russian military helicopter that left two crewmembers dead and one injured .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the instant reaction of the Azerbaijani president , and the declared readiness of Azerbaijan to carry out an impartial inquiry into the circumstances and to punish the culprits allowed [ Moscow ] to accept those apologies , '' Peskov said in an interview with Russian-government funded TV network RT .
Earlier , Azerbaijan said the comment made by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu concerning the November 9 incident was “ inappropriate . ''
Buldbuloglu had said that `` War is war , anything can happen . ''
“ This case can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Russia , '' Azerbaijani presidential aide and head of the presidential administration 's foreign policy department Hikmet Hajiyev said in a statement .
Efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the conflict have failed to bring any results since 1992 .
With reporting by RFE/RL ’ s Armenian and Azerbaijani Services , Reuters and Interfax

With a Russia-brokered truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan continuing to hold in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, French President Emmanuel Macron says he is ready to help build a lasting and balanced solution for all sides in the conflict.
The peace deal, announced early on November 10, came after Azerbaijani forces made major battlefield gains in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. Three previous cease-fires signed since fighting broke out again on September 27 had failed to hold.
While ending fighting that has killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides, the deal has been rejected by many Armenians because it allows Azerbaijan to keep a sizable chunk of the small mountain region, along with the surrounding areas captured during the fighting.
The deal includes the deployment of 2,000 Russian peacekeepers in the region.
France, part of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) -- co-chaired by Russia, France, and the United States -- has found itself somewhat sidelined by Moscow's efforts in the conflict.
While Macron has been careful not to back one side or the other in the dispute, he also has to be wary with some 400,000 to 600,000 people of Armenian origin living in France.
"The President expressed his satisfaction with the end of the fighting, recalled his friendship for Armenia and its people as well as his readiness to build a fair, lasting and acceptable political solution for all parties in Nagorno-Karabakh," the French presidency said in a statement detailing a call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian late on November 12
Speaking on November 13, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed criticism raised in Armenia that Russia, a key ally and military supplier to Yerevan, failed to offer the country considerable support in the conflict.
“The accusation that Russia allegedly did not support Armenia enough is absolutely baseless. Russia has never abandoned its commitments as part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Had anyone attacked Armenia, Russia would do everything to protect its ally,” Peskov said.
Downed Russian Helicopter
Peskov also said that Russia has accepted Baku’s apology over the downing of a Russian military helicopter that left two crewmembers dead and one injured.
"The instant reaction of the Azerbaijanis, the instant reaction of the Azerbaijani president, and the declared readiness of Azerbaijan to carry out an impartial inquiry into the circumstances and to punish the culprits allowed [Moscow] to accept those apologies," Peskov said in an interview with Russian-government funded TV network RT.
Earlier, Azerbaijan said the comment made by Azerbaijani Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu concerning the November 9 incident was “inappropriate." Buldbuloglu had said that "War is war, anything can happen."
“This case cannot do harm to the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia," Azerbaijani presidential aide and head of the presidential administration's foreign policy department Hikmet Hajiyev said in a statement.
Efforts by the OSCE Minsk Group to resolve the conflict have failed to bring any results since 1992.
With reporting by RFE/RL’s Armenian and Azerbaijani Services, Reuters and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-13--Late Kazakh Activist's Son Buried Amid Questions, Criticism Of Government

TALAPKER , Kazakhstan -- The teenage son of a late civil rights activist in Kazakhstan has been buried amid claims of foul play and harsh criticism of authorities over the way the death has been handled .
Despite cold temperatures and coronavirus restrictions , some 200 people arrived at the village of Talapker near Nur-Sultan , on November 13 to bid farewell to 17-year-old Zhanbolat Aghadil , who was stabbed to death on November 10 in what authorities called a brawl between youngsters .
The teenager 's death sparked protests across the Central Asian nation and demands for a thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dulat Aghadil , a prominent civil right activist , had died mysteriously while in custody in February .
In his eulogy at Zhanbolat Aghadil 's burial , Kazakh opposition activist Baltash Tursymbaev accused Kazakh authorities of `` failing to cherish the best citizens of Kazakhstan . ''
`` The Kazakh people have been losing their sons , who sincerely love their nation and their land .
The roots of this situation are very deep .
The reason for this is the thievish authorities whose hands are stained with blood , '' Tursymbaev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sarsenbaiuly , said that he does not believe the official version of the young man 's death .
In Kazakhstan ’ s largest city , Almaty , dozens of activists gathered at the Shoqan Ualikhanov Square , urging the government to thoroughly investigate the deaths of both Dulat and Zhanbolat Aghadil and to stop persecuting activists .
In many Kazakh towns and cities , people gathered in local mosques or central squares to pray and honor Zhanbolat Aghadil and his father on November 13 .
At least in two sites , in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Aqtobe , police and local officials tried to interrupt the prayers , citing coronavirus restrictions , but the activists commemorated the two men anyway .
Aghadil 's father died while being held in pretrial detention in Nur-Sultan just hours after being arrested for failing to comply with a court order to report to local police .
Authorities said at the time that Dulat Aghadil died from a heart attack , but his family and fellow rights defenders say he had no history of heart issues .
Rallies were held in Nur-Sultan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to demand a thorough investigation into his death .

TALAPKER, Kazakhstan -- The teenage son of a late civil rights activist in Kazakhstan has been buried amid claims of foul play and harsh criticism of authorities over the way the death has been handled.
Despite cold temperatures and coronavirus restrictions, some 200 people arrived at the village of Talapker near Nur-Sultan, on November 13 to bid farewell to 17-year-old Zhanbolat Aghadil, who was stabbed to death on November 10 in what authorities called a brawl between youngsters.
The teenager's death sparked protests across the Central Asian nation and demands for a thorough investigation as the young man's father, Dulat Aghadil, a prominent civil right activist, had died mysteriously while in custody in February.
In his eulogy at Zhanbolat Aghadil's burial, Kazakh opposition activist Baltash Tursymbaev accused Kazakh authorities of "failing to cherish the best citizens of Kazakhstan."
"The Kazakh people have been losing their sons, who sincerely love their nation and their land. The roots of this situation are very deep. The reason for this is the thievish authorities whose hands are stained with blood," Tursymbaev said.
Another opposition figure, Rysbek Sarsenbaiuly, said that he does not believe the official version of the young man's death.
In Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, dozens of activists gathered at the Shoqan Ualikhanov Square, urging the government to thoroughly investigate the deaths of both Dulat and Zhanbolat Aghadil and to stop persecuting activists.
In many Kazakh towns and cities, people gathered in local mosques or central squares to pray and honor Zhanbolat Aghadil and his father on November 13.
At least in two sites, in the southern city of Shymkent and the northwestern city of Aqtobe, police and local officials tried to interrupt the prayers, citing coronavirus restrictions, but the activists commemorated the two men anyway.
Aghadil's father died while being held in pretrial detention in Nur-Sultan just hours after being arrested for failing to comply with a court order to report to local police.
Authorities said at the time that Dulat Aghadil died from a heart attack, but his family and fellow rights defenders say he had no history of heart issues.
Rallies were held in Nur-Sultan and other cities in February and March to demand a thorough investigation into his death.


rferl--2020-11-13--Kyrgyz Supreme Court Rules That Police Crackdown On Women's Rally Was Illegal

BISHKEK -- The Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan has ruled that a police crackdown on a feminist group in Bishkek earlier in March was illegal .
The court 's press service said on November 12 that the decision had been made a day earlier .
The decision cancels the rulings of two lower courts that found the detention of 11 feminist activists in March to be legal .
On March 8 , which is marked worldwide as International Women 's Day , feminist activists in Bishkek planned to hold what they called the March of Women 's Solidarity in downtown Bishkek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to the city center , they were attacked by unknown individuals .
Instead of protecting the women , police violently dispersed them while arresting 11 activists who were later fined for holding an unsanctioned public event .
The women 's lawyers told RFE/RL late on November 12 that they plan to file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the fines imposed on their clients .
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged Kyrgyz authorities to thoroughly investigate the attack on the feminist activists and the dispersal of the gathering by @ @

BISHKEK -- The Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan has ruled that a police crackdown on a feminist group in Bishkek earlier in March was illegal.
The court's press service said on November 12 that the decision had been made a day earlier.
The decision cancels the rulings of two lower courts that found the detention of 11 feminist activists in March to be legal.
On March 8, which is marked worldwide as International Women's Day, feminist activists in Bishkek planned to hold what they called the March of Women's Solidarity in downtown Bishkek.
However, when dozens of women came to the city center, they were attacked by unknown individuals.
Instead of protecting the women, police violently dispersed them while arresting 11 activists who were later fined for holding an unsanctioned public event.
The women's lawyers told RFE/RL late on November 12 that they plan to file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the fines imposed on their clients.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have urged Kyrgyz authorities to thoroughly investigate the attack on the feminist activists and the dispersal of the gathering by police.