rferl--2020-11-23--Trump To Roll Out Stiff Bond Requirements For Visitors From 'Overstay' Countries, Including Iran

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--2020-11-25--Top U.S. Envoy Says New Sanctions Against Iran Coming 'Until The End' Of Trump Administration

As U.S. President Donald Trump 's time in office comes to a close , his outgoing administration intends to put further pressure on Iran by introducing new punitive sanctions against the U.S. adversary .
On November 25 , the top U.S. envoy on Iran , Elliott Abrams , announced that Trump 's sanctions strategy would continue `` for another couple of months , right until the end '' of his presidency with the introduction of new punitive measures related to arms , weapons of mass destruction , and human rights .
Upon taking office , Trump was highly critical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and world powers that was worked out under the administration of his predecessor , Barack Obama .
In 2018 the United States abandoned the agreement under which Tehran curtailed its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief .
While Trump tightened the screws on Tehran by introducing new punitive sanctions , and Iran responded by announcing it was no longer required to abide by the deal 's limits on uranium enrichment , European signatories to the deal along with China and Russia have struggled to maintain the arrangement .
President-elect Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January , has said he intends to return the United States to the deal if Iran resumes compliance .
During a virtual event held by the Berlin Institute , Abrams praised Biden 's foreign-policy nominees and said he believed the new administration `` has a great opportunity '' to negotiate a new deal with Tehran that addresses missile and regional threats from Iran .
But Abrams also warned Biden not to repeat what he considers mistakes made by Obama 's team and advised the incoming president to take advantage of the leverage he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we discard the leverage we have , it would really be tragic and foolish .
But if we use it there is a chance I think for constructive agreement that addresses all of these problems , '' Abrams said .
Iran 's clerical rulers have said there will be no negotiations over Iran 's missile program or changes to its regional policy .
But during a televised cabinet meeting on November 25 , Iranian President Hassan Rohani expressed openness to returning to the original deal he helped make happen .
While saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compensate for the bad policies that were enacted over the last four years by the [ outgoing ] administration , '' Rohani stated that `` Iran and the United States can agree and declare that both sides are willing to return to the terms and conditions '' in place when Trump took office on January 20 , 2017 .
With reporting by Reuters and AFP


rferl--2020-11-25--Envoy Hails Bosnia's Election Results, Agrees New Constitution Needed

Valentin Inzko , the high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina , has hailed the results of the local elections that saw the opposition win the Balkan country 's two major cities earlier this month , dealing a blow to long-ruling nationalists .
Moderates took power in the Bosnian capital , Sarajevo , and in Banja Luka , the administrative center of Bosnia 's predominantly Serbian entity , Republika Srpska , as well as in other bigger cities across the country , in the November 16 election .
In Sarajevo , the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action ( SDA ) of Bakir Izetbegovic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four municipalities that were won by candidates of a coalition of moderate parties .
In Banja Luka , the opposition Party of Democratic Progress won the job of mayor that was previously held by the Serbian-led Alliance of Independent Social Democrats ( SNSD ) party of Milorad Dodik .
Inzko told RFE/RL in an interview on November 25 that when he walked the streets of Sarajevo now , `` it certainly feels good '' after the results of the local polls .
Nationalist Bosnian Muslim , Serbian , and Croatian parties have held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the 1992-95 Bosnian War .
But criticism of the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals surrounding the purchase of medical equipment have strengthened support for moderate opposition parties .
Speaking just days after the 25th anniversary of the Dayton accords that put an end to the civil war , Inzko said that a lot had been achieved under the agreement , that also doubles as a constitution for Bosnia , but the time had come for it to be changed .
The peace agreement , initialed at a U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on November 21 , 1995 , and formally signed in Paris a few weeks later , ended the war in which Bosnia 's main ethnic factions -- Bosniaks , Croats , and Serbs -- fought for control after the break-up of Yugoslavia .
More than 100,000 people were killed , most of them Bosnian Muslims .
The conflict left Bosnia divided into two autonomous regions -- the Muslim-Croat Federation and the mainly ethnic Serb Republika Srpska -- united under a weak central government .
Under the agreement signed on December 14 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployed to Bosnia as part of a NATO-led mission to maintain peace .
Inzko told RFE/RL that although the agreement had come under criticism over the years , it had achieved `` huge success '' in its role as a constitution .
`` Just take a look at the first 10-12 years of [ the implementation of the ] Dayton peace accords and you 'll see that with the same constitution , with an unchanged Dayton , really huge successes were possible . ''
Inzko who has been in his post since 2009 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sarajevo in 1996-99 , told RFE/RL that when he first came to the country border police did n't exist , there was no common flag or anthem , and Bosnia 's currency was very weak .
`` Now we have one of the most stable currencies in Europe , and before we had three of everything -- three types of license plates , three flags , three anthems .
Dayton has changed all that , of course with the good will and of a strong international community .
I think that those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] constitution were extremely successful . ''
However , over the past 15 years there has been mounting criticism of the Dayton agreement 's role as a constitution , with many saying that the country needs a new fundamental law that would allow Bosnia to press for reform .
Inzko agreed that , despite its early success , the Dayton agreement should be replaced by a proper constitution .
`` I think that 's normal .
We were younger 25 years ago .
Take the example of Spain , and there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing for membership in the European Union , they did not change the existing constitution , they wrote a completely new one , '' Inzko said .
`` In Bosnia-Herzegovina , it is somewhat more difficult , as some think that will lead to a more centralized Bosnia-Herzegovina .
We know that the Republika Srpska is completely centralized , but Bosnia-Herzegovina is not and will never be centralized -- it must be functional .
Functional to make some things just work . ''

Valentin Inzko, the high representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, has hailed the results of the local elections that saw the opposition win the Balkan country's two major cities earlier this month, dealing a blow to long-ruling nationalists.
Moderates took power in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, and in Banja Luka, the administrative center of Bosnia's predominantly Serbian entity, Republika Srpska, as well as in other bigger cities across the country, in the November 16 election.
In Sarajevo, the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action (SDA) of Bakir Izetbegovic lost mayoral races in three out of four municipalities that were won by candidates of a coalition of moderate parties.
In Banja Luka, the opposition Party of Democratic Progress won the job of mayor that was previously held by the Serbian-led Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) party of Milorad Dodik.
Inzko told RFE/RL in an interview on November 25 that when he walked the streets of Sarajevo now, "it certainly feels good" after the results of the local polls.
Nationalist Bosnian Muslim, Serbian, and Croatian parties have held power for most of the period since the end of the 1992-95 Bosnian War.
But criticism of the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and scandals surrounding the purchase of medical equipment have strengthened support for moderate opposition parties.
Speaking just days after the 25th anniversary of the Dayton accords that put an end to the civil war, Inzko said that a lot had been achieved under the agreement, that also doubles as a constitution for Bosnia, but the time had come for it to be changed.
The peace agreement, initialed at a U.S. Air Force base outside Dayton, Ohio, on November 21, 1995, and formally signed in Paris a few weeks later, ended the war in which Bosnia's main ethnic factions -- Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs -- fought for control after the break-up of Yugoslavia.
More than 100,000 people were killed, most of them Bosnian Muslims. The conflict left Bosnia divided into two autonomous regions -- the Muslim-Croat Federation and the mainly ethnic Serb Republika Srpska -- united under a weak central government.
Under the agreement signed on December 14, 1995, nearly 60,000 international troops were deployed to Bosnia as part of a NATO-led mission to maintain peace.
Inzko told RFE/RL that although the agreement had come under criticism over the years, it had achieved "huge success" in its role as a constitution.
"Just take a look at the first 10-12 years of [the implementation of the] Dayton peace accords and you'll see that with the same constitution, with an unchanged Dayton, really huge successes were possible."
Inzko who has been in his post since 2009 and previously served as Austria's ambassador to Sarajevo in 1996-99, told RFE/RL that when he first came to the country border police didn't exist, there was no common flag or anthem, and Bosnia's currency was very weak.
"Now we have one of the most stable currencies in Europe, and before we had three of everything -- three types of license plates, three flags, three anthems. Dayton has changed all that, of course with the good will and of a strong international community. I think that those first 10 years with this [Dayton] constitution were extremely successful."
However, over the past 15 years there has been mounting criticism of the Dayton agreement's role as a constitution, with many saying that the country needs a new fundamental law that would allow Bosnia to press for reform.
Inzko agreed that, despite its early success, the Dayton agreement should be replaced by a proper constitution.
"I think that's normal. We were younger 25 years ago. Take the example of Spain, and there was a civil war there. When Spain was preparing for membership in the European Union, they did not change the existing constitution, they wrote a completely new one," Inzko said.
"In Bosnia-Herzegovina, it is somewhat more difficult, as some think that will lead to a more centralized Bosnia-Herzegovina. We know that the Republika Srpska is completely centralized, but Bosnia-Herzegovina is not and will never be centralized -- it must be functional. Functional to make some things just work."


rferl--2020-11-25--Australia Welcomes Release Of Academic In Exchange For Three Iranians

Australia has welcomed the release of British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert , who had been serving a 10-year prison sentence in Iran for spying .
`` I am extremely pleased and relieved to advise that Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert has been released from detention in Iran and will soon be reunited with her family , '' Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on November 26 .
Payne said Australia “ consistently rejected the grounds on which the Iranian government arrested , detained and convicted Dr Moore-Gilbert ” and continues to do so .
Iran state television said on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in exchange for three Iranians held abroad .
`` A businessman and two ( other ) Iranian nationals detained abroad on false accusations were freed in exchange for a spy with dual nationality working for '' Israel , the broadcaster 's Iribnews website said , identifying Moore-Gilbert by name .
The broadcaster 's website showed a video of three unidentified men draped in Iranian flags and being met by officials , including Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi .
One of the men was in a wheelchair .
It also aired images of Moore-Gilbert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Iran .
Moore-Gilbert , a lecturer in Islamic Studies at Melbourne University , was sent to Tehran ’ s Evin Prison in September 2018 and sentenced to 10 years on widely criticized espionage charges .
International pressure to secure her release had grown in recent months following reports that her health was deteriorating in solitary confinement and that she had been transferred to Qarchak Prison .
Conditions at Qarchak have been described as abysmal , and reports indicated the jail has had a cluster of coronavirus cases .
In letters smuggled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media in January , Moore-Gilbert wrote she had rejected an offer to work with the intelligence branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps ( IRGC ) .
Based on reporting by AP , Reuters , and AFP


rferl--2020-11-25--Dutch Court Rejects Request To Investigate Alternative MH17 Crash Scenarios

A court in the Netherlands hearing the case against four defendants in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 ( MH17 ) over eastern Ukraine has rejected a defense request for more time to investigate alternative explanations for the crash that killed 298 people aboard .
MH17 was shot down on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile fired from territory controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in the east of Ukraine .
Nearly two-thirds of the victims were Dutch nationals .
Following a six-year international investigation , prosecutors argued that the aircraft was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it from a Russian military base on the border between the two countries .
The findings have been corroborated or supported by evidence gathered by journalists and independent investigators , such as the British-based group Bellingcat .
The four suspects -- Russians Sergei Dubinsky , Oleg Pulatov , and Igor Girkin , and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko -- are being tried in absentia by court in The Hague for involvement in the tragedy .
Only one of the suspects , Pulatov , is represented by his lawyers at the trial .
The relatives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) .
Moscow has denied any involvement in the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine and has offered several possible theories about how MH17 was blown out of the sky , including that it was shot down by a Ukrainian Air Force jet or by Ukrainian ground forces using a Buk system .
The tragedy caused an international outcry and deepened tensions between Moscow and the West following Russia 's seizure of Crimea and support for the militants in their fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushed Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from power .
Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said on November 25 that the defense had not provided a clear alternative scenario to investigate .
Steenhuis said the court would like to hear from Pulatov in person , and would not submit written questions to him , as his lawyers had requested .
He added the court would also like to hear from the other suspects , who have never cooperated with the court .
The court also called for another round of questioning of witnesses who reported seeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , as well as the owner of the field from which the missile is believed to have been launched .
Judges also ruled that a new effort should be made to speak to the leader of Russia 's 53rd Brigade , which has been identified by investigators as having transported the missile launcher .
The judge adjourned the case until February 1 , 2021 .
With reporting by Reuters , Interfax , and TASS

A court in the Netherlands hearing the case against four defendants in the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) over eastern Ukraine has rejected a defense request for more time to investigate alternative explanations for the crash that killed 298 people aboard.
MH17 was shot down on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile fired from territory controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in the east of Ukraine. Nearly two-thirds of the victims were Dutch nationals.
Following a six-year international investigation, prosecutors argued that the aircraft was shot down by separatist fighters who had acquired it from a Russian military base on the border between the two countries.
The findings have been corroborated or supported by evidence gathered by journalists and independent investigators, such as the British-based group Bellingcat.
The four suspects -- Russians Sergei Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov, and Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko -- are being tried in absentia by court in The Hague for involvement in the tragedy.
Only one of the suspects, Pulatov, is represented by his lawyers at the trial.
The relatives of at least 65 Dutch victims in 2018 filed a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Moscow has denied any involvement in the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine and has offered several possible theories about how MH17 was blown out of the sky, including that it was shot down by a Ukrainian Air Force jet or by Ukrainian ground forces using a Buk system.
The tragedy caused an international outcry and deepened tensions between Moscow and the West following Russia's seizure of Crimea and support for the militants in their fight against Kyiv's forces after pro-European protests pushed Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from power.
Judge Hendrik Steenhuis said on November 25 that the defense had not provided a clear alternative scenario to investigate.
Steenhuis said the court would like to hear from Pulatov in person, and would not submit written questions to him, as his lawyers had requested.
He added the court would also like to hear from the other suspects, who have never cooperated with the court.
The court also called for another round of questioning of witnesses who reported seeing the missile launcher on July 17, 2014, as well as the owner of the field from which the missile is believed to have been launched.
Judges also ruled that a new effort should be made to speak to the leader of Russia's 53rd Brigade, which has been identified by investigators as having transported the missile launcher.
The judge adjourned the case until February 1, 2021.
With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS


rferl--2020-11-25--Bulgaria Closes Schools, Restaurants Amid Surge In COVID-19 Cases

SOFIA -- The Bulgarian government has announced the reimposition of tougher restrictions , including the closure of restaurants and schools , in an effort to contain a surge in coronavirus cases that are straining the country 's health system .
The new measures take effect on November 27 and will run until December 21 in order to “ allow more people to remain healthy until the vaccines come , '' Ventsislav Mutafchiyski , the chief of the coronavirus task force , said on November 25 .
`` We are not talking about confinement at home here , the aim is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , '' Mutafchiyski said .
Bulgaria 's health system has been overwhelmed in recent weeks by a sharp rise in the number of patients in need of hospital care amid shortages of medical staff and rising infections among doctors and nurses .
The country registered 4,382 new infections on November 25 , bringing the total number of cases to 129,348 .
More than 6,300 people were in hospitals and nearly 400 of them were in intensive care .
Under the new restrictive measures , all restaurants , bars , cafes , night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will shut .
Restaurants will only be able to sell takeaway .
Universities and schools will fully switch to distance learning and kindergartens will close .
Theaters will stay open but at 30 percent capacity , while private gatherings will be limited to 15 people .
Tourist trips at home and abroad will be banned .
However , places of worship will remain open , along with public parks and gardens .
Several hundred protesters gathered outside the government headquarters on the morning of November 25 to protest against the new measure and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Borisov ’ s government , accusing it of failing to reform the health system .
With reporting by AFP and Reuters

SOFIA -- The Bulgarian government has announced the reimposition of tougher restrictions, including the closure of restaurants and schools, in an effort to contain a surge in coronavirus cases that are straining the country's health system.
The new measures take effect on November 27 and will run until December 21 in order to “allow more people to remain healthy until the vaccines come," Ventsislav Mutafchiyski, the chief of the coronavirus task force, said on November 25.
"We are not talking about confinement at home here, the aim is to limit the rate of infections and deaths," Mutafchiyski said.
Bulgaria's health system has been overwhelmed in recent weeks by a sharp rise in the number of patients in need of hospital care amid shortages of medical staff and rising infections among doctors and nurses.
The country registered 4,382 new infections on November 25, bringing the total number of cases to 129,348.
More than 6,300 people were in hospitals and nearly 400 of them were in intensive care.
Under the new restrictive measures, all restaurants, bars, cafes, night clubs, shopping malls, and gyms will shut. Restaurants will only be able to sell takeaway.
Universities and schools will fully switch to distance learning and kindergartens will close.
Theaters will stay open but at 30 percent capacity, while private gatherings will be limited to 15 people.
Tourist trips at home and abroad will be banned.
However, places of worship will remain open, along with public parks and gardens.
Several hundred protesters gathered outside the government headquarters on the morning of November 25 to protest against the new measure and demand the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov’s government, accusing it of failing to reform the health system.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-25--Pope Refers To Xinjiang's Uyghurs As 'Persecuted,' China Calls It 'Groundless'

Pope Francis has for the first time publicly named Uyghurs , a major indigenous ethnic group in China 's northwestern region of Xinjiang , among a list of the world 's persecuted peoples amid reports of widespread human rights abuses in the region .
`` I think often of persecuted peoples : the Rohingya , the poor Uyghurs , the Yazidi -- what [ Islamic State ] did to them was truly cruel -- or Christians in Egypt and Pakistan killed by bombs that went off while they prayed in church , '' Francis says in a new book , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A Better Future , published on November 23 .
The UN has estimated that 1 million ethnic Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim indigenous people of Xinjiang are being held in what it described as `` counterextremism centers '' in the region .
The UN has also said millions more have been forced into internment camps .
The U.S. State Department has said as many as 2 million Uyghurs and representatives of Xinjiang 's other indigenous ethnic groups have been taken to so-called reeducation detention centers in the region .
Several people who served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their relatives have told RFE/RL that they were subjected to indoctrination , physical abuse , and sterilization .
China insists that the facilities are `` vocational education centers '' aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing them to be reintegrated into society .
“ People of all ethnic groups enjoy the full rights of survival , development , and freedom of religious belief , '' Zhao said at a daily briefing on November 24 .
China and the Vatican have had no formal relations since the Communist Party cut ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power in 1949 .
Uyghurs are the largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang followed by Kazakhs .
The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz , Tajiks , and Hui , also known as Dungans .
Han , China 's largest ethnicity , are the second-largest community in Xinjiang .
With reporting by CNN and AP

Pope Francis has for the first time publicly named Uyghurs, a major indigenous ethnic group in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang, among a list of the world's persecuted peoples amid reports of widespread human rights abuses in the region.
"I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uyghurs, the Yazidi -- what [Islamic State] did to them was truly cruel -- or Christians in Egypt and Pakistan killed by bombs that went off while they prayed in church," Francis says in a new book, Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future, published on November 23.
The UN has estimated that 1 million ethnic Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim indigenous people of Xinjiang are being held in what it described as "counterextremism centers" in the region.
The UN has also said millions more have been forced into internment camps.
The U.S. State Department has said as many as 2 million Uyghurs and representatives of Xinjiang's other indigenous ethnic groups have been taken to so-called reeducation detention centers in the region.
Several people who served time in the so-called reeducation camps and their relatives have told RFE/RL that they were subjected to indoctrination, physical abuse, and sterilization.
China insists that the facilities are "vocational education centers" aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing them to be reintegrated into society.
Zhao Lijian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson called Francis’s remarks "absolutely groundless."
“People of all ethnic groups enjoy the full rights of survival, development, and freedom of religious belief," Zhao said at a daily briefing on November 24.
China and the Vatican have had no formal relations since the Communist Party cut ties and arrested Catholic clerics soon after seizing power in 1949.
Uyghurs are the largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang followed by Kazakhs. The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans. Han, China's largest ethnicity, are the second-largest community in Xinjiang.
With reporting by CNN and AP


rferl--2020-11-25--Pro-Iran Fighters Reported Killed In Israeli Strikes In Syria

A British-based group monitoring the Syrian conflict says eight pro-Iranian militiamen have been killed in alleged overnight Israeli air strikes .
The strikes targeted an arms depot and a position held by Iranian forces and the allied Lebanon-based Shi'ite militant group Hizballah in the southern countryside of the Syrian capital , Damascus , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on November 25 .
It said a pro-Iranian militia position in southern Syria was also hit .
The nationalities of those killed were not immediately known , but the observatory said they were not Syrian .
The Syrian state news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike had hit an area `` south of Damascus '' just before midnight local time .
It also reported another strike in the village of Rwihinah in the southern province of Quneitra , near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights .
SANA did not report any casualties from either attack .
Along with Russia , Iran has provided crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during Syria ’ s civil war , which began with a crackdown on anti-government protesters in March 2011 .
More than 400,000 people have since been killed and millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria , carrying out hundreds of air strikes there against what it describes as Iranian targets and those of allied militia .
With reporting by AFP and dpa


rferl--2020-11-25--Daughter Of Kazakh Ex-President To Take Part In Parliamentary Elections

NUR-SULTAN -- The daughter of Kazakhstan 's first president , Nursultan Nazarbaev , will take part in the Central Asian nation 's upcoming parliamentary elections .
Darigha Nazarbaeva , whose removal from the powerful post of the chairwoman of parliament 's upper chamber , the Senate , in May caused controversy , was included on November 25 in the ruling Nur Otan party 's list of its 126 candidates for the January 10 vote to the parliament 's lower chamber , the Mazhilis .
In early May , President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev , Nazarbaev 's hand-picked successor , removed the 57-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as her seat in parliament .
Nazarbaeva 's dismissal from the post that put her second in line to head of state has been seen by many in the oil-rich Central Asian nation as a result of ongoing struggle between financial and political groups .
Nazarbaev , 80 , is widely seen as the country 's top decision maker despite leaving the presidency he held for nearly three decades .
He continues to lead the ruling Nur Otan Party , holds a lifetime post as chairman of the powerful Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as elbasy -- the leader of the nation .
Immediately following Nazarbaev 's resignation , Toqaev proposed renaming the country 's capital , Astana , to Nur-Sultan in his predecessor 's honor .
Nazarbaeva was nominated to be parliamentary speaker by Toqaev , who himself served in the position under Nazarbaev .
Nazarbaeva 's arrival to parliament in 2016 on her father 's appointment was widely seen as a move to groom a possible successor .

NUR-SULTAN -- The daughter of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, will take part in the Central Asian nation's upcoming parliamentary elections.
Darigha Nazarbaeva, whose removal from the powerful post of the chairwoman of parliament's upper chamber, the Senate, in May caused controversy, was included on November 25 in the ruling Nur Otan party's list of its 126 candidates for the January 10 vote to the parliament's lower chamber, the Mazhilis.
In early May, President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, Nazarbaev's hand-picked successor, removed the 57-year-old Nazarbaeva from the post of Senate speaker, as well as her seat in parliament.
Nazarbaeva's dismissal from the post that put her second in line to head of state has been seen by many in the oil-rich Central Asian nation as a result of ongoing struggle between financial and political groups.
Nazarbaev, 80, is widely seen as the country's top decision maker despite leaving the presidency he held for nearly three decades. He continues to lead the ruling Nur Otan Party, holds a lifetime post as chairman of the powerful Security Council, and enjoys almost limitless powers as elbasy -- the leader of the nation.
Immediately following Nazarbaev's resignation, Toqaev proposed renaming the country's capital, Astana, to Nur-Sultan in his predecessor's honor.
Nazarbaeva was nominated to be parliamentary speaker by Toqaev, who himself served in the position under Nazarbaev.
Nazarbaeva's arrival to parliament in 2016 on her father's appointment was widely seen as a move to groom a possible successor.


rferl--2020-11-25--Russia Says It Foiled Islamic State Attacks In Moscow Region

Russia 's Federal Security Service ( FSB ) says it has broken up a cell of the Islamic State ( @ @ @ @ @ was planning `` acts of sabotage and terror '' in the Moscow region .
Security @ @ @ @ @ suspected members of the cell , '' one of whom confessed to being an IS @ @ @ @ @ service was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying on November 25 , without @ @ @ @ @ were being held .
Earlier in the day , the FSB said that its officers @ @ @ @ @ the cell , described as “ a citizen of a Central Asian country , ” @ @ @ @ @ east of Moscow .
A homemade bomb was also seized during the investigation , which @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The cell 's other goals were to recruit new members to the Islamic @ @ @ @ @ support terrorism , '' according to the statement .
Russia 's Supreme Court labeled the @ @ @ @ @ banned it in December 2014 .
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) says it has broken up a cell of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group that was planning "acts of sabotage and terror" in the Moscow region.
Security officers detained "about five suspected members of the cell," one of whom confessed to being an IS member, the FSB press service was quoted by the TASS news agency as saying on November 25, without mentioning where exactly the suspects were being held.
Earlier in the day, the FSB said that its officers had detained another member of the cell, described as “a citizen of a Central Asian country,” in the Vladimir region, east of Moscow.
A homemade bomb was also seized during the investigation, which the FSB said is continuing.
"The cell's other goals were to recruit new members to the Islamic State's ranks and financially support terrorism," according to the statement.
Russia's Supreme Court labeled the IS group as terrorist and banned it in December 2014.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-25--Trump Pardons Former National Security Adviser Flynn

U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned former national security adviser Michael Flynn , who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI over his contacts with Russians .
Trump announced the pardon in a tweet on November 25 , a day after media reports said Trump had told aides he planned to include Flynn in a series of pardons he will issue in the final days of his presidency .
`` It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon .
Congratulations to @ GenFlynn and his wonderful family , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly fantastic Thanksgiving ! ''
Trump said .
Flynn 's secret talks with the Russian ambassador to Washington in December 2016 were a cornerstone of the investigation into Moscow 's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and whether there had been any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government in the election .
Trump fired Flynn in February 2017 , but the president has claimed the investigation was a political `` witch hunt '' and that Flynn was a `` good man . ''
Flynn , a retired Army general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency , twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about interactions he had with Russia ’ s ambassador to the United States during the presidential transition in late 2016 and early 2017 .
But he has sought to withdraw the plea , arguing that prosecutors violated his rights and duped him into a plea agreement .
In a surprise move in May , the Justice Department withdrew its case against Flynn , saying the alleged lies to the FBI were not significant .
But the federal judge who presided over Flynn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of the matter .
Trump 's pardon takes the matter out of the courts .
Trump on July 10 commuted the sentence of Roger Stone , a former Trump adviser , just before he was due to report to prison .
He faced a sentence of three years and four months for lying to Congress , witness tampering , and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election .
The presidential grant of clemency stopped short of a full pardon .
Though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation detailed multiple interactions between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia , it found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and the Kremlin to tip the election .
Based on reporting by Axios , The New York Times , AFP , and Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump has pardoned former national-security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI over his contacts with Russians.
Trump announced the pardon in a tweet on November 25, a day after media reports said Trump had told aides he planned to include Flynn in a series of pardons he will issue in the final days of his presidency.
"It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!" Trump said.
Flynn's secret talks with the Russian ambassador to Washington in December 2016 were a cornerstone of the investigation into Moscow's meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and whether there had been any coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government in the election.
Trump fired Flynn in February 2017, but the president has claimed the investigation was a political "witch hunt" and that Flynn was a "good man."
Flynn, a retired Army general and former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about interactions he had with Russia’s ambassador to the United States during the presidential transition in late 2016 and early 2017.
But he has sought to withdraw the plea, arguing that prosecutors violated his rights and duped him into a plea agreement.
In a surprise move in May, the Justice Department withdrew its case against Flynn, saying the alleged lies to the FBI were not significant. But the federal judge who presided over Flynn’s case has demanded a further judicial review of the matter.
Trump's pardon takes the matter out of the courts.
Trump on July 10 commuted the sentence of Roger Stone, a former Trump adviser, just before he was due to report to prison. He faced a sentence of three years and four months for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.
The presidential grant of clemency stopped short of a full pardon.
Though the special counsel’s report on the investigation detailed multiple interactions between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia, it found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and the Kremlin to tip the election.
With reporting by Axios, The New York Times, AFP, and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-25--Swedish Foreign Minister Calls Iranian Counterpart Over Death Sentence Against Doctor

Sweden 's foreign minister spoke to her Iranian counterpart on November 24 after reports that Iran may soon execute Swedish-Iranian scientist Ahmadreza Djalali .
`` Sweden condemns the death penalty and works to ensure that the verdict against Djalali is not enforced , '' Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said on Twitter .
She said she had spoken with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after reports Iran may be planning to enforce the death penalty sentence against Djalali , a Swedish citizen .
Swedish radio quoted Djalali 's wife as saying earlier on November 24 he had called her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon be executed .
Djalali , a medical doctor and lecturer at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm , was arrested in Iran in 2016 and later convicted of espionage .
He was accused of providing information to Israel to help it assassinate several senior nuclear scientists .
Iran 's Supreme Court in 2017 upheld the death sentence .
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the Swedish authorities ' information on Djalali ’ s situation was “ incomplete and incorrect , '' according to Reuters .
Khatibzadeh was quoted by state media as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's judiciary is independent “ and any meddling in the issuance or execution of judicial rulings is unacceptable . ''
Amnesty International called on all countries to intervene , including through their embassies in Tehran , to save Djalali 's life .
`` It is appalling that despite repeated calls from UN human rights experts to quash Ahmadreza Djalali 's death sentence and release him , the Iranian authorities have instead decided to push for this irreversible injustice , '' Diana Eltahawy , an Amnesty International deputy director , said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to execute Ahmadreza Djalali and end their shocking assault on his right to life , ” Eltahawy said .


rferl--2020-11-25--Azerbaijani Forces Reclaim Second District From Armenians Under Nagorno-Karabakh Truce

BAKU/YEREVAN -- Azerbaijani troops have moved into the Kalbacar district after it was handed over by Armenia as part of a deal that ended six weeks of fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry released pictures showing troops scanning for landmines on snow-covered roads as the second of three districts to be handed back under the Russian-brokered deal signed this month between Armenia and Azerbaijan .
No incidents were reported during the initial stage of the handover and a spokesman for Russia 's Defense Ministry said his country 's peacekeeping mission remained in close contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible incidents .
Kalbachar , wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia , was initially scheduled for handover on November 15 but the deadline was postponed by Azerbaijan for humanitarian reasons .
Azerbaijan lost control of Kalbacar during a war with Armenia in the early 1990s as they transitioned into independent countries amid the breakup of the Soviet Union .
Kalbacar -- which the Armenians call Karvachar -- was a strategic link between Armenia 's internationally recognized border and Armenian-held areas in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region .
`` Engineering work has been completed to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direction .
The difficult mountain roads along the route of the troops ' movement are being cleared of mines and prepared for use , '' the ministry statement said .
Armenia agreed to hand over three districts ringing Nagorno-Karabakh -- Agdam , Kalbachar , and Lachin -- after nearly three decades under Armenian control as part of the Russian-brokered agreement signed two weeks ago , halting military action in and around Nagorno-Karabakh following the worst fighting in the region since the 1990s .
Agdam was ceded on November 20 and Lachin is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev vowed on November 25 to rebuild and revive the Kalbacar district , saying the government was committed to restoring the area .
Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh 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 .
The implementation of the truce deal was discussed during separate phone calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijan 's Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The three leaders also discussed humanitarian assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and economic issues , as well as the unblocking of transport communications in the region , the Kremlin said in a statement .
High-level Russian government delegations that included two deputy prime ministers , as well as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov , visited Yerevan and Baku over the weekend .
`` They looked into Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region 's activity and into further steps to provide humanitarian assistance to the population , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` touched upon issues of economic interaction and unblocking of transport links in the region , '' according to the statement .
No further details were provided .
Putin also discussed Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone on November 24 , the Kremlin said .
`` Vladimir Putin informed the Turkish leader about the activities of Russian peacekeepers [ in Nagorno-Karabakh ] who ensure the cease-fire and securing of the [ civilian ] population , '' it said in a statement .
`` It was stressed that urgent humanitarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , restoration of infrastructure , preservation of religious and cultural sites must be resolved without delay , '' it said , adding that the call was initiated by the Turkish side .
Erdogan said on November 25 he had discussed with Putin the possibility of expanding efforts to maintain the cease-fire to include other regional countries .
The two countries have agreed to set up a joint center in the region to monitor the truce and the Turkish parliament passed a troop deployment bill to send military observers .
Two of the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia and Turkey are said to disagree over the possible role of Turkish peacekeepers as part of the cease-fire .
Russia has extensive relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan but provides security guarantees to the former , while Turkey is a staunch Azerbaijani ally with longtime animosities with Yerevan .
In Paris , French senators on November 25 passed a resolution calling on the French government t to recognize the `` Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh '' as an independent state .
The resolution suggests that recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as a state could be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purpose of establishing a lasting peace . ''
The draft document also states that `` the security and freedom of the Armenian populations in Nagorno-Karabakh are not guaranteed by the Republic of Azerbaijan . ''
The resolution also calls Turkey 's `` expansionist policy '' a `` major factor of destabilization '' in the South Caucasus and elsewhere , which it said represents `` a threat '' for the security of France and Europe .
In response , an aide to Azerbaijan 's president dismissed the French resolution as a `` provocative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merely a `` sheet of paper . ''
`` Apart from gross violations of international law , the UN Charter , and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council , this document adopted for the sake of narrow political ambitions raises serious questions about the intentions and the objective activity of France as a Minsk Group co-chair and permanent member of the UN Security Council , '' presidential aide Hikmat Haciyev said .
The resolution is not expected to be considered by the French government .
With reporting by Reuters , AFP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and AP

BAKU/YEREVAN -- Azerbaijani troops have moved into the Kalbacar district after it was handed over by Armenia as part of a deal that ended six weeks of fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry released pictures showing troops scanning for landmines on snow-covered roads as the second of three districts to be handed back under the Russian-brokered deal signed this month between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
No incidents were reported during the initial stage of the handover and a spokesman for Russia's Defense Ministry said his country's peacekeeping mission remained in close contact with local administrations to try and prevent any possible incidents.
Kalbachar, wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, was initially scheduled for handover on November 15 but the deadline was postponed by Azerbaijan for humanitarian reasons.
Azerbaijan lost control of Kalbacar during a war with Armenia in the early 1990s as they transitioned into independent countries amid the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Kalbacar -- which the Armenians call Karvachar -- was a strategic link between Armenia's internationally recognized border and Armenian-held areas in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
"Engineering work has been completed to ensure the movement of our units in this direction. The difficult mountain roads along the route of the troops' movement are being cleared of mines and prepared for use," the ministry statement said.
Armenia agreed to hand over three districts ringing Nagorno-Karabakh -- Agdam, Kalbachar, and Lachin -- after nearly three decades under Armenian control as part of the Russian-brokered agreement signed two weeks ago, halting military action in and around Nagorno-Karabakh following the worst fighting in the region since the 1990s.
Agdam was ceded on November 20 and Lachin is to be handed over by December 1.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev vowed on November 25 to rebuild and revive the Kalbacar district, saying the government was committed to restoring the area.
Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh 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.
The implementation of the truce deal was discussed during separate phone calls between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijan's Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the Kremlin said on November 24.
The three leaders also discussed humanitarian assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and economic issues, as well as the unblocking of transport communications in the region, the Kremlin said in a statement.
High-level Russian government delegations that included two deputy prime ministers, as well as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, visited Yerevan and Baku over the weekend.
"They looked into Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region's activity and into further steps to provide humanitarian assistance to the population," the statement said.
The leaders also "touched upon issues of economic interaction and unblocking of transport links in the region," according to the statement. No further details were provided.
Putin also discussed Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone on November 24, the Kremlin said.
"Vladimir Putin informed the Turkish leader about the activities of Russian peacekeepers [in Nagorno-Karabakh] who ensure the cease-fire and securing of the [civilian] population," it said in a statement.
"It was stressed that urgent humanitarian problems linked with the return of refugees, restoration of infrastructure, preservation of religious and cultural sites must be resolved without delay," it said, adding that the call was initiated by the Turkish side.
Erdogan said on November 25 he had discussed with Putin the possibility of expanding efforts to maintain the cease-fire to include other regional countries.
The two countries have agreed to set up a joint center in the region to monitor the truce and the Turkish parliament passed a troop deployment bill to send military observers.
Two of the most influential regional powers in the Caucasus, Russia and Turkey are said to disagree over the possible role of Turkish peacekeepers as part of the cease-fire.
Russia has extensive relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan but provides security guarantees to the former, while Turkey is a staunch Azerbaijani ally with longtime animosities with Yerevan.
In Paris, French senators on November 25 passed a resolution calling on the French government t to recognize the "Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh" as an independent state.
The resolution suggests that recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as a state could be used as "an instrument of negotiations for the purpose of establishing a lasting peace."
The draft document also states that "the security and freedom of the Armenian populations in Nagorno-Karabakh are not guaranteed by the Republic of Azerbaijan."
The resolution also calls Turkey's "expansionist policy" a "major factor of destabilization" in the South Caucasus and elsewhere, which it said represents "a threat" for the security of France and Europe.
In response, an aide to Azerbaijan's president dismissed the French resolution as a "provocative step," but one that was merely a "sheet of paper."
"Apart from gross violations of international law, the UN Charter, and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, this document adopted for the sake of narrow political ambitions raises serious questions about the intentions and the objective activity of France as a Minsk Group co-chair and permanent member of the UN Security Council," presidential aide Hikmat Haciyev said.
The resolution is not expected to be considered by the French government.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, TASS, Interfax, and AP


rferl--2020-11-24--Putin Discusses Nagorno-Karabakh With Armenian, Azerbaijani Leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the implementation of a Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the war in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in separate phone calls with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian , the Kremlin said on November 24 .
The three also discussed humanitarian assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and economic issues as well as the unblocking of transport communications in the region , the Kremlin added in a statement .
High-level Russian government delegations , which included two Russian deputy prime ministers as well as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
“ They looked into Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region 's activity and into further steps to provide humanitarian assistance to the population , ” the statement said .
The three leaders also “ touched upon issues of economic interaction and unblocking of transport links in the region , ” according to the statement .
No further details were provided .
Almost 2,000 Russian troops moved into areas in and around Nagorno-Karabakh earlier this month as part of the November 9 Moscow-brokered truce that ended six weeks of heavy fighting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have killed thousands .
The truce commits the conflicting parties to reopening their borders for trade , but it sets no time frame for that .
Putin touted the Russian mediation efforts when he addressed the newly appointed ambassadors of more than a dozen foreign states in Moscow on November 24 .
The Russian leader reiterated that those efforts are “ creating prerequisites for a long-term and full-fledged resolution ” of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
Putin also discussed Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone on November 24 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Turkish leader about the activities of Russian peacekeepers [ in Nagorno-Karabakh ] who ensure the cease-fire and the securing of the [ civilian ] population , '' it said in a statement .
`` It was stressed that urgent humanitarian problems linked with the return of refugees , restoration of infrastructure , preservation of religious and cultural sites must be resolved without delay , '' it said , adding that the call was initiated by the Turkish side .
Two of the most influential regional powers in the Caucasus , Russia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the possible role of Turkish peacekeepers as part of the cease-fire .
Russia has extensive relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan but provides security guarantees to the former , while Turkey is a staunch Azerbaijani ally with longtime animosities with Yerevan .
Meanwhile , the Russian news agency TASS reported that the last Armenian military units were leaving the Karvachar ( which Azeris call Kalbacar ) district , which is to be handed over to Azerbaijan on November 25 according to the truce agreement .
Karvachar , wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 0600 Yerevan time on November 25 .
The district of Kashatagh ( which Azeris call Lachin ) , west of Nagorno-Karabakh , is scheduled for handover by December 1 .
The district of Agdam was handed over on November 20 .
With reporting by Reuters and TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the implementation of a Russian-brokered agreement that stopped the war in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region in separate phone calls with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the Kremlin said on November 24.
The three also discussed humanitarian assistance for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and economic issues as well as the unblocking of transport communications in the region, the Kremlin added in a statement.
High-level Russian government delegations, which included two Russian deputy prime ministers as well as Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, visited Yerevan and Baku at the weekend.
“They looked into Russian peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region's activity and into further steps to provide humanitarian assistance to the population,” the statement said.
The three leaders also “touched upon issues of economic interaction and unblocking of transport links in the region,” according to the statement. No further details were provided.
Almost 2,000 Russian troops moved into areas in and around Nagorno-Karabakh earlier this month as part of the November 9 Moscow-brokered truce that ended six weeks of heavy fighting in the 30-year-old conflict that is thought to have killed thousands.
The truce commits the conflicting parties to reopening their borders for trade, but it sets no time frame for that.
Putin touted the Russian mediation efforts when he addressed the newly appointed ambassadors of more than a dozen foreign states in Moscow on November 24.
The Russian leader reiterated that those efforts are “creating prerequisites for a long-term and full-fledged resolution” of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Putin also discussed Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the phone on November 24, the Kremlin said.
"Vladimir Putin informed the Turkish leader about the activities of Russian peacekeepers [in Nagorno-Karabakh] who ensure the cease-fire and the securing of the [civilian] population," it said in a statement.
"It was stressed that urgent humanitarian problems linked with the return of refugees, restoration of infrastructure, preservation of religious and cultural sites must be resolved without delay," it said, adding that the call was initiated by the Turkish side.
Two of the most influential regional powers in the Caucasus, Russia and Turkey are said to be disagreeing over the possible role of Turkish peacekeepers as part of the cease-fire.
Russia has extensive relations with both Armenia and Azerbaijan but provides security guarantees to the former, while Turkey is a staunch Azerbaijani ally with longtime animosities with Yerevan.
Meanwhile, the Russian news agency TASS reported that the last Armenian military units were leaving the Karvachar (which Azeris call Kalbacar) district, which is to be handed over to Azerbaijan on November 25 according to the truce agreement.
Karvachar, wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, is slated for handover to Azerbaijani forces at 0600 Yerevan time on November 25.
The district of Kashatagh (which Azeris call Lachin), west of Nagorno-Karabakh, is scheduled for handover by December 1.
The district of Agdam was handed over on November 20.
With reporting by Reuters and TASS


rferl--2020-11-24--President-Elect Biden Reveals Key Foreign-Policy, National-Security Picks

President-elect Joe Biden has provided the first glimpse of his incoming administration , introducing a diverse team that he said would help `` heal and unite America '' and which was `` ready to lead the world , not retreat from it . ''
Addressing the nation on November 24 alongside vice president-elect Kamala Harris , Biden revealed picks for key national-security and foreign-policy positions in keeping with his vision to restore the United States ' global leadership role .
`` America is back ” on the world stage , Biden said in a shift from outgoing President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden said his administration would be `` ready to confront adversaries , while not alienating allies . ''
The president-elect said that his nominee for secretary of state -- his longtime adviser and veteran diplomat Antony Blinken -- would `` rebuild morale and trust in the U.S. State Department . ''
Blinken later vowed to pursue international cooperation as the United States ' top diplomat , saying that `` we have to proceed with equal measures of humility and confidence . ''
Biden named Cuban-born lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas as his choice to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would make him the first Latino to head the agency responsible for most of the country 's immigration policies .
Veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield , a black woman whom Biden said was known as a `` people 's ambassador '' while carrying out foreign service on African affairs and other roles , was tapped to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations .
Avril Haines was chosen to occupy the post of director of national intelligence , which would make the former CIA deputy director and former deputy national-security adviser the first woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser , the pick was Jake Sullivan , another alumnus of the administration of Barack Obama in which Biden served as vice president .
Biden also highlighted his intention to take a leading role on the environment , saying that for the first time `` climate change will be on the agenda in the situation room '' with his appointment of former Secretary of State John Kerry as his special presidential envoy for climate issues .
In the newly created position , Kerry will be a member of the National Security Council `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table , '' Biden said .
Biden 's unveiling of his nominees came a day after Trump signed off on the start of the White House transition , despite continuing to refuse to concede victory to Biden in the November 3 presidential election .
The event , held at a theater in Biden 's hometown of Wilmington , Delaware , also came just minutes after Biden 's victory in Nevada -- one of the last battleground states to approve results -- became official .
All of his nominees must be approved by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Republicans depending on twin runoff elections in the state of Georgia on January 5 , 2021 .
Biden , who is to be inaugurated as president in Washington on January 20 , said that he hoped his nominees receive prompt confirmation .
With reporting by AP , AFP , and Reuters

President-elect Joe Biden has provided the first glimpse of his incoming administration, introducing a diverse team that he said would help "heal and unite America" and which was "ready to lead the world, not retreat from it."
Addressing the nation on November 24 alongside vice president-elect Kamala Harris, Biden revealed picks for key national-security and foreign-policy positions in keeping with his vision to restore the United States' global leadership role.
"America is back” on the world stage, Biden said in a shift from outgoing President Donald Trump's "America First" approach. Biden said his administration would be "ready to confront adversaries, while not alienating allies."
The president-elect said that his nominee for secretary of state -- his longtime adviser and veteran diplomat Antony Blinken -- would "rebuild morale and trust in the U.S. State Department."
Blinken later vowed to pursue international cooperation as the United States' top diplomat, saying that "we have to proceed with equal measures of humility and confidence."
Biden named Cuban-born lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas as his choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security, which would make him the first Latino to head the agency responsible for most of the country's immigration policies.
Veteran diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a black woman whom Biden said was known as a "people's ambassador" while carrying out foreign service on African affairs and other roles, was tapped to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Avril Haines was chosen to occupy the post of director of national intelligence, which would make the former CIA deputy director and former deputy national-security adviser the first woman to head U.S. intelligence.
For national-security adviser, the pick was Jake Sullivan, another alumnus of the administration of Barack Obama in which Biden served as vice president.
Climate Change
Biden also highlighted his intention to take a leading role on the environment, saying that for the first time "climate change will be on the agenda in the situation room" with his appointment of former Secretary of State John Kerry as his special presidential envoy for climate issues.
In the newly created position, Kerry will be a member of the National Security Council "and will have a seat at every table," Biden said.
Biden's unveiling of his nominees came a day after Trump signed off on the start of the White House transition, despite continuing to refuse to concede victory to Biden in the November 3 presidential election.
The event, held at a theater in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, also came just minutes after Biden's victory in Nevada -- one of the last battleground states to approve results -- became official.
All of his nominees must be approved by the Senate, which could still be controlled by Republicans depending on twin runoff elections in the state of Georgia on January 5, 2021.
Biden, who is to be inaugurated as president in Washington on January 20, said that he hoped his nominees receive prompt confirmation.
With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-24--UN Concludes Kazakhstan Illegally 'Targeted' Defender Of Xinjiang Indigenous Groups

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that the Kazakh government violated international human rights law last year when it detained activist Serikzhan Bilash , who had raised the plight of indigenous ethnic groups in China 's northwestern region of Xinjiang .
Responding to a legal petition filed by the Washington-based Freedom Now human rights group , the UN concluded that Kazakhstan “ was targeting Mr. Bilash for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association.
” Kazakh authorities in March 2019 arrested Bilash , a Xinjiang native and naturalized Kazakh citizen who has campaigned for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camps in Xinjiang .
Bilash was charged with inciting ethnic hatred and held in custody for five months .
Bilash led the Atazhurt Eriktileri ( Volunteers of the Fatherland ) group , which in 2018-2019 staged several gatherings of ethnic Kazakhs from Xinjiang who have resettled in Kazakhstan and asked for help securing the release of their relatives and friends from reeducation camps in Xinjiang .
He was fined the equivalent of $ 300 and released from custody in August 2019 .
“ The unjust detention of Serikzhan Bilash epitomizes Kazakhstan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Freedom Now Legal Officer Adam Lhedmat .
“ Rather than heed Serikzhan ’ s call for international action to end mass human rights abuses in Xinjiang , his own government sought to silence him .
We call on Kazakhstan to comply with the UN ’ s decision , expunge the charges against Serikzhan , and ensure he faces no further prosecution.
” The UN said in August 2018 that an estimated 1 million ethnic Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim indigenous people of Xinjiang were being held in what it described as `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The UN also said millions more had been forced into internment camps .
Freedom Now called Bilash and his Atazhurt Eriktileri group among “ the most comprehensive and reliable firsthand resources for information about the Xinjiang camps.
” China says that the facilities are `` vocational education centers '' aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing them to be reintegrated into society .
Kazakhs are the second-largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang after Uyghurs .
The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz , Tajiks , and Hui , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's largest ethnicity , are the second-largest community in Xinjiang .

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has concluded that the Kazakh government violated international human rights law last year when it detained activist Serikzhan Bilash, who had raised the plight of indigenous ethnic groups in China's northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Responding to a legal petition filed by the Washington-based Freedom Now human rights group, the UN concluded that Kazakhstan “was targeting Mr. Bilash for exercising his rights to freedom of expression and association.”
Kazakh authorities in March 2019 arrested Bilash, a Xinjiang native and naturalized Kazakh citizen who has campaigned for the release of ethnic Kazakhs from so-called reeducation camps in Xinjiang.
Bilash was charged with inciting ethnic hatred and held in custody for five months.
Bilash led the Atazhurt Eriktileri (Volunteers of the Fatherland) group, which in 2018-2019 staged several gatherings of ethnic Kazakhs from Xinjiang who have resettled in Kazakhstan and asked for help securing the release of their relatives and friends from reeducation camps in Xinjiang.
He was fined the equivalent of $300 and released from custody in August 2019.
“The unjust detention of Serikzhan Bilash epitomizes Kazakhstan’s relentless criminalization of peaceful expression,” said Freedom Now Legal Officer Adam Lhedmat. “Rather than heed Serikzhan’s call for international action to end mass human rights abuses in Xinjiang, his own government sought to silence him. We call on Kazakhstan to comply with the UN’s decision, expunge the charges against Serikzhan, and ensure he faces no further prosecution.”
The UN said in August 2018 that an estimated 1 million ethnic Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim indigenous people of Xinjiang were being held in what it described as "counterextremism centers" in northwestern China.
The UN also said millions more had been forced into internment camps.
Freedom Now called Bilash and his Atazhurt Eriktileri group among “the most comprehensive and reliable firsthand resources for information about the Xinjiang camps.”
China says that the facilities are "vocational education centers" aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing them to be reintegrated into society.
Kazakhs are the second-largest Turkic-speaking indigenous community in Xinjiang after Uyghurs. The region is also home to ethnic Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and Hui, also known as Dungans. Han, China's largest ethnicity, are the second-largest community in Xinjiang.


rferl--2020-11-24--Kyrgyz Presidential Hopeful Japarov Defends Draft Constitutional Reforms

BISHKEK -- Sadyr Japarov , who has suspended his duties as Kyrgyzstan 's acting president and prime minister in order to be eligible to take part in the country 's upcoming presidential election , has defended proposed changes to the constitution that would give more powers to the president .
Japarov responded to criticism of the draft reforms , which he initiated earlier this month , by noting in a televised interview on November 23 that the Kyrgyz people have long been aware of the suggested changes .
`` The draft 's main part was outlined in 2010 and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors , '' Japarov said , adding that he had proposed just two clauses to the bill in consultation with legal experts .
Whereas the duties of the executive branch are currently divided by an elected president and a prime minister chosen by parliament , the controversial draft being considered by the Constitutional Council calls for a single executive -- the president -- along with a smaller parliament and a new body called the People 's Kurultai ( Congress ) .
There have been questions about who is responsible for the proposed changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by mass protests over the results of parliamentary elections in October , with at least one lawmaker saying he was wrongly listed as a coauthor .
Rights groups and activists , meanwhile , have criticized the draft reforms as a threat to the democratic process that puts too much power in the hands of the president , and a rushed process that the current caretaker government does not have the legitimacy to initiate .
Jarapov , who seeks a national referendum on the reforms to be held simultaneously with the early presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ongoing political crisis on the current format .
`` The system we call parliamentary is in fact an organ by which three political parties unite , divide the country into three parts , and appoint some leftovers to the posts , '' he said .
`` That is why I propose to unite president with parliament in order to have one organ , and also to have the People 's Kurultai . ''
The idea of establishing the People ’ s Kurultai , to which the parliament and the government would report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some suggesting it would be a rubber-stamp body for the presidential office .
The publication of the draft constitution on November 17 has triggered several demonstrations in the Kyrgyz capital just weeks after protests over the outcome of the parliamentary elections led to the resignation of the government and President Sooronbai Jeenbekov as well as the cancellation of the vote .
Japarov , who amid the October demonstrations was released from prison where he was serving a sentence for kidnapping a political rival , became prime minister and was handed presidential powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been accused by a number of civil rights activists and rival politicians of trying to `` usurp '' power upon becoming caretaker president .
As acting president , he 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 comes within two months .
That move cleared the way for an early presidential election on January 10 .
Under current legislation , anyone serving as president in an interim capacity may not run in an election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Japarov suspended his duties of acting president and prime minister to become eligible to seek the presidency .

BISHKEK -- Sadyr Japarov, who has suspended his duties as Kyrgyzstan's acting president and prime minister in order to be eligible to take part in the country's upcoming presidential election, has defended proposed changes to the constitution that would give more powers to the president.
Japarov responded to criticism of the draft reforms, which he initiated earlier this month, by noting in a televised interview on November 23 that the Kyrgyz people have long been aware of the suggested changes.
"The draft's main part was outlined in 2010 and I was not among its more than 20 authors," Japarov said, adding that he had proposed just two clauses to the bill in consultation with legal experts.
Whereas the duties of the executive branch are currently divided by an elected president and a prime minister chosen by parliament, the controversial draft being considered by the Constitutional Council calls for a single executive -- the president -- along with a smaller parliament and a new body called the People's Kurultai (Congress).
There have been questions about who is responsible for the proposed changes, introduced amid a political crisis triggered by mass protests over the results of parliamentary elections in October, with at least one lawmaker saying he was wrongly listed as a coauthor.
Rights groups and activists, meanwhile, have criticized the draft reforms as a threat to the democratic process that puts too much power in the hands of the president, and a rushed process that the current caretaker government does not have the legitimacy to initiate.
Jarapov, who seeks a national referendum on the reforms to be held simultaneously with the early presidential election on January 10, 2021, blamed the ongoing political crisis on the current format.
"The system we call parliamentary is in fact an organ by which three political parties unite, divide the country into three parts, and appoint some leftovers to the posts," he said. "That is why I propose to unite president with parliament in order to have one organ, and also to have the People's Kurultai."
The idea of establishing the People’s Kurultai, to which the parliament and the government would report, has come under considerable scrutiny, with some suggesting it would be a rubber-stamp body for the presidential office.
The publication of the draft constitution on November 17 has triggered several demonstrations in the Kyrgyz capital just weeks after protests over the outcome of the parliamentary elections led to the resignation of the government and President Sooronbai Jeenbekov as well as the cancellation of the vote.
Japarov, who amid the October demonstrations was released from prison where he was serving a sentence for kidnapping a political rival, became prime minister and was handed presidential powers following Jeenbekov's resignation.
He has been accused by a number of civil rights activists and rival politicians of trying to "usurp" power upon becoming caretaker president.
As acting president, he 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 comes within two months.
That move cleared the way for an early presidential election on January 10.
Under current legislation, anyone serving as president in an interim capacity may not run in an election for the post.
On November 14, Japarov suspended his duties of acting president and prime minister to become eligible to seek the presidency.
Parliament chairman Talant Mamytov became acting president, with Artyom Novikov named acting prime minister.


rferl--2020-11-24--Jailed Russian Historian Dmitriyev Goes On Trial Again

PETROZAVODSK , Russia -- Russian historian Yury Dmitriyev , who was sentenced to 13 years in prison on a controversial child sexual-abuse charge that he and his supporters have rejected as politically motivated , has gone on trial on a new charge of producing child pornography .
The Petrozavodsk City Court in Russia 's northwestern region of Karelia began the hearing on November 24 behind closed doors , citing coronavirus measures .
Last week , Karelia 's Ombudsman Gennady Sarayev said that investigators claim that they found pornographic films on Dmitriyev ’ s computer and have decided to charge the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dmitriyev has already been acquitted on a similar charge in the past .
Sarayev said on November 18 that Dmitriyev , who is also the head of the local branch of the Memorial human rights organization , faces up to an additional 10 years in prison if found guilty .
The high-profile case dates back to 2016 , when Dmitriyev , who has spent decades researching extrajudicial executions carried out in Karelia under Stalin , was arrested on child-pornography charges based on photographs of his foster daughter that authorities found on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not pornographic and were made at the request of social workers concerned about the child ’ s physical development .
He was acquitted in April 2018 , but the Karelia Supreme Court upheld an appeal by prosecutors and ordered a new trial .
He was rearrested in June 2018 and charged with the more serious crime of sexual assault against a minor .
After that trial he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in July on a conviction for “ violent acts of a sexual nature committed against a person under 14 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case and believes he is being targeted because of his research into the crimes of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin .
Prosecutors , who had asked for 15 years in prison in the high-profile case , said the original sentence was `` too lenient '' and appealed it .
Dmitriyev 's defense , meanwhile , insisted their client was innocent and also appealed the case .
On September 29 , weeks before the 64-year-old historian was due to be released because of time served , the Karelia Supreme Court accepted the prosecutors ' appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dmitriyev 's sentence .
Dozens of Russian and international scholars , historians , writers , poets , and others have issued statements in support of the scholar , while the European Union has called for Dmitriyev to be released .
Dmitriyev ’ s research has been viewed with hostility by the government of President Vladimir Putin .
Under Putin , Stalin has undergone a gradual rehabilitation , and the Russian government has emphasized his leadership of the Soviet Union while downplaying his crimes against the Soviet citizens .
Under Stalin , millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camps , or starved to death in famines caused by forced collectivization .
During World War II , entire ethnic groups were deported to remote areas as collective punishment for alleged collaboration with the Nazis .

PETROZAVODSK, Russia -- Russian historian Yury Dmitriyev, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison on a controversial child sexual-abuse charge that he and his supporters have rejected as politically motivated, has gone on trial on a new charge of producing child pornography.
The Petrozavodsk City Court in Russia's northwestern region of Karelia began the hearing on November 24 behind closed doors, citing coronavirus measures.
Last week, Karelia's Ombudsman Gennady Sarayev said that investigators claim that they found pornographic films on Dmitriyev’s computer and have decided to charge the noted gulag researcher with producing child pornography. Dmitriyev has already been acquitted on a similar charge in the past.
Sarayev said on November 18 that Dmitriyev, who is also the head of the local branch of the Memorial human rights organization, faces up to an additional 10 years in prison if found guilty.
The high-profile case dates back to 2016, when Dmitriyev, who has spent decades researching extrajudicial executions carried out in Karelia under Stalin, was arrested on child-pornography charges based on photographs of his foster daughter that authorities found on his computer.
Dmitriyev said the images were not pornographic and were made at the request of social workers concerned about the child’s physical development.
He was acquitted in April 2018, but the Karelia Supreme Court upheld an appeal by prosecutors and ordered a new trial. He was rearrested in June 2018 and charged with the more serious crime of sexual assault against a minor.
After that trial he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in July on a conviction for “violent acts of a sexual nature committed against a person under 14 years of age.” He has rejected the case and believes he is being targeted because of his research into the crimes of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
Prosecutors, who had asked for 15 years in prison in the high-profile case, said the original sentence was "too lenient" and appealed it. Dmitriyev's defense, meanwhile, insisted their client was innocent and also appealed the case.
On September 29, weeks before the 64-year-old historian was due to be released because of time served, the Karelia Supreme Court accepted the prosecutors' appeal and added another 9 1/2 years onto Dmitriyev's sentence.
Dozens of Russian and international scholars, historians, writers, poets, and others have issued statements in support of the scholar, while the European Union has called for Dmitriyev to be released.
Dmitriyev’s research has been viewed with hostility by the government of President Vladimir Putin. Under Putin, Stalin has undergone a gradual rehabilitation, and the Russian government has emphasized his leadership of the Soviet Union while downplaying his crimes against the Soviet citizens.
Under Stalin, millions of people were executed, sent to labor camps, or starved to death in famines caused by forced collectivization. During World War II, entire ethnic groups were deported to remote areas as collective punishment for alleged collaboration with the Nazis.


rferl--2020-11-24--Russia's Investigative Committee Launches New Probe Against Jehovah's Witnesses

Russia 's Investigative Committee says it has arrested several Jehovah 's Witnesses and carried out raids of their homes across the country as part of a new investigation into the religious group that Moscow has labeled as extremist and banned in the country .
The Investigative Committee 's Moscow office said in a statement on November 24 that officers in more than 20 Russian regions searched homes of the religious group ’ s members , adding that an unspecified number of `` organizers and members of the movement , '' had been detained .
The statement added a link to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the door of an apartment and forcing their way inside .
According to the statement , a group of Jehovah 's Witnesses has been organizing the activities of its national center and affiliates in the northwest part of Moscow since June 2019 .
Russia officially banned the directorate of Jehovah ’ s Witnesses and its branches across the country in April 2017 and deemed it an `` extremist organization , '' a designation the U.S. State Department has characterized as `` wrong . ''
For decades the Jehovah 's Witnesses have been viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin .
The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching , Bible study , rejection of military service , and not celebrating national and religious holidays or birthdays .
Since the faith was outlawed in Russia , several Jehovah 's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia and the Russia-annexed Ukrainian Black Sea Crimea peninsula .
In September 2019 , Washington banned two high-ranking regional officers from Russia 's Investigative Committee from entering the United States over the alleged torture of seven detainees who are Jehovah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovah ’ s Witnesses who 've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political prisoners .

Russia's Investigative Committee says it has arrested several Jehovah's Witnesses and carried out raids of their homes across the country as part of a new investigation into the religious group that Moscow has labeled as extremist and banned in the country.
The Investigative Committee's Moscow office said in a statement on November 24 that officers in more than 20 Russian regions searched homes of the religious group’s members, adding that an unspecified number of "organizers and members of the movement," had been detained.
The statement added a link to a video showing law enforcement officers breaking the door of an apartment and forcing their way inside.
According to the statement, a group of Jehovah's Witnesses has been organizing the activities of its national center and affiliates in the northwest part of Moscow since June 2019.
Russia officially banned the directorate of Jehovah’s Witnesses and its branches across the country in April 2017 and deemed it an "extremist organization," a designation the U.S. State Department has characterized as "wrong."
For decades the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin.
The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, Bible study, rejection of military service, and not celebrating national and religious holidays or birthdays.
Since the faith was outlawed in Russia, several Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia and the Russia-annexed Ukrainian Black Sea Crimea peninsula.
In September 2019, Washington banned two high-ranking regional officers from Russia's Investigative Committee from entering the United States over the alleged torture of seven detainees who are Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovah’s Witnesses who've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political prisoners.