rferl--2020-10-12--Kardashians Join California's Armenian Diaspora In Mobilizing Amid Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

The ongoing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has triggered an outpouring of support from Los Angeles 's Armenian community , one of the largest in the world .
On October 10 , U.S. reality television star Kim Kardashian , who is of Armenian descent , announced she had donated $ 1 million to the Armenia Fund , which seeks to provide humanitarian relief efforts such as food , shelter , and medical care for those affected by the conflict .
`` My thoughts and prayers are with the brave men , women and children .
I want everyone to remember that despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not limited by borders and we are one global Armenian nation together , '' Kardashian said in a video message to her followers on Instagram .
The reality TV star and business mogul , whose father was a third-generation Armenian-American , has often spoken out about issues affecting Armenia and its people .
Her famous sisters , Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian , also took to Instagram to call for joining the pan-Armenian fund-raiser .
The next day , thousands of people protested in Los Angeles in support of Armenians , waving Armenian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At one point , a crowd of at least 20,000 people gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills to condemn Turkey ’ s support for Azerbaijan .
The demonstration appeared to be largely peaceful .
Meanwhile , the city 's Armenian community has been rallying around calls to support Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh , with multiple restaurants offering donation deals and charity initiatives aimed at raising funds .
Southern California is home to the largest Armenian population in the United States ; an East Hollywood neighborhood was designated Little Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garcetti tweeted in support of the protesters , attaching a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from a group of mayors and congressional lawmakers urging the United States to help deescalate tensions in the conflict .
`` As proud representatives of Armenian-American communities across our country , we share their deep concerns about the violence being inflicted upon Artsakh , the growing number of civilian casualties , and the involvement of regional actors like Turkey and Iran , '' the letter reads .
Armenians refer to Nagorno-Karabakh as Artsakh .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring Armenia and Azerbaijan back to the negotiating table , and persuade Turkey to disengage , '' the letter states .
There was no mention of Azerbaijani casualties .
Azerbaijan 's consul-general to the western United States , Nasimi Aghayev , condemned the Los Angeles mayor for ignoring the deaths of civilians in rocket attacks by Armenian forces on Azerbaijani cities .
`` Is there no limit to political expediency ?
No red lines ?
Should the # politics always be about campaign money & votes ? ''
he wrote , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by Armenian attacks on Ganca , Azerbaijan 's second-largest city .
The protest came as fragile cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan has come under strain as both sides have accused the other of violations , including rocket attacks and shelling of cities .
Hundreds of soldiers and an unknown number of civilians have been killed on both sides since fighting erupted on September 27 , in the biggest escalation in the conflict since the shaky 1994 cease-fire .
The violence has increased concern that a wider conflict could drag in regional power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ally , and Russia , which has a defense pact with Armenia .
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan .
But it has been under the control of Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire brought an end to the separatist war that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed .
Since then , Nagorno-Karabakh has been populated and governed by ethnic Armenians , leaving hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from the region as internally displaced war refugees in Baku and other parts of Azerbaijan for more than a quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC Los Angeles , Eater LA , and AFP

The ongoing conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has triggered an outpouring of support from Los Angeles's Armenian community, one of the largest in the world.
On October 10, U.S. reality television star Kim Kardashian, who is of Armenian descent, announced she had donated $1 million to the Armenia Fund, which seeks to provide humanitarian relief efforts such as food, shelter, and medical care for those affected by the conflict.
"My thoughts and prayers are with the brave men, women and children. I want everyone to remember that despite the distance that separates us, we are not limited by borders and we are one global Armenian nation together," Kardashian said in a video message to her followers on Instagram.
The reality TV star and business mogul has often spoken out about issues affecting Armenia and its people.
Her famous sisters, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, also took to Instagram to call for joining the pan-Armenian fund-raiser.
The next day, thousands of people protested in Los Angeles in support of Armenians, waving Armenian flags, chanting, and carrying signs.
At one point, a crowd of at least 20,000 people gathered in front of the Turkish Consulate in Beverly Hills to condemn Turkey’s support for Azerbaijan.
The demonstration appeared to be largely peaceful.
Meanwhile, the city's Armenian community has been rallying around calls to support Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, with multiple restaurants offering donation deals and charity initiatives aimed at raising funds.
Southern California is home to the largest Armenian population in the United States; an East Hollywood neighborhood was designated Little Armenia in 2000.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted in support of the protesters, attaching a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from a group of mayors and congressional lawmakers urging the United States to help deescalate tensions in the conflict.
"As proud representatives of Armenian-American communities across our country, we share their deep concerns about the violence being inflicted upon Artsakh, the growing number of civilian casualties, and the involvement of regional actors like Turkey and Iran," the letter reads.
Armenians refer to Nagorno-Karabakh as Artsakh.
"We ask that you lead the effort to bring Armenia and Azerbaijan back to the negotiating table, and persuade Turkey to disengage," the letter states.
There was no mention of Azerbaijani casualties.
Azerbaijan's consul-general to the western United States, Nasimi Aghayev, condemned the Los Angeles mayor for ignoring the deaths of civilians in rocket attacks by Armenian forces on Azerbaijani cities.
"Is there no limit to political expediency? No red lines? Should the #politics always be about campaign money & votes?" he wrote, adding a video showing the damage and casualties caused by Armenian attacks on Ganca, Azerbaijan's second-largest city.
Kardashian and her husband, rapper Kayne West, have cordial relations with President Donald Trump and one of his former national-security aides recently said she is worried that they could have an influence on his policy decisions.
Kardashian visited the White House twice in 2018 to discuss prison reform and convinced Trump to pardon Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence on drug charges. West made a separate visit to the White House in 2018 to discuss various social issues WAwith Trump.
WATCH: A Truce In Tatters -- Fighting Flares Over Nagorno-Karabakh
Fiona Hill, the president’s former senior director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council, said October 5 during a Brookings conference dedicated to foreign policy that she “would be worried” about the United States getting engaged in Nagorno-Karabakh because of a “propensity” to take sides in recent conflicts.
“And given the large Armenian diaspora here and, you know, the presence of -- I will just say it outright -- the president's personal relationship with Kim Kardashian, who has been tweeting about Armenia, that is not a good sign for playing a neutral role here in which we had previously,” Hill, who is now a senior fellow at Brookings, said.
Trump also has business ties to Azerbaijan, licensing his name in 2014 to a hotel and condominium project. He pulled out in 2016 following delays in completing the project. He also had commercial dealings with Aras Agalarov, an Azeri-Russian businessman whose son was married to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s daughter.
The Los Angeles protest came as the fragile cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan has come under strain as both sides have accused the other of violations, including rocket attacks and shelling of cities.
Hundreds of soldiers and an unknown number of civilians have been killed on both sides since fighting erupted on September 27, in the biggest escalation in the conflict since the shaky 1994 cease-fire.
The violence has increased concern that a wider conflict could drag in regional power Turkey, which is Azerbaijan's closest ally, and Russia, which has a defense pact with Armenia.
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan. But it has been under the control of Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire brought an end to the separatist war that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed.
Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has been populated and governed by ethnic Armenians, leaving hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from the region as internally displaced war refugees in Baku and other parts of Azerbaijan for more than a quarter century.
With reporting by AP, NBC Los Angeles, Eater LA, and AFP


rferl--2020-10-12--EU Foreign Ministers Mull Russia Sanctions Over Navalny Poisoning

European Union foreign ministers are gathering in Luxembourg to discuss a range of issues , including possible sanctions on Russia for its suspected role in the poisoning of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny .
France and Germany last week put forward proposals to slap sanctions on Russian individuals believed to be responsible for Navalny ’ s poisoning and an entity involved in the program producing a nerve agent from the Novichok group .
The sanctions proposal came after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) on October 6 confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poisoned with the nerve agent from the Novichok group .
Both Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny ’ s poisoning and holding anyone to account .
`` In this context , we consider that there is no other plausible explanation for Mr. Navalny 's poisoning than a Russian involvement and responsibility , '' German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his counterpart , Jean-Yves Le Drian , said in a joint October 7 statement .
It is unclear if EU foreign ministers will agree on sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a later date .
Navalny 's health continues to improve since he was discharged on September 22 from the Berlin hospital where the Kremlin critic received a month of treatment after being brought from Russia days after falling severely ill on a flight .
EU foreign ministers are also to discuss the bloc 's response to developments in Belarus , including possible sanctions on strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka and other individuals .
Earlier in October , the 27-nation bloc agreed to impose visa bans and asset freezes on 40 Belarusian officials for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters and the opposition , as well as fraud during the August 9 election .
Lukashenka is not on the sanctions list , but EU diplomats have said he may be added later .
Before meeting his European counterparts in Luxembourg , Germany 's Maas said Lukashenka should be part of the blacklist .
`` We have to acknowledge that since our last meeting nothing has improved .
The Lukashenka regime continues to exercise violence , we still see arrests of peaceful demonstrators , '' Maas said .
`` I proposed to pave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lukashenka should be one of the people on this sanctions list . ''
Another major issue on the agenda will be the bloc 's stance toward the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh , after both sides accused each other of violating a cease-fire shortly after it came into force on October 10 .
`` Turkey has not called for a truce yet , and I believe they are completely wrong with this position , '' Asselborn said in Luxembourg .
`` I think the message from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a NATO member , to help arrange a cease-fire quickly . ''
EU foreign ministers will also discuss turbulent developments in Kyrgyzstan in the wake of the country ’ s disputed election last weekend as well as the outcome of the EU-Ukraine summit held earlier this month .
With reporting by dpa and Reuters

The European Union has agreed to prepare fresh sanctions against Belarus and Russia as the bloc ramps up pressure on its eastern neighbors over human rights abuses and lack of democracy.
Meeting in Luxembourg on October 12, foreign ministers from the EU’s 27 members reiterated that Belarus's August election was “neither free nor fair” and threatened to slap restrictive measures on Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the country’s autocratic leader, saying he “lacks any democratic legitimacy.”
The ministers also backed a proposal pushed by Paris and Berlin to impose sanctions on Russians suspected of being involved in the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny in August that nearly took his life.
“The [EU] Council strongly condemns the violence employed by the Belarusian authorities against peaceful protesters and calls for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons, including political prisoners,” the bloc said in a statement noting the country’s “fraudulent” presidential election and subsequent “violent” crackdown on demonstrators protesting against it and media covering the events.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ministers had given a “political green light” to prepare a new sanctions package that will include Lukashenka himself.
Earlier this month, the bloc agreed to impose visa bans and asset freezes on 40 Belarusian officials for their alleged role in the repression of protesters and the opposition, as well as fraud during the vote.
WATCH: Belarus Opposition Leader Says 'We Will Get Tougher' As Security Forces Launch Harsher Crackdown
Lukashenka was not included on the sanctions list, but the EU foreign ministers stated the bloc’s readiness to take “further restrictive measures against entities and high-ranking officials, including [Lukashenka], if the situation does not improve.”
Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory in the polls, triggering weeks of street protests against the results.
On October 11, thousands of people took part in rallies in Minsk and elsewhere across Belarus demanding Lukashenka’s resignation.
A total of 713 people were detained by security forces during the demonstrations, and 570 of them remain in custody waiting to face a court, according to the Interior Ministry.
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
“The EU calls on the Belarusian authorities to engage in an inclusive national dialogue and stands ready to support a peaceful democratic transition with a variety of instruments, including a comprehensive plan of economic support for a democratic Belarus,” the EU foreign ministers said.
France and Germany last week put forward proposals to slap sanctions on Russian individuals believed to be responsible for Navalny’s poisoning and an entity involved in the program producing a nerve agent from the Novichok group.
The sanctions proposal came after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on October 6 confirmed the findings of specialized laboratories in Germany, France, and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent from the Novichok group.
Borrell told reporters that ministers reached a “political agreement” to implement restrictive measures advocated by France and Germany against those linked to the “assassination attempt” against Navalny. A technical body will now work on drawing up a list of restrictive measures.
Both Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny’s poisoning and holding anyone to account.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters as he arrived at the October 12 meeting that Navalny's poisoning could not "remain without consequences," adding that the proposal would impose “sanctions on certain people that caught our eye in this respect."
He did not give any details but Reuters quoted EU diplomats as saying there was broad support for asset freezes and travel bans on several Russian GRU military intelligence officials during the meeting.
Navalny’s health continues to improve since he was discharged on September 22 from the Berlin hospital where the anti-corruption campaigner received a month of treatment after being brought from Russia days after falling severely ill on a flight in Siberia.
Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident and says Russian doctors initially treating Navalny in the city of Omsk did not find any traces of poison in his body.
Senior Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov said on October 12 that Russia may respond to the EU sanctions in a commensurate manner.
Other issues on the agenda at the foreign ministers meeting included the bloc's stance toward the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, after both sides accused each other of violating a cease-fire shortly after it came into force on October 10.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn urged Ankara, Baku's closest ally, to push for a cease-fire.
"Turkey has not called for a truce yet, and I believe they are completely wrong with this position," Asselborn said in Luxembourg. "I think the message from Luxembourg will be a call on Turkey, a NATO member, to help arrange a cease-fire quickly."
EU foreign ministers will also discuss turbulent developments in Kyrgyzstan in the wake of the country’s disputed election last weekend as well as the outcome of the EU-Ukraine summit held earlier this month.
With reporting by dpa and Reuters


rferl--2020-10-12--Amid Fraud Allegations, Tajikistan's Rahmon Secures Fifth Term In Tightly Controlled Vote

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan 's authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon has been reelected for a fifth term with nearly 91 percent of the vote , according to preliminary official results , following a tightly controlled and largely ceremonial election .
The Central Asian nation 's Central Election Commission said on October 12 that 90.92 percent of voters had cast their ballots for Rahmon , who will secure another seven-year term , according to preliminary results .
CEC Chairman Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda said that 85.4 percent of the electorate had cast their ballots in the October 11 polls .
In power since 1992 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , none of which was deemed free or fair by Western monitors .
He holds the dubious distinction of being the only post-Soviet autocrat in power longer than Belarus 's Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
The election comes as Tajikistan ’ s economic woes deepen amid the COVID-19 pandemic as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are unable to travel to Russia for jobs not available at home , halting a flow of remittances needed to prop up the local economy .
The 68-year-old Rahmon was running against four little-known candidates that represent pro-government parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are widely seen as little more than a facade to give the vote the appearance of competition .
According to the preliminary results , Rustam Latifzoda from the Agrarian Party received 3.03 percent of the vote ; Rustam Rahmatzoda from the Party of Economic Reforms got 2.15 percent ; Miroj Abdulloev from the Communist Party received 1.17 percent ; and Abduhalim Ghafforzoda from the Socialist Party got 1.49 percent .
CEC officials said that the final results will be officially announced within a week .
RFE/RL ’ s Tajik Service reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dushanbe , RFE/RL video appeared to show two men stuffing ballots into voting urns at a polling station .
A correspondent in the northern city of Khujand spoke to two voters who openly said that they had cast more than one ballot .
Both women claimed to have voted on behalf of other family members , a practice that is unlawful in Tajikistan .
The election was the first since Rahmon 's most influential political rival , the Islamic Renaissance Party ( IRPT ) , was outlawed .
The country 's Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist '' organization in 2015 .
Many of the party leaders and officials have been imprisoned , while others fled the country amid a clampdown .
The Social Democratic Party , the only genuine political opposition group inside the country , boycotted the election .
Party leader Rahmatullo Zoirov told RFE/RL that there was no point in voting because `` even if one votes against all the candidates , the CEC will pronounce its own numbers and results . ''
With a suppressed opposition and Rahmon ’ s tight grip on the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the turmoil currently engulfing neighboring Kyrgyzstan and fellow former Soviet republic Belarus after disputed elections in those countries .
Rakhmon is portrayed by state media and his supporters as a figure who has brought stability to the country following a civil war during the 1990s .
How The Tajik President Has Managed To Stay In Power For Nearly Three Decades : Rahmon ’ s nomination in late August ended speculation that he may step aside to allow his eldest son , Rustam Emomali , to run for office .
In April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaker of the upper house of parliament , a role that positions him to take over for his father if he is unable to fulfill his duties .
Emomali also continues to hold the lucrative position of Dushanbe mayor .
Speculation about Emomali ’ s succession initially began in 2016 , when Tajikistan amended its constitution to lower the age threshold for presidential candidates from 35 years to 30 years .
The move was seen as being aimed at paving the way for Emomali to run for president .
The amendments also gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office an unlimited number of times .
Further securing his dominant position in the country , parliament gave Rahmon the title of Leader of the Nation in December 2015 , a status that grants him lifelong immunity from prosecution .
The October 11 vote marks the second nationwide vote in Tajikistan this year .
In March , the country held parliamentary polls that produced another rubber-stamp legislature dominated by Rahmon 's People ’ s Democratic Party .
With reporting by AFP and dpa

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan's authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon has been reelected for a fifth term with nearly 91 percent of the vote, according to preliminary official results, following a tightly controlled and largely ceremonial election.
The Central Asian nation's Central Election Commission said on October 12 that 90.92 percent of voters had cast their ballot for Rahmon, the only post-Soviet autocrat in power longer than Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus.
CEC chairman Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda said that 85.4 percent of the electorate had cast their ballots in the October 11 polls, during which RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported several instances of irregularities.
European Council spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement that the election was apparently carried out in a “peaceful and orderly manner,” but he noted that several of the recommendations made earlier this year by monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE ODIHR) “remain valid and unimplemented, such as the independence of the media environment and political plurality.”
In power since 1992, Rahmon has won four consecutive presidential elections, none of which was deemed free or fair by Western monitors. He holds the dubious distinction of being the only post-Soviet autocrat in power longer than Belarus's Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
The election comes as Tajikistan’s economic woes deepen amid the COVID-19 pandemic as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are unable to travel to Russia for jobs not available at home, halting a flow of remittances needed to prop up the local economy.
The 68-year-old Rahmon was running against four little-known candidates that represent pro-government parties in the country's rubber-stamp parliament. They are widely seen as little more than a facade to give the vote the appearance of competition.
According to the preliminary results, Rustam Latifzoda from the Agrarian Party received 3.03 percent of the vote; Rustam Rahmatzoda from the Party of Economic Reforms got 2.15 percent; Miroj Abdulloev from the Communist Party received 1.17 percent; and Abduhalim Ghafforzoda from the Socialist Party got 1.49 percent.
CEC officials said that the final results will be officially announced within a week.
On election day, RFE/RL video appeared to show two men stuffing ballots into voting urns at a polling station in the capital, Dushanbe.
A correspondent in the northern city of Khujand spoke to two voters who openly said that they had cast more than one ballot. Both women claimed to have voted on behalf of other family members, a practice that is unlawful in Tajikistan.
The election was the first since Rahmon's most influential political rival, the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT), was outlawed.
The country's Supreme Court banned the IRPT as a "terrorist" organization in 2015. Many of the party leaders and officials have been imprisoned, while others fled the country amid a clampdown.
The Social Democratic Party, the only genuine political opposition group inside the country, boycotted the election.
'No Point In Voting'
Party leader Rahmatillo Zoirov told RFE/RL that there was no point in voting because "even if one votes against all the candidates, the CEC will pronounce its own numbers and results."
With a suppressed opposition and Rahmon’s tight grip on the country, the vote is unlikely to result in the turmoil currently engulfing neighboring Kyrgyzstan and fellow former Soviet republic Belarus after disputed elections in those countries.
Rakhmon is portrayed by state media and his supporters as a figure who has brought stability to the country following a civil war during the 1990s.
How The Tajik President Has Managed To Stay In Power For Nearly Three Decades:
Rahmon’s nomination in late August ended speculation that he may step aside to allow his eldest son, Rustam Emomali, to run for office.
In April, Emomali, 32, was made the speaker of the upper house of parliament, a role that positions him to take over for his father if he is unable to fulfill his duties.
Emomali also continues to hold the lucrative position of Dushanbe mayor.
Speculation about Emomali’s succession initially began in 2016, when Tajikistan amended its constitution to lower the age threshold for presidential candidates from 35 years to 30 years.
The move was seen as being aimed at paving the way for Emomali to run for president.
The amendments also gave Rahmon the exclusive right to run for office an unlimited number of times.
Further securing his dominant position in the country, parliament gave Rahmon the title of Leader of the Nation in December 2015, a status that grants him lifelong immunity from prosecution.
The October 11 vote marks the second nationwide vote in Tajikistan this year.
In March, the country held parliamentary polls that produced another rubber-stamp legislature dominated by Rahmon's People’s Democratic Party.
With reporting by AFP and dpa


rferl--2020-10-11--More Than 500 Detained In Brutal Protest Crackdown In Belarus

MINSK -- Hundreds of people were detained by Belarusian security forces in Minsk on October 11 in what observers said was the most violent crackdown in weeks against protesters demanding an end to the authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
Police used water cannons , stun grenades , and tear gas to disperse crowds in central Minsk after blocking streets and closing metro stations .
Some 586 people , including at least 40 journalists , were detained , mostly in Minsk , but in other cities as well , according to the human rights organization Vyasna .
Belarus has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power since 1994 , was declared the winner of the country ’ s August 9 presidential election amid allegations of widespread vote rigging .
His top rival , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , was forced to flee to Lithuania after the vote , which supporters and others say she won .
She left Belarus for Lithuania after the election amid reports that she and her family were threatened by authorities .
The EU and United States have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate ruler of Belarus .
In Minsk on October 11 , peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into minibuses at the outset of the demonstration .
Black-clad security forces hit demonstrators and carried them to small buses .
Some were pinned to the ground by masked police , while others , injured with bandaged heads , could be seen sitting on the ground .
The demonstration comes a day after the 66-year-old Lukashenka met with opposition leaders imprisoned at a detention facility run by the country ’ s KGB security service , ostensibly to discuss plans for constitutional reforms .
A photo posted by Lukashenka 's press service on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an oval table with prisoners who included Viktar Babaryka , a banker once seen as Lukashenka ’ s toughest rival in the August election but who was prevented from running and jailed .
Others in the picture include Lilia Vlasova , a lawyer who is a member of the opposition 's Coordination Council , and the Belarusian-American political analyst Vitali Shkliarov .
Belarusian opposition figures described the visit as a sign of weakness from Lukashenka .
Tsikhanouskaya said on October 10 that Lukashenka had `` acknowledged the existence of political prisoners whom he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said , `` You ca n't have dialogue in a prison cell . ''
Tsikhanouskaya also said she was allowed on October 10 to have her first phone call in four months with her jailed husband , video blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski .
Tsikhanouskaya only stood as a presidential candidate against Lukashenka after the jailing of her husband by Belarusian authorities eliminated his possibility of running in the election .
With reporting by Current Time , Interfax , and TASS

MINSK -- Hundreds of people were detained by Belarusian security forces in Minsk on October 11 in what observers said was the most violent crackdown in weeks against protesters demanding an end to the authoritarian rule of Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Police used water cannons, stun grenades, and tear gas to disperse crowds in central Minsk after blocking streets and closing metro stations.
Some 586 people, including at least 40 journalists, were detained, mostly in Minsk, but in other cities as well, according to the human rights organization Vyasna.
Belarus has been rocked by protests since Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of the country’s August 9 presidential election amid allegations of widespread vote rigging.
His top rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was forced to flee to Lithuania after the vote, which supporters and others say she won. She left Belarus for Lithuania after the election amid reports that she and her family were threatened by authorities.
The EU and United States have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate ruler of Belarus.
In Minsk on October 11, peaceful protesters were beaten by police and dragged into minibuses at the outset of the demonstration.
Black-clad security forces hit demonstrators and carried them to small buses. Some were pinned to the ground by masked police, while others, injured with bandaged heads, could be seen sitting on the ground.
The demonstration comes a day after the 66-year-old Lukashenka met with opposition leaders imprisoned at a detention facility run by the country’s KGB security service, ostensibly to discuss plans for constitutional reforms.
A photo posted by Lukashenka's press service on the Telegram messenger app showed him sitting at an oval table with prisoners who included Viktar Babaryka, a banker once seen as Lukashenka’s toughest rival in the August election but who was prevented from running and jailed.
Others in the picture include Lilia Vlasova, a lawyer who is a member of the opposition's Coordination Council, and the Belarusian-American political analyst Vitali Shkliarov.
Belarusian opposition figures described the visit as a sign of weakness from Lukashenka.
Tsikhanouskaya said on October 10 that Lukashenka had "acknowledged the existence of political prisoners whom he used to call criminals." But she said, "You can't have dialogue in a prison cell."
Tsikhanouskaya also said she was allowed on October 10 to have her first phone call in four months with her jailed husband, video blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski.
Tsikhanouskaya only stood as a presidential candidate against Lukashenka after the jailing of her husband by Belarusian authorities eliminated his possibility of running in the election.
With reporting by Current Time, Interfax, and TASS


rferl--2020-10-13--Ex-U.S. Diplomat Steps Down From Naftogaz Board, Citing Ukrainian Corruption Concerns

A former U.S. State Department official said he is stepping down from the supervisory board of Ukraine ’ s state-owned gas company amid concerns about a slowdown in reform and creeping corruption .
Amos Hochstein , who served as the U.S. special envoy for international energy affairs during former President Barack Obama 's administration , made the announcement in an October 12 opinion piece in the Kyiv Post .
He singled out a Ukrainian government deal to import liquefied natural gas from a little-known American company and name one of its executives to the supervisory board .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leveled against the company as it seeks to reform the nation ’ s energy industry .
“ I can no longer stand by and be used to endorse this negative trend , and it ’ s why I must voluntarily leave the board .
Supervisory boards can not include members whose values are not in line with the reform and good governance agenda .
Supervisory boards must continue to be independent , strengthened , and protected from undue influence , ” he said .
Hochstein ’ s resignation is the latest warning sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by powerful politicians and oligarchs .
A slow reform process has deflated optimism ushered in by the surprise victory of comic and political novice , Volodymyr Zelenskiy , in the 2019 presidential election .
Zelenskiy campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption , carrying out reform , and attracting foreign investment .
However , his ties to Ihor Kolomoyskiy , one of the most powerful oligarchs with interest in oil and gas , raised concerns about his commitment to those goals .
Naftogaz , the nation ’ s largest producer of natural gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine ’ s biggest corruption scandals over the past two decades .
After Ukrainians overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014 , the United States and Europe tied financial aid to the country ’ s progress on reforms , with a major focus on Naftogaz .
The United States and the EU -- along with western financial institutions -- pushed Ukraine to set up independent supervisory boards at state-owned companies to combat corruption .
Hochstein joined the board in December 2017 and oversaw the divestiture of the pipeline business into a separate company as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of reforms in 2014 and aided by domestic price increases , Naftogaz has turned into one of the nation ’ s most profitable companies and accounts for a significant portion of the nation ’ s budget revenues .
However , the reforms have hurt in some cases the fortunes of oligarchs , who account for nearly all the private sector gas production and related services .
“ Unfortunately , Naftogaz management ’ s successful efforts to create a new corporate culture , transparent mechanisms , and an adherence to international standards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
The company has been forced to spend endless amounts of time combating political pressure and efforts by oligarchs to enrich themselves through questionable transactions , ” Hochstein said .
In his statement he made no mention of Zelenskiy or Kolomoyskiy , who owns about 40 percent of Naftogaz ’ s oil production business .
Hochstein called Ukraine ’ s decision to sign a memorandum of understanding to import liquefied natural gas from Louisiana Natural Gas Exports a “ sordid affair ” that represents the nation ’ s slide “ back towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was only recently formed and has no track record of exporting liquefied natural gas .
Prior to 2014 , Naftogaz had a notorious history of giving contracts to politically connected companies .

A former U.S. State Department official said he is stepping down from the supervisory board of Ukraine’s state-owned gas company amid concerns about a slowdown in reform and creeping corruption.
Amos Hochstein, who served as the U.S. special envoy for international energy affairs during former President Barack Obama's administration, made the announcement in an October 12 opinion piece in the Kyiv Post.
He singled out a Ukrainian government deal to import liquefied natural gas from a little-known American company and name one of its executives to the supervisory board. He also said there have been “unfounded allegations” leveled against the company as it seeks to reform the nation’s energy industry.
“I can no longer stand by and be used to endorse this negative trend, and it’s why I must voluntarily leave the board. Supervisory boards cannot include members whose values are not in line with the reform and good governance agenda. Supervisory boards must continue to be independent, strengthened, and protected from undue influence,” he said.
Hochstein’s resignation is the latest warning sign that reforms in Ukraine are being stymied by powerful politicians and oligarchs. A slow reform process has deflated optimism ushered in by the surprise victory of comic and political novice, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in the 2019 presidential election.
Zelenskiy campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption, carrying out reform, and attracting foreign investment. However, his ties to Ihor Kolomoyskiy, one of the most powerful oligarchs with interests in oil and gas, raised concerns about his commitment to those goals.
Naftogaz, the nation’s largest producer of natural gas, has been at the center of Ukraine’s biggest corruption scandals over the past two decades. After Ukrainians overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, the United States and Europe tied financial aid to the country’s progress on reforms, with a major focus on Naftogaz.
The United States and the EU -- along with Western financial institutions -- pushed Ukraine to set up independent supervisory boards at state-owned companies to combat corruption.
Hochstein joined the board in December 2017 and oversaw the divestiture of the pipeline business into a separate company as required by European legislation.
Since the start of reforms in 2014 and aided by domestic price increases, Naftogaz has turned into one of the nation’s most profitable companies and accounts for a significant portion of the nation’s budget revenues.
However, the reforms have hurt in some cases the fortunes of oligarchs, who account for nearly all the private-sector gas production and related services.
“Unfortunately, Naftogaz management’s successful efforts to create a new corporate culture, transparent mechanisms, and an adherence to international standards, was resisted at every step of the way. The company has been forced to spend endless amounts of time combating political pressure and efforts by oligarchs to enrich themselves through questionable transactions,” Hochstein said.
In his statement he made no mention of Zelenskiy or Kolomoyskiy, who owns about 40 percent of Naftogaz’s oil production business.
Hochstein called Ukraine’s decision to sign a memorandum of understanding to import liquefied natural gas from Louisiana Natural Gas Exports a “sordid affair” that represents the nation’s slide “back towards its past.”
Louisiana Natural Gas Exports was only recently formed and has no track record of exporting liquefied natural gas. Prior to 2014, Naftogaz had a notorious history of giving contracts to politically connected companies.


rferl--2020-10-12--Serbs Mark 1,000 Days From Killing Of Moderate Kosovar Serb Politician Ivanovic

Hundreds of Serbs lit candles on October 12 in Belgrade to mark 1,000 days since the assassination of moderate Kosovar Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic in January 2018 and to demand greater efforts to solve the crime .
Ivanovic was shot dead in front of his party office in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica , a predominantly Serb area of mainly ethnic Albanian Kosovo .
Dragan Djilas , head of Serbia 's opposition center-left Party of Freedom and Justice ( SSP ) , who attended the commemoration , said Ivanovic had been ready `` to fight for Serbia 's interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Kosovo authorities have indicted six people in connection with Ivanovic 's killing , but Kosovo 's Appellate Court ordered a retrial .
More than a decade since Kosovo proclaimed independence , around 40,000 Serbs in northern Kosovo refuse to recognize Pristina institutions and see Belgrade as their capital .
Normalization of tense relations with Kosovo , which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , is a key condition for Serbia 's entry into the European Union .
Belgrade and Pristina agreed to take steps towards economic cooperation in agreements signed at @ @ @ @ @ @

Hundreds of Serbs lit candles on October 12 in Belgrade to mark 1,000 days since the assassination of moderate Kosovar Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic in January 2018 and to demand greater efforts to solve the crime.
Ivanovic was shot dead in front of his party office in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, a predominantly Serb area of mainly ethnic Albanian Kosovo.
Dragan Djilas, head of Serbia's opposition center-left Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), who attended the commemoration, said Ivanovic had been ready "to fight for Serbia's interests but also to communicate with Kosovo Albanians."
Kosovo authorities have indicted six people in connection with Ivanovic's killing, but Kosovo's Appellate Court ordered a retrial.
More than a decade since Kosovo proclaimed independence, around 40,000 Serbs in northern Kosovo refuse to recognize Pristina institutions and see Belgrade as their capital.
Normalization of tense relations with Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is a key condition for Serbia's entry into the European Union.
Belgrade and Pristina agreed to take steps towards economic cooperation in agreements signed at the White House last month.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-10-12--Belarus Threatens To Use Lethal Weapons On Protesters

Belarus has threatened to fire on protesters to break up demonstrations against Alyaksandr Lukashenka , as EU foreign ministers agreed the strongman leader should be personally included on a sanctions list .
Belarus 's First Deputy Interior Minister Henadz Kazakevich said in a video statement on October 14 , `` we will not leave the streets and will guarantee the law in the country .
Law enforcement personnel and interior troops will use special equipment and lethal weapons if need be . ''
Security forces have so far only acknowledged using water cannon , rubber bullets , and stun grenades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that protests had become `` extremely radical '' with stones and bottles thrown at police on October 11 by protesters armed with knives , who built barricades and set fire to tires .
`` This has nothing in common with civil protest , '' Kazakevich said , claiming that `` groups of fighters , radicals , anarchists , and football fans '' were participating .
WATCH : Belarus Opposition Leader Says 'We Will Get Tougher ' As Security Forces Launch Harsher Crackdown His statement was the first time authorities have explicitly threatened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of lethal weapons and live ammunition would mark a major escalation in the two-month standoff between Lukashenka and protesters , who have staged peaceful rallies against his disputed reelection in August and against the abuse and torture of detainees .
When protests broke out in August , police acknowledged opening fire on protesters in the southern city of Brest , killing one , but it remained unclear whether live bullets were used .
Kazakevich 's warning came after security forces cracked down harshly on new anti-Lukashenka protests on October 11 , prompting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to sanction Lukashenka himself .
Police deployed water cannons and stun grenades in Minsk and detained more than 700 people across the country , the Interior Ministry said .
On October 12 , Belarusian pensioners also held the latest in a series of regular protests to demand new elections and Lukashenka 's departure .
European foreign ministers on October 12 reportedly agreed Lukashenka 's name should join a list of 40 of his officials already sanctioned by the EU with travel bans and asset freezes .
With reporting by AFP and BBC

Belarus has threatened to fire on protesters to break up demonstrations against Alyaksandr Lukashenka, as EU foreign ministers agreed the strongman leader should be personally included on a sanctions list.
First Deputy Interior Minister Henadz Kazakevich said in a video statement on October 12: "We will not leave the streets and will guarantee the law in the country. Law enforcement personnel and interior troops will use special equipment and lethal weapons if need be."
Security forces have so far only acknowledged using water cannon, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse the protesters.
Kazakevich claimed that protests had become "extremely radical" with stones and bottles thrown at police on October 11 by protesters armed with knives, who built barricades and set fire to tires.
"This has nothing in common with civil protest," Kazakevich said, claiming that "groups of fighters, radicals, anarchists, and football fans" were participating.
WATCH: Belarus Opposition Leader Says 'We Will Get Tougher' As Security Forces Launch Harsher Crackdown
His statement was the first time authorities have explicitly threatened to use firearms against opposition demonstrators.
The use of lethal weapons and live ammunition would mark a major escalation in the two-month standoff between Lukashenka and protesters, who have staged peaceful rallies against his disputed reelection in August and against the abuse and torture of detainees.
When protests broke out in August, police acknowledged opening fire on protesters in the southern city of Brest, killing one, but it remained unclear whether live bullets were used.
Kazakevich's warning came after security forces cracked down harshly on new anti-Lukashenka protests on October 11, prompting EU foreign ministers to agree it was time to sanction Lukashenka himself.
Police deployed water cannons and stun grenades in Minsk and detained more than 700 people across the country, the Interior Ministry said.
On October 12, Belarusian pensioners also held the latest in a series of regular protests to demand new elections and Lukashenka's departure.
European foreign ministers on October 12 reportedly agreed Lukashenka's name should join a list of 40 of his officials already sanctioned by the EU with travel bans and asset freezes.
With reporting by AFP and BBC


rferl--2020-10-12--Uzbek Rights Activist Wins Lawsuit Against State Over Illegal Imprisonment But Will Appeal

QARSHI , Uzbekistan -- In an unprecedented move , a court in Uzbekistan has ordered the state to pay financial compensation to human rights activist Choyan Mamatqulov for illegally keeping him in prison .
Mamatqulov told RFE/RL on October 12 that the Qashqadaryo region court in the country 's south had ruled on October 9 that the government must pay him 60 million soms ( $ 5,800 ) .
However , Mamatqulov , who demanded 500 million soms ( $ 48,300 ) as compensation , said the amount offered by the state is not sufficient for the ordeal he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he plans to appeal the ruling .
Mamatqulov , 50 , is an outspoken defender of human rights who filed a lawsuit in 2005 against then-President Islam Karimov , accusing him of violating the rights of military personnel .
He was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2013 on fraud , perjury , and kidnapping charges , which Mamatqulov and his supporters rejected as baseless , and human rights watchdogs described as politically motivated .
Mamatqulov was released in March 2018 and given the right to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all charges in March 2020 .
Since President Shavkat Mirziyoev came to power in 2016 following Karimov 's death , Uzbekistan has released more than 50 political prisoners .
They include activists , journalists , and human rights campaigners who were jailed by Karimov 's regime .
The ruling obliging the state to pay compensation to Mamatqulov is the first case when an officially exonerated former inmate receives some financial assistance after spending years in prison .

QARSHI, Uzbekistan -- In an unprecedented move, a court in Uzbekistan has ordered the state to pay financial compensation to human rights activist Choyan Mamatqulov for illegally keeping him in prison.
Mamatqulov told RFE/RL on October 12 that the Qashqadaryo region court in the country's south had ruled on October 9 that the government must pay him 60 million soms ($5,800).
However, Mamatqulov, who demanded 500 million soms ($48,300) as compensation, said the amount offered by the state is not sufficient for the ordeal he was put through while in prison.
He said he plans to appeal the ruling.
Mamatqulov, 50, is an outspoken defender of human rights who filed a lawsuit in 2005 against then-President Islam Karimov, accusing him of violating the rights of military personnel.
He was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2013 on fraud, perjury, and kidnapping charges, which Mamatqulov and his supporters rejected as baseless, and human rights watchdogs described as politically motivated.
Mamatqulov was released in March 2018 and given the right to a new trial. He was acquitted on all charges in March 2020.
Since President Shavkat Mirziyoev came to power in 2016 following Karimov's death, Uzbekistan has released more than 50 political prisoners. They include activists, journalists, and human rights campaigners who were jailed by Karimov's regime.
The ruling obliging the state to pay compensation to Mamatqulov is the first case when an officially exonerated former inmate receives some financial assistance after spending years in prison.


rferl--2020-10-12--U.S. Strikes Taliban In Helmand, Warns Militants To Halt Offensive

U.S. forces have come to the aid of the Afghan Army in the southern Helmand Province , striking at Taliban fighters who had attacked government security forces in the area in recent days and warning the militants to `` immediately stop '' their offensive in the area .
Colonel Sonny Leggett , the spokesman for the U.S. military in Afghanistan , tweeted on October 12 that the strikes over the past two days in Helmand did not violate a U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February .
Afghan government representatives and Taliban negotiators are currently holding intra-Afghan talks in Qatar .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted several targeted strikes in Helmand to defend ANDSF forces under attack by Taliban fighters , consistent with the U.S.-Taliban agreement .
USFOR-A has & will continue to provide support in defense of the ANDSF under attack by the Taliban , '' Leggett said on October 12 .
“ The Taliban need to immediately stop their offensive actions in Helmand Province and reduce their violence around the country .
It is not consistent with the U.S.-Taliban agreement and undermines the ongoing Afghan Peace Talks , ” Leggett 's tweet said , quoting General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Forces in Afghanistan .
Leggett said that U.S. forces have and will continue to provide support in defense of Afghan national security forces under attack by the Taliban .
The announcement of U.S. strikes comes after a gun battle was reported in and around Lashkar Gah , the capital city of Helmand rovince , on October 12 .
Eyewitnesses reported intermittent shooting inside Laskar Gah and residents have fled from the Nad Ali and Nawa districts because of the fighting .
Taliban fighters began coordinated attacks in different parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them up over the weekend , said Omer Zwak , spokesman for the provincial governor in Helmand .
`` The Taliban have destroyed several bridges over the main highway , so the highway is closed right now and no one can travel , '' Zwak said .
The negotiations in Qatar are meant to end Afghanistan ’ s decades-long long war , following the U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed in February in Doha , Qatar ’ s capital .
In a surprise move , U.S. President Donald Trump said on October 8 that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by December 25 , which would be sooner than he previously proposed and a speedier withdrawal than his national-security adviser outlined in a speech earlier on October 7 .
Under the February deal foreign forces will leave Afghanistan by May in exchange for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban .

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


rferl--2020-10-12--LGBT Pride Parade Rolls Through Kosovo's Capital

The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard .
Kosovo 's LGBT @ @ @ @ @ the capital , Pristina .
To prevent the spread of the coronavirus , activists paraded @ @ @ @ @ at the event on October 12 .
A crosswalk was given a special paint job @ @ @ @ @ flew a rainbow flag .

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Kosovo's LGBT Pride Parade took place in the capital, Pristina. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, activists paraded in their brightly colored cars at the event on October 12. A crosswalk was given a special paint job and the mayor's office flew a rainbow flag.


rferl--2020-10-12--Russian Historian Charged With Murdering, Dismembering Girlfriend Pleads Guilty

ST. PETERSBURG , Russia -- A Russian historian charged with murdering and dismembering his student lover has pleaded guilty at the resumption of his trial in the city of St. Petersburg .
In answering questions in the courtroom on October 12 about whether he is pleading guilty to charges of murder and the illegal possession of a weapon , Oleg Sokolov replied `` yes . ''
Earlier in June , the defendant said he would `` answer this question after the accusing side presents all of its evidence . ''
During an investigation of the case , Sokolov admitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postgraduate student Anastasia Yeshchenko , a crime that has captivated Russia 's second-largest city since November 2019 .
The high-profile case has been adjourned or postponed several times in recent months for various reasons , including restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
The 64-year-old historian was detained on November 9 , 2019 , after being pulled out of the Moika River with a backpack containing the body parts of a young woman .
Investigators later found the woman 's head in his apartment .
A flamboyant academic who regularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in battle reenactments , Sokolov was once awarded France ’ s Legion of Honor for his research into Napoleon .

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- A Russian historian charged with murdering and dismembering his student lover has pleaded guilty at the resumption of his trial in the city of St. Petersburg.
In answering questions in the courtroom on October 12 about whether he is pleading guilty to charges of murder and the illegal possession of a weapon, Oleg Sokolov replied "yes."
Earlier in June, the defendant said he would "answer this question after the accusing side presents all of its evidence."
During an investigation of the case, Sokolov admitted to killing and dismembering his lover, 24-year-old postgraduate student Anastasia Yeshchenko, a crime that has captivated Russia's second-largest city since November 2019.
The high-profile case has been adjourned or postponed several times in recent months for various reasons, including restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
The 64-year-old historian was detained on November 9, 2019, after being pulled out of the Moika River with a backpack containing the body parts of a young woman. Investigators later found the woman's head in his apartment.
A flamboyant academic who regularly dressed in Napoleon-era costumes and took part in battle reenactments, Sokolov was once awarded France’s Legion of Honor for his research into Napoleon.


rferl--2020-10-12--In Sign Of Losing Patience, EU Warns Of Sanctions For Belarus, Russia

The European Union has agreed to prepare fresh sanctions against Belarus and Russia as the bloc ramps up pressure on its eastern neighbors over human rights abuses and lack of democracy .
Meeting in Luxembourg on October 12 , foreign ministers from the EU ’ s 27 members reiterated that Belarus 's August election was “ neither free nor fair ” and threatened to slap restrictive measures on Alyaksandr Lukashenka , the country ’ s autocratic leader , saying he “ lacks any democratic legitimacy.
” The ministers also backed a proposal pushed by Paris and Berlin to impose sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny in August that nearly took his life .
“ The [ EU ] Council strongly condemns the violence employed by the Belarusian authorities against peaceful protesters and calls for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons , including political prisoners , ” the bloc said in a statement noting the country ’ s “ fraudulent ” presidential election and subsequent “ violent ” crackdown on demonstrators protesting against it and media covering the events .
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ministers had given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepare a new sanctions package that will include Lukashenka himself .
Earlier this month , the bloc agreed to impose visa bans and asset freezes on 40 Belarusian officials for their alleged role in the repression of protesters and the opposition , as well as fraud during the vote .
WATCH : Belarus Opposition Leader Says 'We Will Get Tougher ' As Security Forces Launch Harsher Crackdown Lukashenka was not included on the sanctions list , but the EU foreign ministers stated the bloc ’ s readiness to take “ further restrictive measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Lukashenka ] , if the situation does not improve.
” Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory in the polls , triggering weeks of street protests against the results .
On October 11 , thousands of people took part in rallies in Minsk and elsewhere across Belarus demanding Lukashenka ’ s resignation .
A total of 713 people were detained by security forces during the demonstrations , and 570 of them remain in custody waiting to face a court , according to the Interior Ministry .
“ The EU calls on the Belarusian authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stands ready to support a peaceful democratic transition with a variety of instruments , including a comprehensive plan of economic support for a democratic Belarus , ” the EU foreign ministers said .
France and Germany last week put forward proposals to slap sanctions on Russian individuals believed to be responsible for Navalny ’ s poisoning and an entity involved in the program producing a nerve agent from the Novichok group .
The sanctions proposal came after the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) on October 6 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , France , and Sweden that Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent from the Novichok group .
Borrell told reporters that ministers reached a “ political agreement ” to implement restrictive measures advocated by France and Germany against those linked to the “ assassination attempt ” against Navalny .
A technical body will now work on drawing up a list of restrictive measures .
Both Germany and France accused Russia of failing to fully investigate the circumstances of Navalny ’ s poisoning and holding anyone to account .
German Foreign Minister Heiko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the October 12 meeting that Navalny 's poisoning could not `` remain without consequences , '' adding that the proposal would impose “ sanctions on certain people that caught our eye in this respect . ''
He did not give any details but Reuters quoted EU diplomats as saying there was broad support for asset freezes and travel bans on several Russian GRU military intelligence officials during the meeting .
Navalny ’ s health continues to improve since he was discharged on September 22 from the Berlin hospital where the anti-corruption campaigner received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Russia days after falling severely ill on a flight in Siberia .
Moscow has denied any involvement in the incident and says Russian doctors initially treating Navalny in the city of Omsk did not find any traces of poison in his body .
Senior Russian lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov said on October 12 that Russia may respond to the EU sanctions in a commensurate manner .
Other issues on the agenda at the foreign ministers meeting included the bloc 's stance toward the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other of violating a cease-fire shortly after it came into force on October 10 .
`` Turkey has not called for a truce yet , and I believe they are completely wrong with this position , '' Asselborn said in Luxembourg .
`` I think the message from Luxembourg will be a call on Turkey , a NATO member , to help arrange a cease-fire quickly . ''
EU foreign ministers will also discuss turbulent developments in Kyrgyzstan in the wake of the country ’ s disputed election last weekend as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this month .
With reporting by dpa and Reuters


rferl--2020-10-12--Amid Fraud Allegations, Results Give Tajikistan's Rahmon Fifth Presidential Term

DUSHANBE -- Tajikistan 's authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon has been reelected for a fifth term with nearly 91 percent of the vote , according to preliminary official results , following a tightly controlled and largely ceremonial election .
The Central Asian nation 's Central Election Commission said on October 12 that 90.92 percent of voters had cast their ballot for Rahmon , the only post-Soviet autocrat in power longer than Alyaksandr Lukashenka of Belarus .
CEC chairman Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda said that 85.4 percent of the electorate had cast their ballots in the October 11 polls , during which RFE/RL ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irregularities .
European Council spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement that the election was apparently carried out in a “ peaceful and orderly manner , ” but he noted that several of the recommendations made earlier this year by monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights ( OSCE ODIHR ) “ remain valid and unimplemented , such as the independence of the media environment and political plurality.
” In power since 1992 , Rahmon has won four consecutive presidential elections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair by Western monitors .
He holds the dubious distinction of being the only post-Soviet autocrat in power longer than Belarus 's Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
The election comes as Tajikistan ’ s economic woes deepen amid the COVID-19 pandemic as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are unable to travel to Russia for jobs not available at home , halting a flow of remittances needed to prop up the local economy .
The 68-year-old Rahmon was running against four little-known candidates that represent pro-government parties in the country 's rubber-stamp parliament .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a facade to give the vote the appearance of competition .
According to the preliminary results , Rustam Latifzoda from the Agrarian Party received 3.03 percent of the vote ; Rustam Rahmatzoda from the Party of Economic Reforms got 2.15 percent ; Miroj Abdulloev from the Communist Party received 1.17 percent ; and Abduhalim Ghafforzoda from the Socialist Party got 1.49 percent .
CEC officials said that the final results will be officially announced within a week .
On election day , RFE/RL video appeared to show two men stuffing ballots into voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital , Dushanbe .
A correspondent in the northern city of Khujand spoke to two voters who openly said that they had cast more than one ballot .
Both women claimed to have voted on behalf of other family members , a practice that is unlawful in Tajikistan .
The election was the first since Rahmon 's most influential political rival , the Islamic Renaissance Party ( IRPT ) , was outlawed .
The country 's Supreme Court banned the IRPT as a `` terrorist '' organization in 2015 .
Many of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while others fled the country amid a clampdown .
The Social Democratic Party , the only genuine political opposition group inside the country , boycotted the election .
Party leader Rahmatullo Zoirov told RFE/RL that there was no point in voting because `` even if one votes against all the candidates , the CEC will pronounce its own numbers and results . ''
With a suppressed opposition and Rahmon ’ s tight grip on the country , the vote is unlikely to result in the turmoil currently engulfing neighboring Kyrgyzstan and fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in those countries .
Rakhmon is portrayed by state media and his supporters as a figure who has brought stability to the country following a civil war during the 1990s .
How The Tajik President Has Managed To Stay In Power For Nearly Three Decades : Rahmon ’ s nomination in late August ended speculation that he may step aside to allow his eldest son , Rustam Emomali , to run for office .
In April , Emomali , 32 , was made the speaker of the upper house of parliament , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his father if he is unable to fulfill his duties .
Emomali also continues to hold the lucrative position of Dushanbe mayor .
Speculation about Emomali ’ s succession initially began in 2016 , when Tajikistan amended its constitution to lower the age threshold for presidential candidates from 35 years to 30 years .
The move was seen as being aimed at paving the way for Emomali to run for president .
The amendments also gave Rahmon the exclusive right to run for office an unlimited number of times .
Further securing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament gave Rahmon the title of Leader of the Nation in December 2015 , a status that grants him lifelong immunity from prosecution .
The October 11 vote marks the second nationwide vote in Tajikistan this year .
In March , the country held parliamentary polls that produced another rubber-stamp legislature dominated by Rahmon 's People ’ s Democratic Party .
With reporting by AFP and dpa


rferl--2020-10-13--Almaty Authorities Grant Rare Permission For Activist Rally On Political Reforms

ALMATY , Kazakhstan -- In an unexpected and rare move , authorities in Kazakhstan 's largest city , Almaty , have allowed rights activists to hold a rally at which demonstrators will demand political reforms and an end to politically motivated persecutions .
Well-known human right activists Bakhytzhan Toreghozhina and Ghalym Ageleuov said late on October 12 that they obtained the permission to hold the protest after two previous attempts to do so were unsuccessful .
No reason was given for the change to allow the rally .
The three-hour rally will start at noon on October 31 in Almaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier that Almaty authorities had rejected the two previous requests to hold the rally , saying that the event had been supported by two banned organizations labeled as extremist in the country -- the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan ( DVK ) and the associated Koshe ( Street ) Party .
DVK was established by an outspoken critic of the Kazakh government , fugitive tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov , who resides in France and regularly organizes unsanctioned anti-government rallies via the Internet .
On October 12 , the trial started of a civil rights activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nurbol Onerkhan , who is charged with `` supporting '' DVK and its founder Ablyazov .
In general , it is very rare for authorities in Kazakhstan to allow demonstrations or rallies questioning the policies of the government .
According to Kazakh law , any public events must be held only after receiving permission from local authorities , which many in the Central Asian nation and beyond consider as a violation of the Kazakh citizens ' civil rights guaranteed by the constitution .

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- In an unexpected and rare move, authorities in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, have allowed rights activists to hold a rally at which demonstrators will demand political reforms and an end to politically motivated persecutions.
Well-known human right activists Bakhytzhan Toreghozhina and Ghalym Ageleuov said late on October 12 that they obtained the permission to hold the protest after two previous attempts to do so were unsuccessful. No reason was given for the change to allow the rally.
The three-hour rally will start at noon on October 31 in Almaty's Shoqan Ualikhanov park.
Ageleuov said earlier that Almaty authorities had rejected the two previous requests to hold the rally, saying that the event had been supported by two banned organizations labeled as extremist in the country -- the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) and the associated Koshe (Street) Party.
DVK was established by an outspoken critic of the Kazakh government, fugitive tycoon Mukhtar Ablyazov, who resides in France and regularly organizes unsanctioned anti-government rallies via the Internet.
On October 12, the trial started of a civil rights activist in the northern city of Petropavl, Nurbol Onerkhan, who is charged with "supporting" DVK and its founder Ablyazov.
In general, it is very rare for authorities in Kazakhstan to allow demonstrations or rallies questioning the policies of the government.
According to Kazakh law, any public events must be held only after receiving permission from local authorities, which many in the Central Asian nation and beyond consider as a violation of the Kazakh citizens' civil rights guaranteed by the constitution.


rferl--2020-10-13--Azerbaijan, Armenia Trade Blame For Truce Violations In Nagorno-Karabakh Fighting

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continue to exchange fire in and around the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region despite international calls for both sides to implement and stick to a Russian-brokered humanitarian cease-fire .
Azerbaijan 's Defense Ministry said on October 13 that the situation in several sectors of the conflict zone remained tense overnight , and accused Armenian armed forces of shelling the Tartar district in the morning .
The Armenian Defense Ministry denied the accusation , in turn claiming that the Azerbaijani side “ resumed its actions , accompanied by active rocket and artillery fire , in the southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the front line .
However , an Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman insisted that the country ’ s military “ is not delivering any strikes and is not launching any offensive , ” and is “ fully complying with the humanitarian cease-fire.
” The cease-fire agreement reached in Moscow on October 10 meant to allow ethnic Armenian forces and Azerbaijan to swap prisoners and bodies of hundreds of soldiers and civilians killed during two weeks of fighting .
However , the International Committee of the Red Cross on October 13 said Armenia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to handle a prisoner swap and an exchange of corpses as envisaged by the deal .
`` To date , we keep discussing intensely with the sides on this topic .
But no meaningful agreement has been reached yet that will allow us to actually proceed to such an exchange , '' Martin Schuepp , ICRC Eurasia regional director , told a news briefing in Geneva .
The fighting broke out in and around the breakaway region on September 27 -- the biggest escalation in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since a shaky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of Azerbaijan but governed and populated by ethnic Armenians .
The truce agreement also envisages a relaunch of peace talks to be mediated by the Minsk Group , which was set up in the 1990s under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) to mediate the conflict .
The deal says the existing format of negotiations will remain in place and will not be changed over time .
The Minsk Group is co-chaired by France , and Russia , and the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian in Moscow on October 12 .
`` We expect that the decisions that have been adopted will be rigorously observed by both parties , '' Lavrov said after the talks , adding that work was underway to put in place mechanisms to monitor the observance of the cease-fire .
Mnatsakanian said the Armenians “ want the cease-fire , we want verification mechanisms on the ground . ''
Also in Moscow , Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with U.S. Minsk Group Cochair to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cease-fire agreement reached on October 10 , according to Russia ’ s Foreign Ministry .
The ministry said the meeting was attended by Andrzej Kasprzyk , the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office for Nagorno-Karabakh .
In Paris , French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said it was `` indispensable and urgent '' that the truce was `` strictly '' obeyed .
The ongoing fighting has increased concern that a wider conflict could drag in regional power Turkey , which is Azerbaijan 's closest ally , and Russia , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mnatsakanian accused Azerbaijan of acting to expand Turkey 's influence in the region and of using mercenaries in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict -- allegations both Ankara and Baku have rejected .
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on October 12 held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart , Hulusi Akar , during which he expressed concerns “ about incoming information concerning the redeployment of terrorist fighters from the Middle East to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone , ” according to Russia ’ s Defense Ministry .
A statement released by Turkey quoted Akar as telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to `` retake its occupied lands . ''
`` Baku will not wait another 30 years for a solution , '' he said .
The same day , Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated calls for Ankara to be involved in the international mediation of the conflict , saying : `` Even if many Western countries do not want to accept it , Turkey 's word is big , it 's fully independent . ''
In neighboring Iran , the deputy governor of Ardebil Province said an unidentified drone had crashed near the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nedayi told state news agency IRNA that the incident took place in a village in Parsabad county , adding that no damage was reported .
He added that the drone 's identity and cause of its crash '' are being investigated and that it `` may belong to Azerbaijan or Armenia 's army given the fighting beyond Iran 's northern border . ''
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan .
But it has been under the control of Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire brought an end to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union collapsed .
Since then , Nagorno-Karabakh has been populated and governed by ethnic Armenians , leaving hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from the region as internally displaced war refugees in Baku and other parts of Azerbaijan for more than a quarter-century .
With reporting by TASS , Interfax , Reuters , and AFP

YEREVAN/BAKU -- Armenian and Azerbaijani forces continue to exchange fire in and around the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region despite international calls for both sides to implement and stick to a Russian-brokered humanitarian cease-fire.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said on October 13 that the situation in several sectors of the conflict zone remained tense overnight, and accused Armenian armed forces of shelling the Tartar district in the morning.
The Armenian Defense Ministry denied the accusation, in turn claiming that the Azerbaijani side "resumed its actions, accompanied by active rocket and artillery fire, in the southern, northern, and northeastern" sectors of the front line.
However, an Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman insisted that the country's military "is not delivering any strikes and is not launching any offensive," and is "fully complying with the humanitarian cease-fire."
The cease-fire agreement reached in Moscow on October 10 was meant to allow ethnic Armenian forces and Azerbaijan to swap prisoners and bodies of hundreds of soldiers and civilians killed during two weeks of fighting.
However, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on October 13 said Armenia and Azerbaijan had yet to finalize arrangements for it to handle a prisoner swap and an exchange of corpses as envisaged by the deal.
"To date, we keep discussing intensely with the sides on this topic. But no meaningful agreement has been reached yet that will allow us to actually proceed to such an exchange," Martin Schuepp, ICRC Eurasia regional director, told a news briefing in Geneva.
The fighting broke out in and around the breakaway region on September 27 -- the biggest escalation in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since a shaky 1994 cease-fire.
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but governed and populated by ethnic Armenians.
The truce agreement also envisages a relaunch of peace talks to be mediated by the Minsk Group, which was set up in the 1990s under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to mediate the conflict.
The deal says the existing format of negotiations will remain in place and will not be changed over time.
The Minsk Group is co-chaired by France, Russia, and the United States, which on October 13 called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to "implement their commitments to a cease-fire as agreed and cease targeting civilian areas."
"We deplore the loss of human life and remain committed to a peaceful settlement" of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted.
The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, called on both sides to adhere to the truce during a telephone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on October 13.
Borrell reiterated that in his contacts with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, he had called on both sides "to urgently reengage in meaningful negotiations without preconditions." He also said the EU was ready to help and thanked Lavrov for his mediating efforts.
As fighting continued unabated, Lavrov hosted Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian in Moscow on October 12.
"We expect that the decisions that have been adopted will be rigorously observed by both parties," Lavrov said after the talks, adding that work was underway to put in place mechanisms to monitor the observance of the cease-fire.
Mnatsakanian said the Armenians "want the cease-fire, we want verification mechanisms on the ground."
Also in Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko met with the U.S. Minsk Group co-chair to discuss "possible steps" to implement the cease-fire agreement reached on October 10, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry.
The ministry said the meeting was attended by Andrzej Kasprzyk, the personal representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office for Nagorno-Karabakh.
In Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said it was "indispensable and urgent" that the truce was "strictly" obeyed.
The ongoing fighting has increased concern that a wider conflict could drag in regional power Turkey, which is Azerbaijan's closest ally, and Russia, which has a defense pact with Armenia.
Mnatsakanian accused Azerbaijan of acting to expand Turkey's influence in the region and of using mercenaries in the conflict -- allegations both Ankara and Baku have rejected.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on October 12 held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar, during which he expressed concerns "about incoming information concerning the redeployment of terrorist fighters from the Middle East to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone," according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
A statement released by Turkey quoted Akar as telling Shoigu that Ankara supported Azerbaijan's offensive to "retake its occupied lands."
"Baku will not wait another 30 years for a solution," he said.
The same day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reiterated calls for Ankara to be involved in the international mediation of the conflict, saying, "Even if many Western countries do not want to accept it, Turkey's word is big, it's fully independent."
In neighboring Iran, the deputy governor of Ardebil Province said an unidentified drone had crashed near the border with Azerbaijan on October 13.
Behrouz Nedayi told state news agency IRNA that the incident took place in a village in Parsabad county, adding that no damage was reported.
He added that the drone's identity and cause of its crash" are being investigated and that it "may belong to Azerbaijan or Armenia's army given the fighting beyond Iran's northern border."
Nagorno-Karabakh is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan. But it has been under the control of Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire brought an end to the separatist war that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed.
Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has been populated and governed by ethnic Armenians, leaving hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from the region as internally displaced war refugees in Baku and other parts of Azerbaijan for more than a quarter-century.
With reporting by TASS, Interfax, Reuters, and AFP


rferl--2020-10-13--Chechen Officials Say Four 'Militants' Killed In Grozny

GROZNY , Russia -- Authorities in Russia 's North Caucasus region of Chechnya say police in the regional capital , Grozny , have killed `` four militants . ''
Media reports quoted sources in local law enforcement as saying that two officers of the National Guard were killed and a police officer was wounded during the special operation on October 13 .
Other sources , including the state TASS news agency , said that three law enforcement officers also were killed during the shoot-out .
According to the officials , the special operation lasted for 30 minutes and the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was burned to the ground .
Two days earlier , Chechen officials said they killed two other `` militants '' in the west of the region .
It is not possible to verify if the killed persons were militants , as the Kremlin-backed leader of the region , Ramzan Kadyrov , often calls any individual who resists his authoritarian rule `` militants '' or `` terrorists . ''
On October 12 , authorities in the neighboring Russian region of Daghestan said police killed two men after they opened fire at law enforcement officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's other mostly Muslim-populated North Caucasus regions are the site of frequent fighting between government forces and militants whose insurgency stems from two post-Soviet separatist wars in Chechnya .
The volatile North Caucasus in recent years has also been at the epicenter of organized criminal gang violence linked to business turf wars , political disputes , clan rivalries , and the spread of militant Islam .
With reporting by TASS and Interfax

GROZNY, Russia -- Authorities in Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya say police in the regional capital, Grozny, have killed "four militants."
Media reports quoted sources in local law enforcement as saying that two officers of the National Guard were killed and a police officer was wounded during the special operation on October 13.
Other sources, including the state TASS news agency, said that three law enforcement officers also were killed during the shoot-out.
According to the officials, the special operation lasted for 30 minutes and the house where the "militants" were hiding was burned to the ground.
Two days earlier, Chechen officials said they killed two other "militants" in the west of the region.
It is not possible to verify if the killed persons were militants, as the Kremlin-backed leader of the region, Ramzan Kadyrov, often calls any individual who resists his authoritarian rule "militants" or "terrorists."
On October 12, authorities in the neighboring Russian region of Daghestan said police killed two men after they opened fire at law enforcement officers.
Chechnya, Daghestan, and Russia's other mostly Muslim-populated North Caucasus regions are the site of frequent fighting between government forces and militants whose insurgency stems from two post-Soviet separatist wars in Chechnya.
The volatile North Caucasus in recent years has also been at the epicenter of organized criminal gang violence linked to business turf wars, political disputes, clan rivalries, and the spread of militant Islam.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


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

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

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