rferl--2020-12-09--Turkey's Erdogan Arrives In Baku After Nagorno-Karabakh Truce

BAKU -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in the Azerbaijani capital , Baku , for a two-day visit with officials of Ankara 's close ally .
Azerbaijan 's foreign minister said ahead of the visit , which started on December 9 , that Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will discuss bilateral relations and the situation around Azerbaijan 's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Turkey supported Baku during a conflict with Armenia over the breakaway region that started on September 27 and ended with a Moscow-brokered truce struck on November 10 .
Under the deal , some areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces following the 44-day war that claimed thousands of lives on both sides .
Erdogan is expected to attend a military parade in Baku on December 10 to mark Azerbaijan 's victory in the war .
Turkish military personnel who arrived in Baku earlier this week will also take part in the parade .
The Moscow-brokered deal was a blow to Armenia and the Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who had controlled the territories since 1994 .
After the truce , Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a joint monitoring center in Azerbaijan .
Russian officials have said that Ankara 's involvement will be limited to the work of the monitoring center on Azerbaijani soil , and Turkish peacekeepers will not enter Nagorno-Karabakh .
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region 's population reject Azerbaijani rule .

BAKU -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, for a two-day visit with officials of Ankara's close ally.
Azerbaijan's foreign minister said ahead of the visit, which started on December 9, that Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will discuss bilateral relations and the situation around Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Turkey supported Baku during a conflict with Armenia over the breakaway region that started on September 27 and ended with a Moscow-brokered truce struck on November 10.
Under the deal, some areas in and around the region were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces following the 44-day war that claimed thousands of lives on both sides.
Erdogan is expected to attend a military parade in Baku on December 10 to mark Azerbaijan's victory in the war. Turkish military personnel who arrived in Baku earlier this week will also take part in the parade.
The Moscow-brokered deal was a blow to Armenia and the Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who had controlled the territories since 1994.
After the truce, Turkey signed a memorandum with Russia to create a joint monitoring center in Azerbaijan.
Russian officials have said that Ankara's involvement will be limited to the work of the monitoring center on Azerbaijani soil, and Turkish peacekeepers will not enter Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population reject Azerbaijani rule.


rferl--2020-12-09--Moldovan Envoy To Moscow Under Fire Over Drug-Smuggling Scandal

CHISINAU -- The Moldovan government has approved recalling the ambassador to Russia amid a scandal over an alleged attempt to @ @ @ @ @ .
Announcing the decision on December 9 , Prime Minister Ion Chicu said Ambassador Andrei @ @ @ @ @ `` shameful '' smuggling attempt .
Moldovan authorities say a minibus carrying anabolic steroids was @ @ @ @ @ customs officers and agents of the Security and Intelligence Service at the Palanca crossing on @ @ @ @ @ The vehicle , which carried diplomatic plates , belonged to the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow @ @ @ @ @ said to be worth more than $ 480,000 .
This is the second time Neguta @ @ @ @ @ 's envoy to Moscow .
The first time was in 2012 , after he made @ @ @ @ @ Russian troops in Moldova 's breakaway region of Transdniester .
Neguta was reappointed to the @ @ @ @

CHISINAU -- The Moldovan government has approved recalling the ambassador to Russia amid a scandal over an alleged attempt to smuggle anabolic steroids to Moscow.
Announcing the decision on December 9, Prime Minister Ion Chicu said Ambassador Andrei Neguta bore responsibility for the "shameful" smuggling attempt.
Moldovan authorities say a minibus carrying anabolic steroids was stopped on December 5 by customs officers and agents of the Security and Intelligence Service at the Palanca crossing on the border with Ukraine.
The vehicle, which carried diplomatic plates, belonged to the Moldovan Embassy in Moscow.
The illicit shipment was said to be worth more than $480,000.
This is the second time Neguta has been recalled as Moldova's envoy to Moscow.
The first time was in 2012, after he made remarks in support of keeping Russian troops in Moldova's breakaway region of Transdniester.
Neguta was reappointed to the post in 2017.


rferl--2020-12-09--First Prime Minister Of Post-Soviet Belarus Vyachaslau Kebich Dies Of COVID-19 At 84

MINSK -- The first prime minister of post-Soviet Belarus , Vyachaslau Kebich , has died of COVID-19 at the age of 84 .
Citing Kebich 's family , Belarusian media reported that he died in a Minsk hospital on December 9 , almost two weeks after he was hospitalized with the coronavirus .
Kebich served as prime minister of Soviet Belarus in 1990-91 and led the government of independent Belarus from 1991 to 1994 .
Kebich , along with parliament Chairman Stanislau Shushkevich , signed the Belavezha accords on the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 8 , 1991 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election to Alyaksandr Lukashenka , who has ruled the country since .
Belarus has been in upheaval since the most recent presidential election in August , that Lukashenka claims to have won .
Opposition leaders and several Western countries have disputed the results and refuse to acknowledge him as the country 's head of state .
Belarus has been wracked by mass protests since the vote .
Lukashenka has arrested thousands amid a violent crackdown against the demonstrators , independent journalists and opposition members .
Several people have died in the violence @

MINSK -- The first prime minister of post-Soviet Belarus, Vyachaslau Kebich, has died of COVID-19 at the age of 84.
Citing Kebich's family, Belarusian media reported that he died in a Minsk hospital on December 9, almost two weeks after he was hospitalized with the coronavirus.
Kebich served as prime minister of Soviet Belarus in 1990-91 and led the government of independent Belarus from 1991 to 1994.
Kebich, along with parliament Chairman Stanislau Shushkevich, signed the Belavezha accords on the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 8, 1991.
In 1994, Kebich lost a presidential election to Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled the country since.
Belarus has been in upheaval since the most recent presidential election in August, that Lukashenka claims to have won.
Opposition leaders and several Western countries have disputed the results and refuse to acknowledge him as the country's head of state.
Belarus has been wracked by mass protests since the vote. Lukashenka has arrested thousands amid a violent crackdown against the demonstrators, independent journalists and opposition members. Several people have died in the violence.


rferl--2020-12-09--Russia's Investigative Committee Launches Corruption Probe Of   Official After RFE/RL Report

MOSCOW -- Russia 's Investigative Committee has launched a probe into the head of the Klin district in the Moscow @ @ @ @ @ following an investigative report by RFE/RL over possible corruption .
A senior aide to the @ @ @ @ @ directorate chief , Olga Vrady , told RFE/RL on December 9 that the probe of @ @ @ @ @ report was issued in mid-August about her relatives , friends , and acquaintances allegedly being @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Vrady , no one had been charged as of December 9 as @ @ @ @ @ `` large-scale embezzlement from the state budget . ''
In 2018 , after another investigative @ @ @ @ @ property in Spain belonging to Sokolskaya 's family , her husband , Aleksandr Kozlov , @ @ @ @ @ chief prosecutor of the Tula region south of Moscow .
Kozlov was not investigated at @ @ @ @ @ from the post was officially described as retirement .

MOSCOW -- Russia's Investigative Committee has launched a probe into the head of the Klin district in the Moscow region, Alyona Sokolskaya, following an investigative report by RFE/RL over possible corruption.
A senior aide to the Investigative Committee's Moscow regional directorate chief, Olga Vrady, told RFE/RL on December 9 that the probe of Sokolskaya was launched after the report was issued in mid-August about her relatives, friends, and acquaintances allegedly being fictitiously hired at local kindergartens.
According to Vrady, no one had been charged as of December 9 as the investigation continued into the "large-scale embezzlement from the state budget."
In 2018, after another investigative report by RFE/RL about undeclared property in Spain belonging to Sokolskaya's family, her husband, Aleksandr Kozlov, resigned from the post of chief prosecutor of the Tula region south of Moscow.
Kozlov was not investigated at the time and his departure from the post was officially described as retirement.


rferl--2020-12-09--Georgia's Ruling Party, Opposition Fail To Reach Deal After Fourth Round Of Talks

TBILISI -- The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition politicians have failed again to agree on a deal after another round of talks at the residence of the U.S. ambassador in Tbilisi as they look to solve an ongoing political crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections in October .
The opposition accuses Georgian Dream and its supporters of vote buying , making threats against voters and observers , and of violations during the counting of ballots .
Eight opposition parties have said they will boycott parliament 's first session on December 11 , prompting a fourth meeting between the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by U.S. and EU officials .
Parliament speaker Archil Talakvadze of Georgian Dream reiterated after the talks on December 9 that the official results of the elections that handed victory to the ruling party were valid .
`` Despite the pandemic , up to 2 million of our fellow citizens have made their choice and there is no reason to question their choice , '' Talakvadze said , rejecting opposition claims that the elections were rigged and demands to hold new parliamentary elections in 2021 .
The Central Election Commission has announced final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili , took 48.22 percent of the vote .
The opposition United National Movement bloc had 27.18 percent and European Georgia was third with 3.79 percent .
Six other smaller parties also crossed the 1 percent threshold to enter parliament .
A leader of the opposition European Georgia party , Davit Bakradze , stated after the December 9 meeting that the ruling party and opposition remained at odds over the issue of possible new elections and release of individuals , whom the opposition considers political prisoners , adding though that some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the opposition Citizens party , Aleko Elisashvili , said on December 9 that he would accept his parliamentary mandate if he received guarantees that the electoral laws will be reformed .

TBILISI -- The ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition politicians have failed again to agree on a deal after another round of talks at the residence of the U.S. ambassador in Tbilisi as they look to solve an ongoing political crisis sparked by disputed parliamentary elections in October.
The opposition accuses Georgian Dream and its supporters of vote buying, making threats against voters and observers, and of violations during the counting of ballots.
Eight opposition parties have said they will boycott parliament's first session on December 11, prompting a fourth meeting between the two sides in talks that have been facilitated by U.S. and EU officials.
Parliament speaker Archil Talakvadze of Georgian Dream reiterated after the talks on December 9 that the official results of the elections that handed victory to the ruling party were valid.
"Despite the pandemic, up to 2 million of our fellow citizens have made their choice and there is no reason to question their choice," Talakvadze said, rejecting opposition claims that the elections were rigged and demands to hold new parliamentary elections in 2021.
The Central Election Commission has announced final results showing Georgian Dream, founded by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, took 48.22 percent of the vote. The opposition United National Movement bloc had 27.18 percent and European Georgia was third with 3.79 percent.
Six other smaller parties also crossed the 1 percent threshold to enter parliament.
A leader of the opposition European Georgia party, Davit Bakradze, stated after the December 9 meeting that the ruling party and opposition remained at odds over the issue of possible new elections and release of individuals, whom the opposition considers political prisoners, adding though that some compromise might be reached.
The leader of the opposition Citizens party, Aleko Elisashvili, said on December 9 that he would accept his parliamentary mandate if he received guarantees that the electoral laws will be reformed.


rferl--2020-12-10--Romanian President To Hold Consultations On New Cabinet Next Week

BUCHAREST – Following Romania ’ s parliamentary elections , President Klaus Iohannis has invited political parties for consultations on December 14 about the formation of a new government .
The presidential office made the announcement on December 10 , a day after the reformist center-right National Liberal Party ( PNL ) proposed Finance Minister Florin Citu as the next prime minister .
The leftist opposition Social Democrats ( PSD ) emerged as the strongest party in the December 6 general polls , which were marred by absenteeism prompted in part by the coronavirus pandemic , but failed to secure enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the PSD lacking allies in the new parliament and Iohannis -- a former PNL leader– vowing to keep the party `` outside of the political decision-making process , '' the Liberals , the center-right USR-PLUS alliance , and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR party are in pole position to form a coalition government .
The three groupings control about 53 percent of parliamentary seats , according to data from the election authorities .
U.S.-educated Citu would need to put together a cabinet within 10 days after his nomination , and would then have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament .
PNL leader Ludovic Orban resigned as prime minister on December 7 after holding the post for just over a year .
Iohannis later appointed Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca as acting prime minister .

BUCHAREST – Following Romania’s parliamentary elections, President Klaus Iohannis has invited political parties for consultations on December 14 about the formation of a new government.
The presidential office made the announcement on December 10, a day after the reformist center-right National Liberal Party (PNL) proposed Finance Minister Florin Citu as the next prime minister.
The leftist opposition Social Democrats (PSD) emerged as the strongest party in the December 6 general polls, which were marred by absenteeism prompted in part by the coronavirus pandemic, but failed to secure enough votes for a majority in parliament.
With the PSD lacking allies in the new parliament and Iohannis -- a former PNL leader– vowing to keep the party "outside of the political decision-making process," the Liberals, the center-right USR-PLUS alliance, and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR party are in pole position to form a coalition government.
The three groupings control about 53 percent of parliamentary seats, according to data from the election authorities.
U.S.-educated Citu would need to put together a cabinet within 10 days after his nomination, and would then have to win a vote of confidence in parliament.
PNL leader Ludovic Orban resigned as prime minister on December 7 after holding the post for just over a year.
Iohannis later appointed Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca as acting prime minister.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-12-10--Iran, Afghanistan Inaugurate First Rail Link In Key Infrastructure Project

Iran and Afghanistan have officially inaugurated their first railway link , an achievement the two countries ’ presidents said would help enhance trade across the region .
The 130-kilometer line running from Khaf in northeastern Iran into Rosnak in the western Afghan province of Herat is seen as providing a crucial transport link for the landlocked country where decades of war have hindered infrastructure development .
The link is to be eventually expanded by 85 kilometers to reach the city of Herat .
The $ 75 million Khaf-Herat railway project began in 2007 , with Tehran funding construction on both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inauguration ceremony , held via videoconference due to the coronavirus pandemic , Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said the project was important not only for Afghanistan and Iran but also for the entire region .
Iran 's President Hassan Rohani said it was `` one of the historic days '' in relations between the two neighbors .
The ceremony saw cargo trains depart from opposite ends of the line , a week after a shipment of cement was sent from Iran to Afghanistan by train , inaugurating the railway link project .
Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , allowing Afghanistan and other landlocked countries in the region to ship goods to its ports on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman .
With reporting by AP , TOLOnews , and IRNA

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


rferl--2020-12-10--Belarus To Close Land Borders Over COVID-19; Opposition Says Move Aimed At Activists

MINSK -- Belarus will close several land-border crossings as of December 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic , a move that will limit the movement of people at a time when the country is being rocked by protests over authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka 's claim of victory in a disputed presidential election .
The national Internet portal for legal information on December 10 published a government resolution adopted earlier in the week , saying the measures , which include a ban on Belarusians travelling unless their trip is related to work or study , will take force 10 days after publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear how long the restrictions will be in place .
Belarus has since been hit by near-daily protests demanding Lukashenka resign , the release of all political prisoners , and a new election .
Security forces have violently cracked down on the protest movement , with more than 27,000 detentions , according to the United Nations .
There have also been credible reports of torture and ill-treatment , and several people have died .
Opposition leaders , who say the August 9 election was rigged , immediately accused Lukashenka of using the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the movements of activists .
`` Lukashenka closes inner borders of # Belarus because of Covid .
Let 's be honest : the dictator just terrorizes the country & violates human rights on [ a ] daily basis , '' opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , who says she won the presidential poll , wrote on Twitter on December 10 .
`` He did n't care about covid before .
Now repressed Belarusians can not flee and seek asylum abroad . ''
The resolution orders `` temporarily suspending the crossing of the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departure from the Republic of Belarus of citizens of the Republic of Belarus , as well as foreigners who have a permit for permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Belarus . ''
Restrictions will apply at all road , railway , and river checkpoints along the country 's borders .
The ban does not apply to people with diplomatic and service passports , members of official delegations , drivers of international road transportation units , crews of aircraft and ships , train crews , individuals on business trips and some other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country will be also allowed once every six months for Belarusian citizens who are permanent residents of foreign countries or need to leave the country due to illness or the death of a close relative abroad , as well as for educational , employment , or medical purposes .
According to the resolution , when entering the country , foreign nationals will have to present test results proving that they are not infected with the coronavirus .
Lukashenka , who has ruled Belarus since 1994 , has denied the accusations of election fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The United States and European Union have both rejected the election results and have imposed sanctions on Belarus , as well as Lukashenka , over the issue .
As of December 10 , the number of registered coronavirus cases in Belarus was 152,453 , including 1,230 deaths and 129,950 recovered patients .

MINSK -- Belarus will close several land-border crossings as of December 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that will limit the movement of people at a time when the country is being rocked by protests over authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka's claim of victory in a disputed presidential election.
The national Internet portal for legal information on December 10 published a government resolution adopted earlier in the week, saying the measures, which include a ban on Belarusians travelling unless their trip is related to work or study, will take force 10 days after publication of the notice.
It is not clear how long the restrictions will be in place.
Belarus has since been hit by near-daily protests demanding Lukashenka resign, the release of all political prisoners, and a new election.
Security forces have violently cracked down on the protest movement, with more than 27,000 detentions, according to the United Nations. There have also been credible reports of torture and ill-treatment, and several people have died.
Opposition leaders, who say the August 9 election was rigged, immediately accused Lukashenka of using the COVID-19 measures as an excuse to impose restrictions on the movements of activists.
"Lukashenka closes inner borders of #Belarus because of Covid. Let's be honest: the dictator just terrorizes the country & violates human rights on [a] daily basis," opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who says she won the presidential poll, wrote on Twitter on December 10.
"He didn't care about covid before. Now repressed Belarusians cannot flee and seek asylum abroad."
The resolution orders "temporarily suspending the crossing of the state border of the Republic of Belarus for departure from the Republic of Belarus of citizens of the Republic of Belarus, as well as foreigners who have a permit for permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Belarus."
Restrictions will apply at all road, railway, and river checkpoints along the country's borders. The ban does not apply to people with diplomatic and service passports, members of official delegations, drivers of international road transportation units, crews of aircraft and ships, train crews, individuals on business trips and some other categories of people.
Departure from the country will be also allowed once every six months for Belarusian citizens who are permanent residents of foreign countries or need to leave the country due to illness or the death of a close relative abroad, as well as for educational, employment, or medical purposes.
According to the resolution, when entering the country, foreign nationals will have to present test results proving that they are not infected with the coronavirus.
Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, has denied the accusations of election fraud and refuses to negotiate with the opposition.
The United States and European Union have both rejected the election results and have imposed sanctions on Belarus, as well as Lukashenka, over the issue.
As of December 10, the number of registered coronavirus cases in Belarus was 152,453, including 1,230 deaths and 129,950 recovered patients.


rferl--2020-12-10--Prominent Crimean Tatar Gets 19-Year Prison Sentence In Absentia

SIMFEROPOL , Ukraine -- The Russian-controlled Supreme Court in Crimea has sentenced the owner of the ATR Crimean Tatar television channel , Lenur Islyamov , to 19 years in prison in absentia .
The court in the Russia-annexed Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula found Islyamov guilty on December 10 of organizing sabotage , creating an illegal armed group , and publicly calling for Russia 's territorial integrity to be violated .
He was sentenced the same day .
Islyamov 's lawyer , Nikolai Polozov , told RFE/RL that his client does not recognize the court 's legitimacy .
`` My client @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine and therefore considers all institutions of the occupying authorities to be illegal and he does not recognize their jurisdiction , '' Polozov said , adding that the court 's ruling will be appealed .
Investigators in Crimea claim that Islyamov was one of the organizers of the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion of Crimean Tatar volunteers that operates in Ukraine ’ s southern Kherson region bordering the Crimean peninsula .
Islyamov , who has resided in Kyiv since 2015 , told RFE/RL earlier that he would not take part in the trial , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the judicial process a mockery of justice .
The occupying Russian authorities have refused to issue a broadcasting license to Islyamov 's ATR television channel after annexing Crimea in early 2014 .
In June 2015 , ATR resumed broadcasting from Kyiv via satellite throughout Ukraine , including in Crimea .
Rights groups and Western governments have repeatedly denounced what they call a persistent campaign targeting Crimea 's indigenous people -- the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatars , the majority of whom opposed Moscow 's annexation of their homeland .

SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine -- The Russian-controlled Supreme Court in Crimea has sentenced the owner of the ATR Crimean Tatar television channel, Lenur Islyamov, to 19 years in prison in absentia.
The court in the Russia-annexed Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula found Islyamov guilty on December 10 of organizing sabotage, creating an illegal armed group, and publicly calling for Russia's territorial integrity to be violated. He was sentenced the same day.
Islyamov's lawyer, Nikolai Polozov, told RFE/RL that his client does not recognize the court's legitimacy.
"My client considers Crimea a temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine and therefore considers all institutions of the occupying authorities to be illegal and he does not recognize their jurisdiction," Polozov said, adding that the court's ruling will be appealed.
Investigators in Crimea claim that Islyamov was one of the organizers of the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion of Crimean Tatar volunteers that operates in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region bordering the Crimean peninsula.
Islyamov, who has resided in Kyiv since 2015, told RFE/RL earlier that he would not take part in the trial, and rejected the charges against him while calling the judicial process a mockery of justice.
The occupying Russian authorities have refused to issue a broadcasting license to Islyamov's ATR television channel after annexing Crimea in early 2014.
In June 2015, ATR resumed broadcasting from Kyiv via satellite throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea.
Rights groups and Western governments have repeatedly denounced what they call a persistent campaign targeting Crimea's indigenous people -- the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatars, the majority of whom opposed Moscow's annexation of their homeland.


rferl--2020-12-10--HRW Urges Kyrgyzstan To Lift Barriers To Education For Disabled Children

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) says thousands of Kyrgyz children with disabilities are `` segregated '' in the country 's residential institutions , where the New-York-based group says they can experience `` neglect , inappropriate medical treatment , and discrimination . ''
In a report published on December 10 , which marks International Human Rights Day , HRW says children with disabilities are subject to “ discriminatory government evaluations that often lead to segregation in special schools or at home.
” By ratifying the United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities ( CRPD ) in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with disabilities to `` study in mainstream schools in the communities where they live , '' said Laura Mills , researcher at HRW and the report 's author .
`` However , the government still needs to turn this pledge into a reality for children across the country , '' where 3,000 children with disabilities remain in special institutions , she added .
The study , titled Insisting On Inclusion : Institutionalization And Barriers To Education For Children With Disabilities In Kyrgyzstan , documents how children are denied quality , inclusive education in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together in mainstream schools .
HRW says it interviewed 111 people between October 2019 and July 2020 , including children with disabilities , teachers , and staff at residential institutions and special schools , parents , and disability rights activists .
The watchdog also visited six residential institutions and schools for children with disabilities in four regions .
It found that these institutions had `` insufficient personnel , '' resulting in `` neglect or lack of individualized attention . ''
Staff `` regularly use psychotropic drugs or forced psychiatric hospitalization to control children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Children in residential institutions and special schools receive `` either a poor education or no education at all . ''
Meanwhile , mainstream schools `` often deny enrollment '' to children who were recommended for special school or home education .
And children who live at home `` encounter significant , discriminatory obstacles to their education '' in these schools .
Parents of children with disabilities who receive education at home complained that teachers `` come for very few hours and are often not trained in teaching a child with a disability .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transform several residential special schools , but Mills said that the authorities first need to `` begin dismantling the obstacles that exclude them from schools in their communities . ''
`` The government should ensure that children with disabilities study together with their peers and provide them with the tools they need to succeed . ''

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says thousands of Kyrgyz children with disabilities are "segregated" in the country's residential institutions, where the New-York-based group says they can experience "neglect, inappropriate medical treatment, and discrimination."
In a report published on December 10, which marks International Human Rights Day, HRW says children with disabilities are subject to “discriminatory government evaluations that often lead to segregation in special schools or at home.”
By ratifying the United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD) in 2019, Kyrgyzstan has committed to allow children with disabilities to "study in mainstream schools in the communities where they live," said Laura Mills, researcher at HRW and the report's author.
"However, the government still needs to turn this pledge into a reality for children across the country," where 3,000 children with disabilities remain in special institutions, she added.
The study, titled Insisting On Inclusion: Institutionalization And Barriers To Education For Children With Disabilities In Kyrgyzstan, documents how children are denied quality, inclusive education in which children with and without disabilities study together in mainstream schools.
HRW says it interviewed 111 people between October 2019 and July 2020, including children with disabilities, teachers, and staff at residential institutions and special schools, parents, and disability rights activists. The watchdog also visited six residential institutions and schools for children with disabilities in four regions.
It found that these institutions had "insufficient personnel," resulting in "neglect or lack of individualized attention."
Staff "regularly use psychotropic drugs or forced psychiatric hospitalization to control children's behavior and punish them."
Children in residential institutions and special schools receive "either a poor education or no education at all."
Meanwhile, mainstream schools "often deny enrollment" to children who were recommended for special school or home education.
And children who live at home "encounter significant, discriminatory obstacles to their education" in these schools.
Parents of children with disabilities who receive education at home complained that teachers "come for very few hours and are often not trained in teaching a child with a disability."
Kyrgyzstan has pledged to close or transform several residential special schools, but Mills said that the authorities first need to "begin dismantling the obstacles that exclude them from schools in their communities."
"The government should ensure that children with disabilities study together with their peers and provide them with the tools they need to succeed."


rferl--2020-12-10--EU Leaders Back Extension Of Economic Sanctions Against Russia

European Union leaders on December 10 gave the green light for a six-month extension of the economic sanctions that were imposed against Russia over its role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine .
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefed other EU heads of state and government about the state of play in the Normandy Format talks during an EU summit in Brussels .
They recommended a sanctions extension because little progress had been made , according to diplomats familiar with the talks who spoke with RFE/RL .
The so-called Normandy Format is a diplomatic process involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France aimed at resolving the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine between Russia-backed separatist formations and the Kyiv government .
There has not been a formal Normandy Format summit since December 2019 , while the one before that was held in October 2016 .
The sanctions were first adopted in July 2014 after Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine 's Crimean Peninsula and started providing military support to the separatists fighting against Kyiv in a conflict that has killed more than 13,200 people .
Since then , the sanctions have been extended every six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures -- which mainly target Russia ’ s financial , energy , and defense sectors -- in the coming week .

European Union leaders on December 10 gave the green light for a six-month extension of the economic sanctions that were imposed against Russia over its role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefed other EU heads of state and government about the state of play in the Normandy Format talks during an EU summit in Brussels. They recommended a sanctions extension because little progress had been made, according to diplomats familiar with the talks who spoke with RFE/RL.
The so-called Normandy Format is a diplomatic process involving Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France aimed at resolving the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine between Russia-backed separatist formations and the Kyiv government.
There has not been a formal Normandy Format summit since December 2019, while the one before that was held in October 2016.
The sanctions were first adopted in July 2014 after Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and started providing military support to the separatists fighting against Kyiv in a conflict that has killed more than 13,200 people.
Since then, the sanctions have been extended every six months.
EU ambassadors will officially prolong the measures -- which mainly target Russia’s financial, energy, and defense sectors -- in the coming week.


rferl--2020-12-10--Netherlands Orders Expulsion Of Two Alleged Russian Spies Who Targeted Tech Sector

The Netherlands has ordered the expulsion of two Russians with diplomatic accreditation after a Dutch intelligence agency accused them of espionage targeting the country ’ s science and technology sectors .
The General Intelligence and Security Service ( AIVD ) said on December 10 that the two unidentified Russians were seeking information on artificial intelligence , semiconductors , and nanotechnology .
The service added that the two men work for Russia ’ s civilian intelligence agency , known as the SVR .
The Russian Embassy in the Netherlands confirmed the expulsion order , saying that “ no evidence that might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s territory was presented.
” The incident threatens to further aggravate tensions between the two countries , which have had strained relations since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014 .
The passenger jet was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by an antiaircraft system provided by Moscow to Russia-backed separatists waging a war against Kyiv , Dutch and international investigators have concluded .
All 298 people aboard the flight , including 196 Dutch citizens , were killed .
Moscow denies involvement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine .
In 2018 , the Netherlands expelled four alleged Russian spies who were accused of attempting to hack into the computers of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons , which is based in The Hague .
Based on reporting by AP , Reuters , TASS , and dpa

The Netherlands has ordered the expulsion of two Russians with diplomatic accreditation after a Dutch intelligence agency accused them of espionage targeting the country’s science and technology sectors.
The General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) said on December 10 that the two unidentified Russians were seeking information on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and nanotechnology.
The service added that the two men work for Russia’s civilian intelligence agency, known as the SVR.
The Russian Embassy in the Netherlands confirmed the expulsion order, saying that “no evidence that might prove their illegal activity in the country’s territory was presented.”
“Retaliatory measures will follow,” the embassy’s statement added.
The incident threatens to further aggravate tensions between the two countries, which have had strained relations since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
The passenger jet was traveling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down by an antiaircraft system provided by Moscow to Russia-backed separatists waging a war against Kyiv, Dutch and international investigators have concluded.
All 298 people aboard the flight, including 196 Dutch citizens, were killed.
Moscow denies involvement in the downing of MH17 and in the conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine.
In 2018, the Netherlands expelled four alleged Russian spies who were accused of attempting to hack into the computers of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is based in The Hague.
Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, TASS, and dpa


rferl--2020-12-10--U.S. Imposes Additional Sanctions Against Chechen Leader Kadyrov

The United States has imposed another set of sanctions targeting Ramzan Kadyrov , the strongman leader of Russia ’ s North Caucasus region of Chechnya and a loyal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin .
The U.S. Treasury Department on December 10 announced sanctions against Kadyrov , as well as five individuals and six Russia-registered legal entities with close ties to him .
The sanctioned entities include the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation and the Akhmat Grozny soccer team .
The sanctions were imposed under the so-called Global Magnitsky Act , a 2016 law that authorizes the U.S. government to sanction suspected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freezing their assets and banning them from entering the United States .
The law is named after Russian tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky , a whistle-blower who died in Russian custody in 2009 after allegedly being tortured and denied medical care .
Kadyrov , 44 , has been the head of Chechnya since 2007 .
He has been accused by Russian and international rights groups of massive human rights abuses , including extrajudicial killings , torture , kidnapping , and the persecution of homosexuals .
He has been accused of involvement in numerous targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia and abroad .
In 2017 , Kadyrov was personally sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act .
In July , the sanctions against him were expanded to include his wife , two of his daughters , and other relatives .
He has also been sanctioned by the European Union , as well as Canada and other countries , since 2014 for his support of Russia ’ s forcible annexation of the Crimean Peninsula .

The United States has imposed another set of sanctions targeting Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of Russia’s North Caucasus region of Chechnya and a loyal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The U.S. Treasury Department on December 10 announced sanctions against Kadyrov, as well as five individuals and six Russia-registered legal entities with close ties to him.
The sanctioned entities include the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation and the Akhmat Grozny soccer team.
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The sanctions were imposed under the so-called Global Magnitsky Act, a 2016 law that authorizes the U.S. government to sanction suspected human rights offenders around the globe by freezing their assets and banning them from entering the United States.
The law is named after Russian tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blower who died in Russian custody in 2009 after allegedly being tortured and denied medical care.
Kadyrov, 44, has been the head of Chechnya since 2007. He has been accused by Russian and international rights groups of massive human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, kidnapping, and the persecution of homosexuals.
He has been accused of involvement in numerous targeted killings of political and personal opponents both in Russia and abroad.
In 2017, Kadyrov was personally sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act. In July, the sanctions against him were expanded to include his wife, two of his daughters, and other relatives.
He has also been sanctioned by the European Union, as well as Canada and other countries, since 2014 for his support of Russia’s forcible annexation of the Crimean Peninsula.


rferl--2020-12-10--Kazakh Election Campaign Kicks Off With No Opposition Parties On Ballot

NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakhstan has kicked off its parliamentary election campaign with five parties -- none of which is running on an opposition platform .
The Central Election Commission ( OSK ) said on December 10 that the campaign started at 6 p.m. local time and will run until midnight on January 9 , the day before the elections to parliament 's lower chamber , the Mazhilis .
Along with the ruling Nur-Otan party , four other political parties loyal to the government -- Aq Zhol ( Bright Path ) , Adal ( Honest ) , Auyl ( Village ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will take part in the election , the OSK said .
It added that the terms for debates between the parties will be decided by December 30 , while voter preference polls can be conducted only by pollsters that have at least five years of experience and have given preliminary notice to the OSK .
OSK Chairman Berik Imashev on December 10 brushed off criticism by civil rights organizations and unregistered opposition groups over a recent OSK resolution banning nongovernmental organizations from acting as election observers unless their charters envision such activities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage from polling stations and introduced restrictions for taking pictures at them .
Civil rights activists have said that they will appeal the OSK 's moves in court .
The vote will decide 98 of 107 seats in the Mazhilis .
Nine other seats will be separately elected by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan -- a political body representing dozens of ethnic groups of the Central Asian nation .
The only officially registered political party that calls itself opposition , the All-National Social Democratic Party , is boycotting the elections .
OSDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided on November 27 not to participate in the elections because Kazakhstan 's political landscape continues to be dominated by the “ same ” political elite .
Since 2019 , several other political groups and parties have tried to register in order to be eligible to take part in the poll , but Kazakh authorities have rejected all of their applications .
None of the elections in Kazakhstan since it gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 has been considered by Western observers as fair and free .

NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakhstan has kicked off its parliamentary election campaign with five parties -- none of which is running on an opposition platform.
The Central Election Commission (OSK) said on December 10 that the campaign started at 6 p.m. local time and will run until midnight on January 9, the day before the elections to parliament's lower chamber, the Mazhilis.
Along with the ruling Nur-Otan party, four other political parties loyal to the government -- Aq Zhol (Bright Path), Adal (Honest), Auyl (Village), and the Communist People's Party -- will take part in the election, the OSK said.
It added that the terms for debates between the parties will be decided by December 30, while voter preference polls can be conducted only by pollsters that have at least five years of experience and have given preliminary notice to the OSK.
OSK Chairman Berik Imashev on December 10 brushed off criticism by civil rights organizations and unregistered opposition groups over a recent OSK resolution banning nongovernmental organizations from acting as election observers unless their charters envision such activities.
The resolution also banned online live video coverage from polling stations and introduced restrictions for taking pictures at them.
Civil rights activists have said that they will appeal the OSK's moves in court.
The vote will decide 98 of 107 seats in the Mazhilis. Nine other seats will be separately elected by the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan -- a political body representing dozens of ethnic groups of the Central Asian nation.
The only officially registered political party that calls itself opposition, the All-National Social Democratic Party, is boycotting the elections.
OSDP leader Askhat Rakhimzhanov said that his party decided on November 27 not to participate in the elections because Kazakhstan's political landscape continues to be dominated by the “same” political elite.
Since 2019, several other political groups and parties have tried to register in order to be eligible to take part in the poll, but Kazakh authorities have rejected all of their applications.
None of the elections in Kazakhstan since it gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 has been considered by Western observers as fair and free.


rferl--2020-12-10--Two Employees Of Foundation Linked To Russian Troll Farm Released From Libyan Custody

Two employees of the Moscow-based Foundation for the Protection of Traditional Values with links to a notorious Russian `` troll farm '' have been released from Libyan custody where they had been held since May 2019 .
The foundation 's chief , Aleksandr Malkevich , who also edits a controversial English-language website titled USA Really , said on December 10 that Russian citizens Maksim Shugalei and Samer Khasan Ali Sueifan had been released and are on their way back to Moscow .
Libyan authorities said last year that Shugalei , who is also a lawmaker in Russia 's northern Komi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were arrested on suspicion of trying to influence upcoming elections in Libya , which Russian officials have denied .
Shugalei and the foundation are widely known to have links to the Internet Research Agency , a St. Petersburg-based organization known as the Russian `` troll farm . ''
Owned by the Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin , the troll farm was mentioned repeatedly by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election .
The foundation says it is a “ a nonprofit organization whose activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian Federation . ''
In 2018 , the U.S. Treasury Department slapped economic sanctions on Malkevich , saying USA Really was `` posting content focused on divisive political issues but is generally ridden with inaccuracies . ''
With reporting by RIA Novosti and TASS

Two employees of the Moscow-based Foundation for the Protection of Traditional Values with links to a notorious Russian "troll farm" have been released from Libyan custody where they had been held since May 2019.
The foundation's chief, Aleksandr Malkevich, who also edits a controversial English-language website titled USA Really, said on December 10 that Russian citizens Maksim Shugalei and Samer Khasan Ali Sueifan had been released and are on their way back to Moscow.
Libyan authorities said last year that Shugalei, who is also a lawmaker in Russia's northern Komi Republic, and his interpreter Sueifan, were arrested on suspicion of trying to influence upcoming elections in Libya, which Russian officials have denied.
Shugalei and the foundation are widely known to have links to the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based organization known as the Russian "troll farm."
Owned by the Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, the troll farm was mentioned repeatedly by U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The foundation says it is a “a nonprofit organization whose activities are aimed at protecting the national interests of the Russian Federation."
In 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department slapped economic sanctions on Malkevich, saying USA Really was "posting content focused on divisive political issues but is generally ridden with inaccuracies."
With reporting by RIA Novosti and TASS


rferl--2020-12-10--CIS Foreign Ministers Approve Draft On Closer Military, COVID-19 Cooperation

Foreign Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) have approved a draft concept on further developing cooperation in several areas , including the coronavirus pandemic .
The Kazakh Foreign Ministry said in a statement that ministers approved a number of documents at the December 10 meeting , including a concept of military cooperation between CIS member states to 2025 .
It added that the Council of the CIS leaders will be held online on December 18 .
`` The participants discussed a wide range of integration cooperation issues within the CIS , with a special emphasis on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus pandemic , '' the Russian Foreign Ministry said after the meeting .
CIS members are former Soviet republics -- Azerbaijan , Armenia , Belarus , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Moldova , Russia , Tajikistan , and Uzbekistan .
Turkmenistan has an associate status in the grouping .
Ukraine quit the grouping in 2018 , four years after Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine ’ s Crimea region in March 2014 and started backing separatists in Ukraine ’ s east in a conflict that has killed more than 13,200 people since April 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CIS since the grouping was established following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
Earlier , in 2009 , another former Soviet republic , Georgia , quit the CIS following a five-day Russian-Georgian war in August 2008 , after which Russia has maintained troops in Georgia 's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and recognized their independence from Tbilisi .

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that there can be no advancement in the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless there is an improvement in the treatment of women in the country.
Speaking to reporters on August 15, the two-year anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Kabul, Blinken said the United States continues to work to hold the Taliban accountable for the commitments that it's made, particularly when it comes to the rights of women and girls.
"We've been very clear with the Taliban -- and dozens of countries around the world have been very clear -- that the path to any more normal relationship between the Taliban and other countries will be blocked unless and until the rights of women and girls among other things are actually supported," Blinken said.
No country has recognized the Taliban-led government, and the United States has avoided direct economic engagement in part over the treatment of women and girls, who have seen their rights drastically curbed by the hard-line Islamists. This includes a ban on women working in local and international nongovernmental organizations and a ban on education beyond the sixth grade.
The Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 after President Joe Biden withdrew U.S. troops under the terms of an agreement reached in February 2020 between the Taliban and the administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Blinken defended the pullout and said the United States was not focused on other priorities.
"The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was an incredibly difficult one, but also the right one," Blinken said. "We ended America's longest war. For the first time in 20 years, we don't have another generation of young Americans going to fight and die."
A number of international human rights organizations earlier on August 15 called the Taliban's two years of rule shameful and worrying.
Amnesty International and several other international human rights organizations demanded in a statement an effective response to the situation, noting the Taliban's strict decrees against human rights in Afghanistan, especially against women and girls.
The organizations said in a statement that in the past two years, the Taliban has increasingly imposed harmful policies against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities that clearly violate Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.
The Taliban has previously rejected reports on the treatment of women as propaganda of international organizations. The militant group's leaders have said they have strengthened all the rights of women in Afghanistan in light of Islamic principles.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban, said in an interview with the AP marking the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of the country that the Taliban views its rule of Afghanistan as open-ended and as drawing legitimacy from Islamic law. He also suggested a ban on female education will remain in place.
Female activist Soheila Yousefi calls the situation alarming and wants the world to pay attention.
"The international community should take serious action in this regard because the world chose to be silent in these two years and did not take any practical steps. Our request is that they should look at the current situation in Afghanistan, then take a serious and comprehensive review."
The Taliban did not respond to Radio Azadi's questions before the release of the report, but the rulers have spoken of strengthening human rights in Afghanistan, especially the rights of women and girls, according to Islamic principles.
With reporting by AP and AFP


rferl--2020-12-10--Azerbaijan Holds Military Parade To Mark Declared Victory In Nagorno-Karabakh War

Azerbaijan has held a military parade to mark the country 's declared victory over Armenia in a recent war over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region that ended with a Moscow-brokered truce that handed back several parts of the region to Baku .
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , a key ally in the conflict , presided over the parade devoted to what is officially described in Azerbaijan as the Victory in the Patriotic War , held at Baku 's central Azadliq ( Liberty ) Square , on December 10 .
Erdogan said during the parade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not over .
`` We are here today to ... celebrate this glorious victory , '' Erdogan said , but added , `` Azerbaijan saving its lands from occupation does not mean that the struggle is over . ''
The peace agreement took force exactly a month ago and put an end to six weeks of fierce fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh that left thousands dead on both sides .
It was seen as a major victory in Azerbaijan , while prompting mass protests in Armenia , where opposition supporters are demanding the ouster of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conflict .
Azerbaijan 's win was also an important geopolitical coup for Erdogan , helping solidify Turkey 's role as a powerbroker in the ex-Soviet Caucasus region that the Kremlin considers its sphere of influence .
More than 3,000 military personnel and some 150 pieces of military hardware -- including some military equipment captured from ethnic Armenian forces during the war -- were part of the procession , while navy vessels performed maneuvers in the nearby Bay of Baku .
Turkish military personnel also participated in the event .
Under the peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces .
After the truce , Turkey signed a memorandum with Russia to create a joint monitoring center in Azerbaijan .
Russian officials have said that Ankara ’ s involvement will be limited to the work of the monitoring center on Azerbaijani soil , and Turkish peacekeepers would not enter Nagorno-Karabakh .
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region 's population @ @ @ @

Azerbaijan has held a military parade to mark the country's declared victory over Armenia in a recent war over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region that ended with a Moscow-brokered truce that handed back several parts of the region to Baku.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key ally in the conflict, presided over the parade devoted to what is officially described in Azerbaijan as the Victory in the Patriotic War, held at Baku's central Azadliq (Liberty) Square, on December 10.
Erdogan said during the parade that Azerbaijan's struggle with Armenia was not over.
"We are here today to... celebrate this glorious victory," Erdogan said, but added, "Azerbaijan saving its lands from occupation does not mean that the struggle is over."
The peace agreement took force exactly a month ago and put an end to six weeks of fierce fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh that left thousands dead on both sides. It was seen as a major victory in Azerbaijan, while prompting mass protests in Armenia, where opposition supporters are demanding the ouster of the prime minister over his handling of the conflict.
Azerbaijan's win was also an important geopolitical coup for Erdogan, helping solidify Turkey's role as a powerbroker in the ex-Soviet Caucasus region that the Kremlin considers its sphere of influence.
More than 3,000 military personnel and some 150 pieces of military hardware -- including some military equipment captured from ethnic Armenian forces during the war -- were part of the procession, while navy vessels performed maneuvers in the nearby Bay of Baku. Turkish military personnel also participated in the event.
Under the peace deal, some parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and all seven districts around it were placed under Azerbaijani administration after almost 30 years of control by ethnic Armenian forces.
After the truce, Turkey signed a memorandum with Russia to create a joint monitoring center in Azerbaijan.
Russian officials have said that Ankara’s involvement will be limited to the work of the monitoring center on Azerbaijani soil, and Turkish peacekeepers would not enter Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population reject Azerbaijani rule.


rferl--2020-12-10--Probe Sought Into Nagorno-Karabakh 'Decapitations,' Other 'War Crimes'

International human rights groups are urging both Azerbaijan and Armenia to urgently conduct investigations into war crimes allegedly committed by both sides during weeks of recent fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region .
Amnesty International has analyzed 22 videos depicting `` extrajudicial executions , the mistreatment of prisoners of war and other captives , and desecration of the dead bodies of enemy soldiers , '' the London-based human rights watchdog said in a statement on December 10 .
Two of the clips show `` extrajudicial executions by decapitation '' by members of Azerbaijan 's military while another video shows the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throat that led to his death , it said .
`` The depravity and lack of humanity captured in these videos shows the deliberate intention to cause ultimate harm and humiliation to victims , in clear violation of international humanitarian law , '' according to Denis Krivosheyev , the rights group 's research director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia .
`` Both Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities must immediately conduct independent , impartial investigations and identify all those responsible , '' Krivosheyev said .
Louis Charbonneau , the United Nations director at New-York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses described by Amnesty were `` war crimes '' that should be investigated .
`` Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities [ should ] investigate , identify [ people ] responsible & hold them accountable , '' Charbonneau said on Twitter .
Amnesty International `` authenticated the footage as genuine , and technical tests conducted on the videos indicate that the files have not been manipulated , '' the statement said , adding that a forensic pathologist verified the details of the injuries .
International humanitarian law prohibits acts of violence against prisoners of war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mutilation of dead bodies , and the filming of confessions or denunciations for propaganda purposes .
Amnesty International 's call comes one month after a Moscow-brokered cease-fire deal brought an end to six weeks of fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh -- the worst clashes over the disputed region in three decades .
The latest fighting left more than 5,000 people dead , including many civilians , and resulted in Azerbaijani forces retaking much of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts .
Both sides have accused each other of violating international law during the war .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armenians , declared independence from Azerbaijan amid a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people .
Internationally mediated negotiations have failed to result in a resolution .

International human rights groups are urging both Azerbaijan and Armenia to urgently conduct investigations into war crimes allegedly committed by both sides during weeks of recent fighting over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Amnesty International has analyzed 22 videos depicting "extrajudicial executions, the mistreatment of prisoners of war and other captives, and desecration of the dead bodies of enemy soldiers," the London-based human rights watchdog said in a statement on December 10.
Two of the clips show "extrajudicial executions by decapitation" by members of Azerbaijan's military while another video shows the cutting of an Azerbaijani border guard's throat that led to his death, it said.
"The depravity and lack of humanity captured in these videos shows the deliberate intention to cause ultimate harm and humiliation to victims, in clear violation of international humanitarian law," according to Denis Krivosheyev, the rights group's research director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
"Both Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities must immediately conduct independent, impartial investigations and identify all those responsible," Krivosheyev said.
Louis Charbonneau, the United Nations director at New-York based Human Rights Watch, said the abuses described by Amnesty were "war crimes" that should be investigated.
"Azerbaijan and Armenia authorities [should] investigate, identify [people] responsible & hold them accountable," Charbonneau said on Twitter.
Amnesty International "authenticated the footage as genuine, and technical tests conducted on the videos indicate that the files have not been manipulated," the statement said, adding that a forensic pathologist verified the details of the injuries.
International humanitarian law prohibits acts of violence against prisoners of war and any other detained person, the mutilation of dead bodies, and the filming of confessions or denunciations for propaganda purposes.
Amnesty International's call comes one month after a Moscow-brokered cease-fire deal brought an end to six weeks of fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh -- the worst clashes over the disputed region in three decades.
The latest fighting left more than 5,000 people dead, including many civilians, and resulted in Azerbaijani forces retaking much of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
Both sides have accused each other of violating international law during the war.
The region, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan amid a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Internationally mediated negotiations have failed to result in a resolution.


rferl--2020-12-11--Kazakh Government Critic Released From Psychiatric Clinic, Still Under House Arrest

NUR-SULTAN -- A Kazakh blogger and journalist accused of being involved in the activities of a banned organization has been found mentally healthy and released from a psychiatric clinic , where she was forcibly placed last month by a court .
Lawyer Ghalym Nurpeisov told RFE/RL that his client , Aigul Otepova , was released from the medical facility on December 11 after experts deemed she was of sound mind .
`` She is at home now but remains under house arrest until January 17 , '' Nurpeisov said .
Otepova , who has said that a probe against her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clinic in Nur-Sultan , the capital , on November 23 after a local court ruled that she must be placed in a psychiatric clinic for one month to check her sanity .
The 50-year-old journalist was put under house arrest on September 17 after she placed a post on Facebook criticizing official efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak .
Authorities have accused her of supporting the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan ( DVK ) opposition movement , which has been labeled as an extremist group and banned in the country .
Otepova denies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she is an independent journalist and blogger who expresses her own views .
Otepova 's daughter told RFE/RL earlier that by placing her mother in a psychiatric clinic , the authorities were trying to silence her ahead of Kazakhstan ’ s parliamentary elections , scheduled for January 10 , 2021 .
Amnesty International said in a statement that Otepova was `` a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted solely for the peaceful expression of her views . ''
The rights group also demanded her immediate release .
Human rights groups have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persecuting independent and opposition journalists .
In 2018 , a court in the southern city of Shymkent placed journalist and blogger Ardaq Ashim in a psychiatric clinic after she criticized the government in her articles .
After her release , Ashim left for Ukraine , where she currently resides .

NUR-SULTAN -- A Kazakh blogger and journalist accused of being involved in the activities of a banned organization has been found mentally healthy and released from a psychiatric clinic, where she was forcibly placed last month by a court.
Lawyer Ghalym Nurpeisov told RFE/RL that his client, Aigul Otepova, was released from the medical facility on December 11 after experts deemed she was of sound mind.
"She is at home now but remains under house arrest until January 17," Nurpeisov said.
Otepova, who has said that a probe against her is politically motivated, was admitted to the clinic in Nur-Sultan, the capital, on November 23 after a local court ruled that she must be placed in a psychiatric clinic for one month to check her sanity.
The 50-year-old journalist was put under house arrest on September 17 after she placed a post on Facebook criticizing official efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
Authorities have accused her of supporting the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) opposition movement, which has been labeled as an extremist group and banned in the country.
Otepova denies any connection with the DVK, saying that she is an independent journalist and blogger who expresses her own views.
Otepova's daughter told RFE/RL earlier that by placing her mother in a psychiatric clinic, the authorities were trying to silence her ahead of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 10, 2021.
Amnesty International said in a statement that Otepova was "a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted solely for the peaceful expression of her views." The rights group also demanded her immediate release.
Human rights groups have criticized the Kazakh government for years for persecuting independent and opposition journalists.
In 2018, a court in the southern city of Shymkent placed journalist and blogger Ardaq Ashim in a psychiatric clinic after she criticized the government in her articles.
After her release, Ashim left for Ukraine, where she currently resides.


rferl--2020-12-11--'Our Only Chance': Workers Of Kazakh Railway Company Go On Strike

ZHEZQAZGHAN , Kazakhstan -- Workers of a Kazakh railway company linked to the copper mining giant KazakhMys have gone on strike to demand pay raises and improved work conditions .
Some 300 workers gathered in front of the administrative building of their employer , Tranco Zhezqazghan , in the city of Zhezqazghan in the central Qaraghandy region on December 11 , saying that they had to take action after their previous demands had not been met .
`` We have tried to persuade our employer and regional officials to solve the problem with our low salaries for months .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach KazakhMys Director Eduard Ogai , and we were all warned that we would be fired if we continue pushing forward with our demands , '' one of the strikers , Aurika Balymova , told RFE/RL .
`` This strike is our only chance .
Prices have been on the rise for years , but our salaries have stayed the same .
When we start to openly talk about it , they pressure us . ''
Another worker , who introduced himself as Artur , told RFE/RL that due to the dilapidated state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that all expenditures linked to delays and repairs are covered by workers .
`` We often have to pay for fuel ourselves as the company does not provide us with a sufficient amount of fuel .
The salaries are too low and because of that my child is not attending his kindergarten anymore , as I do not have enough cash to pay for it , '' he said .
Officials of KazakhMys and Tranco Zhezqazghan were not available for comment , while the Zhezqazghan city administration ’ s press service told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon be increased and an annual bonus paid by January 1 .
KazakhMys -- which is owned by Vladimir Kim , a close friend of Kazakhstan ’ s first president , Nursultan Nazarbaev -- is Kazakhstan 's largest copper producer and one of the largest in the world .
The company works in the central Qaraghandy Province , where it also has coal mines and operates several power stations , including a hydropower and a solar power station , according to the company .
It employs 46,000 people .

ZHEZQAZGHAN, Kazakhstan -- Workers of a Kazakh railway company linked to the copper mining giant KazakhMys have gone on strike to demand pay raises and improved work conditions.
Some 300 workers gathered in front of the administrative building of their employer, Tranco Zhezqazghan, in the city of Zhezqazghan in the central Qaraghandy region on December 11, saying that they had to take action after their previous demands had not been met.
"We have tried to persuade our employer and regional officials to solve the problem with our low salaries for months. Our representative was fired after he tried to reach KazakhMys Director Eduard Ogai, and we were all warned that we would be fired if we continue pushing forward with our demands," one of the strikers, Aurika Balymova, told RFE/RL.
"This strike is our only chance. Prices have been on the rise for years, but our salaries have stayed the same. When we start to openly talk about it, they pressure us."
Another worker, who introduced himself as Artur, told RFE/RL that due to the dilapidated state of the rails, trains often derail and that all expenditures linked to delays and repairs are covered by workers.
"We often have to pay for fuel ourselves as the company does not provide us with a sufficient amount of fuel. The salaries are too low and because of that my child is not attending his kindergarten anymore, as I do not have enough cash to pay for it," he said.
Officials of KazakhMys and Tranco Zhezqazghan were not available for comment, while the Zhezqazghan city administration’s press service told RFE/RL that the worker's salaries will soon be increased and an annual bonus paid by January 1.
KazakhMys -- which is owned by Vladimir Kim, a close friend of Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbaev -- is Kazakhstan's largest copper producer and one of the largest in the world.
The company works in the central Qaraghandy Province, where it also has coal mines and operates several power stations, including a hydropower and a solar power station, according to the company. It employs 46,000 people.


rferl--2020-12-11--Protesters Block Yerevan Streets As Pressure Builds On Armenia's Prime Minister To Step Down

YEREVAN -- Opposition activists have blocked several streets in Yerevan as pressure continues to build on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian amid opposition calls for him to step down over last month ’ s cease-fire deal with Azerbaijan .
Protesters chanted , `` Armenia without Nikol '' and `` Nikol must go ! ''
as they flooded streets in the center of the Armenian capital on December 11 , even after Pashinian and his party indicated a day earlier that they were “ ready to discuss ” the possibility of holding fresh parliamentary elections .
“ The authorities are ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the prime minister noted , that no party threatens others , ” Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonian told reporters on December 10 .
Opposition supporters have rallied in Yerevan and other Armenian cities since Pashinian agreed to the Moscow-brokered deal that took effect on November 10 , ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
They are angry that the accord handed back to Azerbaijan swaths of territory ethnic Armenians had controlled since the 1990s .
Opposition politicians have called for the establishment of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be held in the coming months .
Pashinian , who swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018 , has said he has no plans to quit , insisting that he signed the deal because he is responsible for ensuring national security and stabilizing the former Soviet republic .
Arman Babajanian , a nominally independent parliamentarian critical of opposition forces demanding that Pashinian step aside , said his party had already held consultations with the ruling bloc on the matter .
“ These discussions are continuing and we hope that they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to schedule [ snap ] elections , ” he said .
A coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties rallied several hundred supporters outside the main government building in Yerevan on December 10 as Pashinian held a weekly session of his cabinet .
Riot police used force to unblock a nearby street and detained more than 40 protesters .
Under the November truce deal , Azerbaijan took back control over parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and all surrounding territories .
The agreement was a blow to Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who had controlled nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven surrounding areas , since a 1994 cease-fire ended all-out war .
The region is recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule .

YEREVAN -- Opposition activists have blocked several streets in Yerevan as pressure continues to build on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian amid opposition calls for him to step down over last month’s cease-fire deal with Azerbaijan.
Protesters chanted, "Armenia without Nikol" and "Nikol must go!" as they flooded streets in the center of the Armenian capital on December 11, even after Pashinian and his party indicated a day earlier that they were “ready to discuss” the possibility of holding fresh parliamentary elections.
“The authorities are ready to start such discussions on the condition, as the prime minister noted, that no party threatens others,” Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonian told reporters on December 10.
Opposition supporters have rallied in Yerevan and other Armenian cities since Pashinian agreed to the Moscow-brokered deal that took effect on November 10, ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
They are angry that the accord handed back to Azerbaijan swaths of territory ethnic Armenians had controlled since the 1990s.
Opposition politicians have called for the establishment of a new, interim government until early elections can be held in the coming months.
Pashinian, who swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018, has said he has no plans to quit, insisting that he signed the deal because he is responsible for ensuring national security and stabilizing the former Soviet republic.
Arman Babajanian, a nominally independent parliamentarian critical of opposition forces demanding that Pashinian step aside, said his party had already held consultations with the ruling bloc on the matter.
“These discussions are continuing and we hope that they will be fruitful and result in a decision to schedule [snap] elections,” he said.
A coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties rallied several hundred supporters outside the main government building in Yerevan on December 10 as Pashinian held a weekly session of his cabinet.
Riot police used force to unblock a nearby street and detained more than 40 protesters.
Under the November truce deal, Azerbaijan took back control over parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and all surrounding territories.
The agreement was a blow to Yerevan-backed ethnic Armenian forces who had controlled nearly all of Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as seven surrounding areas, since a 1994 cease-fire ended all-out war.
The region is recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the population reject Azerbaijani rule.


rferl--2020-12-11--Suicide Bomber Reportedly Injures Six People In Russia's North Caucasus

Several Russian media outlets , citing sources close to law enforcement , are reporting that a suicide bomber has injured @ @ @ @ @ the North Caucasus region of Karachai-Cherkessia .
The reports say a man detonated a bomb @ @ @ @ @ the village of Uchkeken on December 11 , killing himself and injuring others , including @ @ @ @ @ The site has been cordoned off by police as investigators arrive at the scene .
@ @ @ @ @ autonomous republics making up Russia 's restive , mostly Muslim-populated North Caucasus , which has @ @ @ @ @ violence and Islamic radicals who have mounted frequent attacks against police , public officials , @ @ @ @ @ region .
However , rights activists have criticized security officials and police in the region @ @ @ @ @ volatile republics of Chechnya , Daghestan , Ingushetia , and Kabardino-Balkaria -- for abuse of @ @ @ @ @ , fabricating criminal cases , torture , and extrajudicial killings .
Based on reporting by @ @ @

CHERKESSK, Russia -- Officials say a suicide bomber has set off a device in the North Caucasus region of Karachai-Cherkessia, killing himself and injuring six police officers.
Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee (NAK) said on December 11 the wounded, including the deputy chief of the regional Interior Ministry’s investigative unit, Asker Abdurazakov, sustained shrapnel wounds after a man approached a police station in the village of Uchkeken and detonated a bomb at around noon local time.
Some media reports said that there were two explosions, of which one took place several hours earlier near the police station, but it did not result in any casualties. When police officers and investigators gathered at the site, the man then set off a second device as he chanted "God is great!" in Arabic.
The attacker died at the scene, the statement says.
Rashid Temrezov, head of Karachai-Cherkessia, said later in the day that the situation was under control.
Karachai-Cherkessia is one of several autonomous republics making up Russia's restive, mostly Muslim-populated North Caucasus, which has long been plagued by criminal violence and Islamic radicals who have mounted frequent attacks against police, public officials, and moderate Muslims in the region.
However, rights activists have criticized security officials and police in the region -- which also includes the volatile republics of Chechnya, Daghestan, Ingushetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria -- for abuse of power, human rights violations, fabricating criminal cases, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
Based on reporting by Izvestia and Interfax


rferl--2020-12-11--French Soccer Star Griezmann Ends Partnership With Huawei Over Treatment Of Uyghurs

French soccer star Antoine Griezmann says he is ending his sponsorship deal with Huawei over claims that the Chinese telecoms giant is involved in the surveillance of mainly Muslim ethnic Uyghurs in the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang .
`` Following strong suspicions that Huawei has contributed to the development of a 'Uyghurs alert ' through the use of facial recognition software , I am immediately ending my partnership with the company , '' Griezmann said on Instagram on December 10 .
Huawei denied the allegations and said it was `` saddened '' by the player ’ s decision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the firm since 2017 and has featured prominently in the company 's advertising in France .
The 29-year-old forward was a key part of the French national team that reached the final of Euro 2016 and then won the 2018 World Cup in Russia .
He joined FC Barcelona last year and is expected to be part of the French squad for the 2021 European championships .
The striker 's announcement came as Beijing has come under intense international criticism over its policies in Xinjiang , where the UN has estimated that at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly Muslim indigenous people have been detained in what it described as `` counterextremism centers '' in the region .
The UN has also said that millions more have been forced into internment camps , though Beijing insists that the facilities are `` vocational education centers '' aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing them to be reintegrated into society .
On December 8 , the U.S.-based surveillance research firm IPVM said that Huawei has been involved in testing facial recognition software that the Chinese authorities could use to detect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report dated 2018 showing the software as passing tests for `` Uyghur alarms '' and `` recognition based on age , sex , ethnicity , angle of facial images . ''
A Huawei spokesperson said that `` the language used in the document '' referred to in the report was `` completely unacceptable.
” '' Our technologies are not designed to identify ethnic groups .
Nondiscrimination is at the heart of our values as a company , '' the spokesperson said .
Griezmann is not the first international soccer star to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkic-speaking Uyghurs .
Arsenal and former Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil , who is of Turkish origin , has criticized both Beijing and those who remain silent in response to the reports of mistreatment .
China ’ s state television later pulled an Arsenal fixture from TV schedules , and Ozil was also removed from a Chinese version of a soccer video game .
With reporting by the BBC , Reuters , and AFP

French soccer star Antoine Griezmann says he is ending his sponsorship deal with Huawei over claims that the Chinese telecoms giant is involved in the surveillance of mainly Muslim ethnic Uyghurs in the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang.
"Following strong suspicions that Huawei has contributed to the development of a 'Uyghurs alert' through the use of facial recognition software, I am immediately ending my partnership with the company," Griezmann said on Instagram on December 10.
Locked Up In China: The Plight Of Xinjiang's Muslims Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is partnering with its sister organization, Radio Free Asia, to highlight the plight of Muslims living in China's western province of Xinjiang.
Huawei denied the allegations and said it was "saddened" by the player’s decision.
Griezmann has been a brand ambassador for the firm since 2017 and has featured prominently in the company's advertising in France.
The 29-year-old forward was a key part of the French national team that reached the final of Euro 2016 and then won the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He joined FC Barcelona last year and is expected to be part of the French squad for the 2021 European championships.
The striker's announcement came as Beijing has come under intense international criticism over its policies in Xinjiang, where the UN has estimated that at least 1 million ethnic Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim indigenous people have been detained in what it described as "counterextremism centers" in the region.
The UN has also said that millions more have been forced into internment camps, though Beijing insists that the facilities are "vocational education centers" aimed at helping people steer clear of terrorism and allowing them to be reintegrated into society.
On December 8, the U.S.-based surveillance research firm IPVM said that Huawei has been involved in testing facial recognition software that the Chinese authorities could use to detect Uyghurs.
IPVM cited an internal Huawei report dated 2018 showing the software as passing tests for "Uyghur alarms" and "recognition based on age, sex, ethnicity, angle of facial images."
A Huawei spokesperson said that "the language used in the document" referred to in the report was "completely unacceptable.”
"Our technologies are not designed to identify ethnic groups. Nondiscrimination is at the heart of our values as a company," the spokesperson said.
China's Foreign Ministry called IPVM’s report "slander.”
Griezmann is not the first international soccer star to make a stand over China’s treatment of Turkic-speaking Uyghurs.
Arsenal and former Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, who is of Turkish origin, has criticized both Beijing and those who remain silent in response to the reports of mistreatment.
China’s state television later pulled an Arsenal fixture from TV schedules, and Ozil was also removed from a Chinese version of a soccer video game.
With reporting by the BBC, Reuters, and AFP