rferl--2020-08-11--Fourth Night Of Postelection Protests In Belarus As Pompeo Vows U.S. Action

MINSK -- Belarus witnessed a fourth night of protests on August 12 in Minsk and elsewhere against the reelection of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in a vote that protesters say was rigged .
In several parts of Minsk , groups of hundreds of people formed human chains to protest as people in cars honked horns and slowed to a crawl to block police vehicles .
Similar protests were held in at least five other cities , according to the Belarusian rights NGO Vyasna ( Spring ) .
On Minsk 's Dzerzhinsky Avenue , people stood on balconies , clapping in an expression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group of riot police arrived and fired rubber bullets at them .
An RFE/RL journalist and his wife were stopped as they were driving in that area by police .
Vitaly Tsyhankov was pulled from the car by police , beaten , and thrown to the ground , before being detained , his wife said .
She was also detained .
Earlier , Belarusian authorities admitted for the first time on August 12 using live ammunition against people protesting against the presidential election that handed the 65-year-old Lukashenka a sixth term as U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to ensure a “ good outcome for the Belarusian people.
” At least one person has been killed and thousands detained after the August 9 poll that saw Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , declared winner .
His top challenger , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , has left the country and is now in Lithuania .
Earlier in the day , women joined hands in Minsk and other towns and cities in Belarus on August 12 to protest the postelection crackdown .
This came after the Belarusian Interior Ministry said that a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brest overnight after law enforcement troops opened fire at a group of people who , police said , attacked them with iron bars .
It was the first such admittance by Belarusian authorities that live ammunition had been used against protesters .
In an interview with RFE/RL during a visit to Prague on August 12 , Pompeo said that `` we ’ ve watched the violence and the aftermath , peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated . ''
The vote has resulted in three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police violence and thousands of detentions .
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response , but would work with Washington 's European partners to determine what action to take .
WATCH : More footage of the crackdown overnight by RFE/RL 's Belarus Service According to the Belarusian Interior Ministry , protests were held in 25 towns and cities across Belarus on August 11 .
`` More than 1,000 people were detained for taking part in unsanctioned mass events .
According to the Health Ministry , 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fourteen police and Interior Ministry troops sustained injuries of different degrees of severity , some of whom were hospitalized , '' the statement said .
Riot police have fired tear gas , rubber bullets , and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital , Minsk , and other cities since August 10 .
Belarusian authorities said a day earlier that more than 5,000 people had been detained , some 200 hospitalized , and at least one death after protests erupted after the August 9 poll .
The demonstrations on August 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that day following reports that she had visited CEC headquarters on August 10 to file a complaint about the official outcome of the vote .
On August 12 , hundreds of relatives of detained people gathered in front of the central detention center in Minsk in an attempt to get information about their loved ones .
They said that they could hear the screams of people apparently being beaten inside the detention center .
They chanted `` Shame ! ''
and `` Fascists ! ''
when an ambulance and four military vehicles came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also loudly announced the time in the hope that it would help incarcerated people realize how long had passed since they were detained , as Belarusian law allows suspects to be kept in custody for 72 hours without access to a lawyer and family .
RFE/RL correspondents noticed individuals in military uniforms resembling snipers on the roofs of detention center buildings .
Human rights activists say all detention centers , police stations , and jails across the country are overcrowded with detained protesters and journalists .
The Belarusian Association of Journalists ( BAZh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling on the authorities to stop targeted violence against media representatives .
According to the statement , 12 journalists detained by police while they were covering the protests across the country remain in custody .
It remains unknown what they are accused of .
The BAZh said security forces deliberately used violence against journalists on August 11 , intentionally damaging their equipment and confiscating memory cards .
The group demanded that the authorities stop the violence against reporters and immediately release all detained journalists .
Meanwhile , European Union ( EU ) foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at their meeting on August 14 , the 27-member bloc 's foreign policy chief , Josep Borrell , announced on Twitter .
`` We will discuss urgent issues and address the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean , the Belarus presidential elections as well as developments in Lebanon , '' Borrell 's tweet said .
In his earlier statement on Twitter Borrell called the election in Belarus `` neither free nor fair . ''
`` EU calls on [ Belarusian ] leadership to initiate genuine dialogue w/ broader society & stop unacceptable violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and expression .
We will conduct in-depth review of our relations , '' Borrell tweeted .


rferl--2020-08-13--Despite Minsk's Crackdown, Hungary Says EU Should Pursue 'Dialogue' With Belarus

Hungary has called on the European Union to pursue `` dialogue '' with Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto issued the call on August 13 , despite the brutal suppression in Belarus of protesters who say the authoritarian leader 's recent reelection was rigged .
`` We are interested in the EU making decisions based on dialogue , which do not make it impossible for the European Union and Belarus to build their relationship in the future , or set back the Eastern Partnership program , '' Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook post .
The Eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is meant to bring Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , Georgia , Moldova , and Ukraine closer to the EU without a clear offer of future membership .
In Belarus , at least two protesters have died and some 6,700 people have been detained since clashes erupted on August 9 following electoral authorities ' announcement that exit polls showed Lukashenka winning a sixth term with about 80 percent of the vote , a claim rejected by opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya .
The brutality displayed in Belarus by the security forces against unarmed protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live ammunition , has resulted in widespread condemnation from Western countries .
Tsikhanouskaya 's campaign team says she was forced to leave Belarus by law enforcement officials when she tried to file a formal complaint with the Central Election Commission about their official results on August 10 .
EU foreign ministers have scheduled a meeting on August 14 to discuss the brutal crackdown .
EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell called that meeting after saying that the EU could impose sanctions against `` those responsible for the observed violence , unjustified arrests , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , the European Union lifted most sanctions it had imposed against Belarus after Lukashenka freed political prisoners and allowed protests to take place .
During a visit to Belarus in June , Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a complete lifting of EU sanctions on Minsk .
`` Hungary takes the view that the European Union should finally lift sanctions against Belarus , '' Orban said after talks with Lukashenka on June 5 .
Lukashenka has praised Hungary , which has been at odds with Brussels over the rule of law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's closest partner in the European Union . ''
Meanwhile , Czech Foreign Minister Tomás Petricek tweeted that he summoned the Belarusian ambassador to Prague on August 12 to voice disagreement with the `` violent crackdown on opposition protestors . ''
Petricek also dismissed Lukashenka 's allegation that the EU-member Czech Republic was behind the protests in Belarus .

Hungary has called on the European Union to pursue "dialogue" with Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto issued the call on August 13, despite the brutal suppression in Belarus of protesters who say the authoritarian leader's recent reelection was rigged.
"We are interested in the EU making decisions based on dialogue, which do not make it impossible for the European Union and Belarus to build their relationship in the future, or set back the Eastern Partnership program," Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook post.
The Eastern Partnership program was launched in 2009 and is meant to bring Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine closer to the EU without a clear offer of future membership.
In Belarus, at least two protesters have died and some 6,700 people have been detained since clashes erupted on August 9 following electoral authorities' announcement that exit polls showed Lukashenka winning a sixth term with about 80 percent of the vote, a claim rejected by opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
The brutality displayed in Belarus by the security forces against unarmed protesters, which has included the use of live ammunition, has resulted in widespread condemnation from Western countries.
Tsikhanouskaya's campaign team says she was forced to leave Belarus by law enforcement officials when she tried to file a formal complaint with the Central Election Commission about their official results on August 10.
EU foreign ministers have scheduled a meeting on August 14 to discuss the brutal crackdown.
EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell called that meeting after saying that the EU could impose sanctions against "those responsible for the observed violence, unjustified arrests, and falsification of election results."
In 2016, the European Union lifted most sanctions it had imposed against Belarus after Lukashenka freed political prisoners and allowed protests to take place.
During a visit to Belarus in June, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a complete lifting of EU sanctions on Minsk.
"Hungary takes the view that the European Union should finally lift sanctions against Belarus," Orban said after talks with Lukashenka on June 5.
Lukashenka has praised Hungary, which has been at odds with Brussels over the rule of law and media freedom, as "Belarus's closest partner in the European Union."
Meanwhile, Czech Foreign Minister Tomás Petricek tweeted that he summoned the Belarusian ambassador to Prague on August 12 to voice disagreement with the "violent crackdown on opposition protestors."
Petricek also dismissed Lukashenka's allegation that the EU-member Czech Republic was behind the protests in Belarus.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-08-13--Tashkent Hires U.S. Firm To Campaign Against Boycott On Uzbek Cotton

Documentation obtained by RFE/RL shows that Uzbek authorities have paid more than a half-million dollars to a U.S. public-relations firm to run a campaign aimed at lifting an international boycott against Uzbek cotton over the country 's use of forced labor to harvest the crop .
The documentation includes a copy of an agreement between the Washington-based firm Xenophon Strategies and the export agency at Uzbekistan 's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade .
The agreement was signed on April 14 by the agency 's director , Ulugbek Murodov , and Xenophon Strategies CEO David Fuscus .
Tashkent agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , most of which has been already paid .
Rights groups launched a boycott campaign in 2006 to force Uzbekistan to end its long-running state-controlled practice of forced labor -- a policy that forces millions of citizens , including children , to pick cotton and meet harvest quotas .
Foreign Lobby Report , a website that exposes attempts by authoritarian states to influence public opinion , reported in early August that Uzbekistan had started a PR campaign aimed at lifting the cotton boycott .
Foreign Lobby Report says Uzbekistan is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement obtained by RFE/RL calls for Xenophon Strategies to prepare and implement strategic efforts to persuade the international community that Uzbekistan has abandoned the practice of using forced labor to harvest cotton .
Lynn Schweisfurth , a specialist on corporate social responsibility at the Berlin-based Uzbek Forum for Human Rights , told RFE/RL that Xenophon Strategies was working together with a German company , Cometis , to carry out the public-opinion campaign for Tashkent .
According to Schweisfurth , the U.S. company paid $ 6,000 to Cometis in May for its cooperation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contract , officials at the Uzbek export agency directed all questions to the agency 's representative , Murod Rahimov .
But when questioned by RFE/RL by telephone on August 12 about the $ 585,000 contract , Rahimov said , `` it is not possible to answer these questions now , '' and hung up .
A day after the agreement with the U.S. firm was signed , Tashkent publicly urged a global human rights coalition called the Cotton Campaign to call off its international boycott on Uzbek cotton and textiles .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boycott , the Uzbek government cited what it claims has been progress in eliminating forced labor -- as well as economic hardships stemming from the coronavirus pandemic .
Since coming to power in 2016 , President Shavkat Mirziyoev has gradually introduced laws aimed at eliminating forced labor and child labor .
Mirziyoev has also banned provincial authorities from forcing students and state workers to pick cotton .
In March , Mirziyoev signed a decree abolishing the state 's quota system for cotton production .
But nongovernmental organizations , including the Uzbek Forum for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still rampant in the cotton sector and that some agricultural reforms closely mimic the previous system .

Documentation obtained by RFE/RL shows that Uzbek authorities have paid more than a half-million dollars to a U.S. public-relations firm to run a campaign aimed at lifting an international boycott against Uzbek cotton over the country's use of forced labor to harvest the crop.
The documentation includes a copy of an agreement between the Washington-based firm Xenophon Strategies and the export agency at Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.
The agreement was signed on April 14 by the agency's director, Ulugbek Murodov, and Xenophon Strategies CEO David Fuscus.
Tashkent agreed to pay the firm $585,000 for its services, most of which has been already paid.
A global human rights coalition, the Cotton Campaign, launched a boycott campaign in 2006 to force Uzbekistan to end its long-running state-controlled practice of forced labor -- a policy that forces millions of citizens, including children, to pick cotton and meet harvest quotas.
Foreign Lobby Report, a website that exposes attempts by authoritarian states to influence public opinion, reported in early August that Uzbekistan had started a PR campaign aimed at lifting the cotton boycott.
Foreign Lobby Report says Uzbekistan is the first non-U.S. client of Xenophon Strategies.
The agreement obtained by RFE/RL calls for Xenophon Strategies to prepare and implement strategic efforts to persuade the international community that Uzbekistan has abandoned the practice of using forced labor to harvest cotton.
Lynn Schweisfurth, a specialist on corporate social responsibility at the Berlin-based Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, told RFE/RL that Xenophon Strategies was working together with a German company, Cometis, to carry out the public-opinion campaign for Tashkent.
According to Schweisfurth, the U.S. company paid $6,000 to Cometis in May for its cooperation.
When asked by RFE/RL to comment on the contract, officials at the Uzbek export agency directed all questions to the agency's representative, Murod Rahimov.
But when questioned by RFE/RL by telephone on August 12 about the $585,000 contract, Rahimov said, "it is not possible to answer these questions now," and hung up.
A day after the agreement with the U.S. firm was signed, Tashkent publicly urged the Cotton Campaign to call off its international boycott on Uzbek cotton and textiles.
In its request for an end to the boycott, the Uzbek government cited what it claims has been progress in eliminating forced labor -- as well as economic hardships stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
In response to RFE/RL's reporting about Uzbekistan's lobby effort, the Cotton Campaign said it has been working with the Uzbek government, international apparel brands, and other stakeholders to end forced labor.
"The Cotton Campaign has been working to develop an innovative approach to re-open the Uzbek cotton sector to facilitate responsible sourcing while protecting labor rights and providing brands the assurances they need," Cotton Campaign coordinator Allison Gill told RFE/RL.
"Public relations is beside the point to this work--the government has clearly demonstrated a political commitment to ending forced labor. What remains is the hard work of finishing the reform process and investing in robust, credible means to monitor supply chains, and provide workers access to grievance and remedy," she said.
Since coming to power in 2016, President Shavkat Mirziyoev has gradually introduced laws aimed at eliminating forced labor and child labor.
Mirziyoev has also banned provincial authorities from forcing students and state workers to pick cotton.
In March, Mirziyoev signed a decree abolishing the state's quota system for cotton production.
But nongovernmental organizations, including the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, say forced labor is still rampant in the cotton sector and that some agricultural reforms closely mimic the previous system.


rferl--2020-08-13--HRW Urges Bishkek Not To Extradite Uzbek Journalist To Tashkent

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) has urged the Kyrgyz authorities not to extradite detained Uzbek journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev to Uzbekistan after he was arrested in Bishkek at Tashkent 's request .
In an August 12 statement , the U.S.-based international human rights group demanded that Bishkek release the journalist .
`` Given the risk of torture Abdullaev faces in Uzbekistan if he is sent back , Kyrgyzstan 's prosecutor-general should refuse the Uzbek authorities ' request , '' Hugh Williamson , HRW 's Europe and Central Asia director said .
`` Kyrgyz authorities know that under international law , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a place where they would likely be tortured or persecuted for their political beliefs or exercise of their basic rights . ''
Kyrgyz authorities say Abdullaev was detained in Bishkek on August 9 and will remain at a detention center until September 8 while Uzbekistan 's extradition request is considered .
Abdullaev 's lawyer , Timur Karabaev , said earlier that Abdullaev had been in Kyrgyzstan since February .
Abdullaev studied for four months at Bishkek 's American University of Central Asia and has been stuck in Kyrgyzstan due to coronavirus travel restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had not been allowed to meet with Abdullaev since he was taken into custody .
He said the reason given by theauthorities for refusing any visits was that Abdullaev had been placed in a two-week quarantine .
Kyrgyz authorities have not specified the reasons behind Uzbekistan 's extradition request for Abdullaev .
Media reports in Uzbekistan suggest Abdullaev is being sought in connection with social-media posts critical of Uzbeki President Shavkat Mirziyoev that were written under the pen name Qora Mergan ( Black Shooter ) .
Abdullaev has denied that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qora Mergan .
Abdullaev 's treatment has previously been the focus of rights groups after he and three other men were arrested in 2017 in Tashkent .
They were charged with calling for a change to Uzbekistan 's constitutional order by force .
Those charges stemmed from a series of articles under the byline Usman Haqnazarov , which was apparently used by more than one person .
Abdullaev also denied guilt then , saying he was doing his job as a journalist .
In May 2018 , Abdullaev was convicted on charges of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was cleared of the more serious charge of conspiracy against the state -- and was then released .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the Kyrgyz authorities not to extradite detained Uzbek journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev to Uzbekistan after he was arrested in Bishkek at Tashkent's request.
In an August 12 statement, the U.S.-based international human rights group demanded that Bishkek release the journalist.
"Given the risk of torture Abdullaev faces in Uzbekistan if he is sent back, Kyrgyzstan's prosecutor-general should refuse the Uzbek authorities' request," Hugh Williamson, HRW's Europe and Central Asia director said.
"Kyrgyz authorities know that under international law, they are barred from returning anyone to a place where they would likely be tortured or persecuted for their political beliefs or exercise of their basic rights."
Kyrgyz authorities say Abdullaev was detained in Bishkek on August 9 and will remain at a detention center until September 8 while Uzbekistan's extradition request is considered.
Abdullaev's lawyer, Timur Karabaev, said earlier that Abdullaev had been in Kyrgyzstan since February.
Abdullaev studied for four months at Bishkek's American University of Central Asia and has been stuck in Kyrgyzstan due to coronavirus travel restrictions, Karabaev said.
Karabaev also said that he had not been allowed to meet with Abdullaev since he was taken into custody.
He said the reason given by theauthorities for refusing any visits was that Abdullaev had been placed in a two-week quarantine.
Kyrgyz authorities have not specified the reasons behind Uzbekistan's extradition request for Abdullaev.
Media reports in Uzbekistan suggest Abdullaev is being sought in connection with social-media posts critical of Uzbeki President Shavkat Mirziyoev that were written under the pen name Qora Mergan (Black Shooter).
Abdullaev has denied that he has any connection to any writing by Qora Mergan.
Abdullaev's treatment has previously been the focus of rights groups after he and three other men were arrested in 2017 in Tashkent. They were charged with calling for a change to Uzbekistan's constitutional order by force.
Those charges stemmed from a series of articles under the byline Usman Haqnazarov, which was apparently used by more than one person.
Abdullaev also denied guilt then, saying he was doing his job as a journalist.
In May 2018, Abdullaev was convicted on charges of producing "anti-government propaganda." But he was cleared of the more serious charge of conspiracy against the state -- and was then released.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service


rferl--2020-08-13--Nobel Laureate Alexievich Says Lukashenka 'Declared War' On Belarusian People

The Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich has condemned brutal police violence against demonstrators across Belarus , saying `` the authorities have declared war on their people '' and the President Alyaksandr Lukashenka should step down from power to prevent a bloody civil war .
Alexievich made the remarks from Minsk in a telephone interview with RFE/RL on August 12 as protests continued across Belarus over the official results announced from the country 's August 9 election , which demonstrators say fraudulently gave Lukashenka victory with more than 80 percent of the vote .
`` Leave before it 's too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people into a terrible abyss , into the abyss of civil war , '' the 72-year-old author said in comments directed at Lukashenka .
`` Nobody wants blood .
Only you want power .
And it 's your desire for power that requires blood . ''
Alexievich told RFE/RL she had been shocked by the violence and cruelty that police in Belarus have inflicted upon peaceful protesters -- including groups of women in Minsk and other cities .
She said the Belarusian people were `` absolutely sure '' that Lukashenka lost the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was forced to leave the country for Lithuania when she tried to file a formal complaint with the Central Election Commission about the official results .
`` Nobody sees those who love Lukashenka around , those who support him [ now ] the way they had supported him in the past , '' Alexievich said .
`` And how can one trust that man after seeing what is happening on our streets ? ''
Alexievich also suggested that Russian riot police -- OMON security forces -- may have been brought into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to violently disperse the ongoing protests .
`` We see almost inhuman , satanic fury , that the OMON [ riot police ] are acting with here and it is hard to believe that it is Belarusian OMON , '' Alexievich said .
`` It seems to me that Belarusian guys would not be capable of beating their own mothers and sisters in this way , '' she said .
`` It is not real .
In smaller towns , where everybody knows each , other OMON refuse to beat people .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going on . ''
Alexievich praised Tsikhanouskaya , a political novice and until recently a stay-at-home mother , saying she had accomplished a lot and remains `` a symbol of thirst for changes , thirst for new life , thirst for honesty . ''
Alexievich said that she was grateful to Tsikhanouskaya and her associates for `` preserving our dignity . ''
`` I simply have felt real love for my people in these last few weeks , '' she said .
`` This is a completely different people , and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people . ''
Alexievich said she thinks it is now impossible now for Lukashenka to resign without consequences because blood has been shed .
The 72-year-old Alexievich won the 2015 Nobel literature prize for her work chronicling the horrors of war and life under under repressive Soviet regimes -- including the way Soviet authorities mishandled the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster .

The Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich has condemned brutal police violence against demonstrators across Belarus, saying "the authorities have declared war on their people" and the President Alyaksandr Lukashenka should step down from power to prevent a bloody civil war.
Alexievich made the remarks from Minsk in a telephone interview with RFE/RL on August 12 as protests continued across Belarus over the official results announced from the country's August 9 election, which demonstrators say fraudulently gave Lukashenka victory with more than 80 percent of the vote.
"Leave before it's too late, before you have plunged the people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," the 72-year-old author said in comments directed at Lukashenka. "Nobody wants blood. Only you want power. And it's your desire for power that requires blood."
Alexievich told RFE/RL she had been shocked by the violence and cruelty that police in Belarus have inflicted upon peaceful protesters -- including groups of women in Minsk and other cities.
She said the Belarusian people were "absolutely sure" that Lukashenka lost the election to his main rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to leave the country for Lithuania when she tried to file a formal complaint with the Central Election Commission about the official results.
"Nobody sees those who love Lukashenka around, those who support him [now] the way they had supported him in the past," Alexievich said. "And how can one trust that man after seeing what is happening on our streets?"
Alexievich also suggested that Russian riot police -- OMON security forces -- may have been brought into Minsk by Lukashenka's regime in order to violently disperse the ongoing protests.
"We see almost inhuman, satanic fury, that the OMON [riot police] are acting with here and it is hard to believe that it is Belarusian OMON," Alexievich said.
Postelection Crackdown In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
"It seems to me that Belarusian guys would not be capable of beating their own mothers and sisters in this way," she said. "It is not real. In smaller towns, where everybody knows each, other OMON refuse to beat people. But here [in Minsk] something unreal is going on."
Alexievich praised Tsikhanouskaya, a political novice and until recently a stay-at-home mother, saying she had accomplished a lot and remains "a symbol of thirst for changes, thirst for new life, thirst for honesty."
Alexievich said that she was grateful to Tsikhanouskaya and her associates for "preserving our dignity."
"I simply have felt real love for my people in these last few weeks," she said. "This is a completely different people, and there is a completely new strength in these people."
Alexievich said she thinks it is now impossible now for Lukashenka to resign without consequences because blood has been shed.
The 72-year-old Alexievich won the 2015 Nobel literature prize for her work chronicling the horrors of war and life under under repressive Soviet regimes -- including the way Soviet authorities mishandled the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.


rferl--2020-08-13--U.S. Says Iran Briefly Seizes Oil Tanker Near Strait Of Hormuz

The Iranian Navy has boarded and briefly seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz , the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ CENTCOM ) says , amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the United States .
CENTCOM @ @ @ @ @ August 13 showing what appeared to be special forces fast-roping down from a helicopter onto @ @ @ @ @ last position appeared to be off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates near @ @ @ @ @ The vessel was held by the Iranian Navy for about five hours before being released @ @ @ @ @ U.S. military official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity .
The Wila made @ @ @ @ @ during and after the seizure , the official said .
The U.S. military officials did @ @ @ @ @ Iran seizing the vessel .
Iranian state media and officials did not immediately acknowledge the @ @ @ @ @ for it .
Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated since the Washington @ @ @ @ @ international nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and reimposed crushing sanctions .

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--2020-08-13--Belarusians Brave Beatings, Detentions As Postelection Pressure Piles On Lukashenka

MINSK -- Belarusians have defied a harsh crackdown in a fourth day of protests that spilled into the night as pressure mounts on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka over a weekend vote the opposition says was rigged to extend the strongman ’ s 26-year rule .
Thousands of protesters hit the streets in Minsk and elsewhere across the country , braving the threat of beating and detention as Belarusian authorities admitted on August 12 to using live ammunition against protesters and news emerged that a second person had died in the unrest .
The spontaneous protests took many forms and came as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election have used tear gas , rubber bullets , and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital and other cities .
In an interview with RFE/RL during a visit to Prague , U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that `` we ’ ve watched the violence and the aftermath , peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated . ''
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response , but would work with Washington 's European partners to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign ministers are expected to meet on August 14 to discuss imposing sanctions on Belarus , which were previously lifted in 2016 .
In several parts of Minsk on August 12 , groups of hundreds of people formed human chains to protest as people in cars honked horns and slowed to a crawl to block police vehicles .
Similar protests were held in at least five other cities , according to the Belarusian rights NGO Vyasna ( Spring ) .
More than 130 doctors took part in an action against violence in Minsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Avenue near the medical university with flowers and posters .
According to the doctors , they came out to show that `` we are all together . ''
On Dzerzhinsky Avenue , people stood on balconies , clapping in an expression of support for protesters .
A group of riot police arrived and fired rubber bullets .
In Minsk and other towns , women dressed in white joined hands to form a human chain to protest the postelection crackdown .
The latest protests came as authorities said more than 6,000 people had been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the August 9 vote , which the election commission said Lukashenka won with 80 percent of the vote while the official tally for his main rival , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , was less than 10 percent .
Tsikhanouskaya has left the country and is now in Lithuania .
Hundreds of relatives of detained people gathered in front of the central detention center in Minsk on August 12 , trying to get information about their loved ones .
Human rights activists say detention centers , police stations , and jails across the country are overcrowded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian Interior Ministry said that a man was wounded in the western city of Brest overnight after law enforcement opened fire at a group of people who , police said , attacked them with iron bars .
It was the first such admittance by the authorities that live ammunition had been used against protesters .
The Investigative Committee also admitted a 25-year-old man detained at a street protest in Homel died after being transferred to a prison and then a hospital , making him the second person killed in the unrest .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son had not participated in protests and was going to see his girlfriend when he was rounded up by police .
She said her son had heart problems and believed he had been beaten .
Meanwhile , an RFE/RL journalist was beaten and detained after being stopped with his wife by police in Minsk as they were driving .
Vitaly Tsyhankov was pulled from the car by police , beaten , and thrown to the ground , before being detained , his wife said .
She was also detained .
The assault on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association of Journalists on August 12 called on authorities to stop targeted violence against media representatives .
The journalist association said security forces had deliberately used violence against the media , intentionally damaged their equipment , and detained at least 12 journalists covering the unrest .
Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich condemned the police violence against protesters , telling RFE/RL that `` the authorities have declared war on their people '' and Lukashenka should step down to prevent a bloody civil war .
`` Leave before it 's too late , before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrible abyss , into the abyss of civil war , '' the 72-year-old author said in her first remarks since the election .
`` Nobody wants blood .
Only you want power .
And it 's your desire for power that requires blood . ''
With reporting by Current Time and RFE/RL 's Belarus Service

MINSK -- Belarusians have defied a harsh crackdown in a fourth day of protests that spilled into the night as pressure mounts on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka over a weekend vote the opposition says was rigged to extend the strongman’s 26-year rule.
Thousands of protesters hit the streets in Minsk and elsewhere across the country, braving the threat of beating and detention as Belarusian authorities admitted on August 12 to using live ammunition against protesters and news emerged that a second person had died in the unrest.
The spontaneous protests took many forms and came as riot police since the August 9 disputed election have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades to disperse protesters in the capital and other cities.
In an interview with RFE/RL during a visit to Prague, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that "we’ve watched the violence and the aftermath, peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated."
Pompeo said that the United States had not yet settled on the appropriate response, but would work with Washington's European partners to determine what action to take.
EU foreign ministers are expected to meet on August 14 to discuss imposing sanctions on Belarus, which were previously lifted in 2016.
In several parts of Minsk on August 12, groups of hundreds of people formed human chains to protest as people in cars honked horns and slowed to a crawl to block police vehicles. Similar protests were held in at least five other cities, according to the Belarusian rights NGO Vyasna (Spring).
More than 130 doctors took part in an action against violence in Minsk, gathering in white coats on Dzerzhinsky Avenue near the medical university with flowers and posters. According to the doctors, they came out to show that "we are all together."
On Dzerzhinsky Avenue, people stood on balconies, clapping in an expression of support for protesters. A group of riot police arrived and fired rubber bullets.
In Minsk and other towns, women dressed in white joined hands to form a human chain to protest the postelection crackdown.
The latest protests came as authorities said more than 6,000 people had been detained and hundreds injured in protests since the August 9 vote, which the election commission said Lukashenka won with 80 percent of the vote while the official tally for his main rival, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was less than 10 percent.
Tsikhanouskaya has left the country and is now in Lithuania.
Hundreds of relatives of detained people gathered in front of the central detention center in Minsk on August 12, trying to get information about their loved ones.
Human rights activists say detention centers, police stations, and jails across the country are overcrowded.
Earlier on August 12, the Belarusian Interior Ministry said that a man was wounded in the western city of Brest overnight after law enforcement opened fire at a group of people who, police said, attacked them with iron bars.
Belarus Votes For President Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
It was the first such admittance by the authorities that live ammunition had been used against protesters.
The Investigative Committee also admitted a 25-year-old man detained at a street protest in Homel died after being transferred to a prison and then a hospital, making him the second person killed in the unrest.
The victim's mother told RFE/RL that her son had not participated in protests and was going to see his girlfriend when he was rounded up by police. She said her son had heart problems and believed he had been beaten.
Meanwhile, an RFE/RL journalist was beaten and detained after being stopped with his wife by police in Minsk as they were driving. Vitaly Tsyhankov was pulled from the car by police, beaten, and thrown to the ground, before being detained, his wife said. She was also detained.
The assault on the RFE/RL journalist came as the Belarusian Association of Journalists on August 12 called on authorities to stop targeted violence against media representatives.
The journalist association said security forces had deliberately used violence against the media, intentionally damaged their equipment, and detained at least 12 journalists covering the unrest.
Belarusian Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich condemned the police violence against protesters, telling RFE/RL that "the authorities have declared war on their people" and Lukashenka should step down to prevent a bloody civil war.
"Leave before it's too late, before you have plunged the people into a terrible abyss, into the abyss of civil war," the 72-year-old author said in her first remarks since the election. "Nobody wants blood. Only you want power. And it's your desire for power that requires blood."
With reporting by Current Time and RFE/RL's Belarus Service


rferl--2020-08-13--France's Macron Holds Talks With Russian, Iranian Leaders Over Lebanon, Belarus

French President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss postelection violence in Belarus and the situation in Lebanon following a devastating blast in Beirut .
Macron on August 12 also spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart , Hassan Rohani , urging Tehran to avoid interfering in Lebanon or escalating tensions .
Iran wields influence in Lebanon through the militant Shi'ite Hizballah group , whose political wing was a major bloc in the outgoing Lebanese government and has an alliance with President Michel Aoun , a Maronite Christian .
Lebanon 's government under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following days of demonstrations in the wake of an explosion at the Beirut port on August 4 that devastated entire neighborhoods of the city and left 171 people dead .
In his talks with Rohani , Macron emphasized the `` necessity for all the powers concerned ... to avoid any outside interference and to support the putting in place of a government which can manage the emergency , '' the Elysee said .
The blast has been blamed on a large stock of ammonium nitrate allowed to sit for years at the port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example of the political elite 's negligence and corruption .
Analysts say the political fallout from the blast may put pressure on Hizballah , the country ’ s strongest faction with a militant wing considered more powerful than the Lebanese Army .
Macron visited Beirut in the wake of the blast and offered broad support for the former French protectorate , organizing an international donor conference that raised some $ 295 million in pledges to help Beirut .
In his talks with Putin , Macron urged Russia to cooperate with the international community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested that Russia should support Lebanon via collective efforts at the UN Security Council .
Putin and Macron also discussed Belarus , where protesters have faced a harsh crackdown following the August 9 presidential vote that the opposition says was rigged to grant strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth-straight term .
Macron told Putin he was `` very worried about the situation in Belarus and the violence that citizens have faced during the elections , '' the Elysee said in a statement .
`` He emphasized the need to find again the path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP , AP , dpa , and Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss postelection violence in Belarus and the situation in Lebanon following a devastating blast in Beirut.
Macron on August 12 also spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rohani, urging Tehran to avoid interfering in Lebanon or escalating tensions.
Iran wields influence in Lebanon through the militant Shi'ite Hizballah group, whose political wing was a major bloc in the outgoing Lebanese government and has an alliance with President Michel Aoun, a Maronite Christian.
Lebanon's government under Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned this week following days of demonstrations in the wake of an explosion at the Beirut port on August 4 that devastated entire neighborhoods of the city and left 171 people dead.
In his talks with Rohani, Macron emphasized the "necessity for all the powers concerned...to avoid any outside interference and to support the putting in place of a government which can manage the emergency," the Elysee said.
The blast has been blamed on a large stock of ammonium nitrate allowed to sit for years at the port in what many in Lebanon consider another example of the political elite's negligence and corruption.
Analysts say the political fallout from the blast may put pressure on Hizballah, the country’s strongest faction with a militant wing considered more powerful than the Lebanese Army.
Macron visited Beirut in the wake of the blast and offered broad support for the former French protectorate, organizing an international donor conference that raised some $295 million in pledges to help Beirut.
In his talks with Putin, Macron urged Russia to cooperate with the international community in restoring stability to Lebanon.
Macron suggested that Russia should support Lebanon via collective efforts at the UN Security Council.
Putin and Macron also discussed Belarus, where protesters have faced a harsh crackdown following the August 9 presidential vote that the opposition says was rigged to grant strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth-straight term.
Macron told Putin he was "very worried about the situation in Belarus and the violence that citizens have faced during the elections," the Elysee said in a statement. "He emphasized the need to find again the path of dialogue."
With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters


rferl--2020-08-12--Women In Minsk, Elsewhere In Belarus Protest Postelection Crackdown

Women in Minsk and elsewhere across Belarus on August 12 wore white and carried flowers as they formed human chains to protest against the massive security crackdown since the country ’ s presidential election .
Alyaksandr Lukashenka , in power since 1994 , won a sixth term in the country ’ s presidential election on August 9 amid opposition allegations the vote was rigged .
Lukashenka ’ s main competitor , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , has left Belarus and is now in neighboring Lithuania .
No vote under Lukashenka has been deemed free or fair by the West .
Thousands poured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on August 9 and a state-sponsored exit poll showed Lukashenka winning in a landslide over Tsikhanouskaya whose campaign gained momentum as the vote neared .
She attracted huge crowds at rallies across the country .
The West , including Washington , has condemned the election and the crackdown that has followed .
The European Union has said it is considering placing fresh sanctions on Belarus .
In the Belarusian capital , some 250 joined hands outside a market .
“ Stop beating us .
We just want a fair count of the votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other peaceful protesters .
Violence is only being carried out by one side , ” the participants said .
When police arrived to disperse the gathering , the women lay their flowers down and walked off with their hands over their heads .
The independent Belarusian news site Tut.by said similar protests were held elsewhere on August 12 in Belarus .
Fifteen women were briefly detained at the demonstration in Vitebsk , while four women were detained at a similar protest in Mahileu .

Women in Minsk and elsewhere across Belarus on August 12 wore white and carried flowers as they formed human chains to protest against the massive security crackdown since the country’s presidential election.
Alyaksandr Lukashenka, in power since 1994, won a sixth term in the country’s presidential election on August 9 amid opposition allegations the vote was rigged. Lukashenka’s main competitor, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has left Belarus and is now in neighboring Lithuania.
No vote under Lukashenka has been deemed free or fair by the West.
Thousands poured into the streets soon after polls closed on August 9 and a state-sponsored exit poll showed Lukashenka winning in a landslide over Tsikhanouskaya whose campaign gained momentum as the vote neared. She attracted huge crowds at rallies across the country.
The West, including Washington, has condemned the election and the crackdown that has followed. The European Union has said it is considering placing fresh sanctions on Belarus.
Belarus Votes For President Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
In the Belarusian capital, some 250 joined hands outside a market.
“Stop beating us. We just want a fair count of the votes. We came here unarmed just like the other peaceful protesters. Violence is only being carried out by one side,” the participants said.
When police arrived to disperse the gathering, the women lay their flowers down and walked off with their hands over their heads.
The independent Belarusian news site Tut.by said similar protests were held elsewhere on August 12 in Belarus.
Fifteen women were briefly detained at the demonstration in Vitebsk, while four women were detained at a similar protest in Mahilyou.


rferl--2020-08-13--U.S. Releases Cybersecurity Advisory On New 'Drovorub' Russian Malware

The U.S. National Security Agency ( NSA ) and FBI released an advisory on cybersecurity on August 13 warning about previously undisclosed Russian malware .
The malware is a set of hacking tools named “ Drovorub , ” the agencies said in a news release .
It said a unit within Russia ’ s GRU military intelligence agency -- the 85th Main Special Service Center ( GTsSS ) , military unit 26165 -- was deploying the malware as part of its cyberespionage operations .
The GTsSS , the agencies said , is associated with the hackers who broke into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up the 2016 presidential election .
That group , known as APT28 or “ Fancy Bear , ” and other Russian hacking groups have been blamed in recent years by multiple Western governments , think tanks , and corporations for carrying out numerous cyberattacks .
The cybersecurity advisory published on August 13 is the latest statement from the U.S. government aimed at publicizing Russian hacking operations ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election .
The 45-page advisory is an “ extensive , technical analysis on specific threats , ” NSA Cybersecurity Director Anne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` By deconstructing this capability and providing attribution , analysis , and mitigations , we hope to empower our customers , partners , and allies to take action , ” Neuberger said .
The Drovorub hacking tool is designed to break into computers based on the Linux operating system , which is commonly used to run web-based computer servers .
Among the actions that Drovorub enables are file download and upload capabilities , the execution of arbitrary commands , and techniques to evade detection .
The advisory provides guidance to systems administrators and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the malware .
It includes detection strategies , mitigation techniques , configuration recommendations , and other tips to reduce the risk of compromise .

The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI released an advisory on cybersecurity on August 13 warning about previously undisclosed Russian malware.
The malware is a set of hacking tools named “Drovorub,” the agencies said in a news release.
It said a unit within Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency -- the 85th Main Special Service Center (GTsSS), military unit 26165 -- was deploying the malware as part of its cyberespionage operations.
The GTsSS, the agencies said, is associated with the hackers who broke into the Democratic National Committee in the months leading up the 2016 presidential election.
That group, known as APT28 or “Fancy Bear,” and other Russian hacking groups have been blamed in recent years by multiple Western governments, think tanks, and corporations for carrying out numerous cyberattacks.
The cybersecurity advisory published on August 13 is the latest statement from the U.S. government aimed at publicizing Russian hacking operations ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
The 45-page advisory is an “extensive, technical analysis on specific threats,” NSA Cybersecurity Director Anne Neuberger said in the news release.
"By deconstructing this capability and providing attribution, analysis, and mitigations, we hope to empower our customers, partners, and allies to take action,” Neuberger said.
The Drovorub hacking tool is designed to break into computers based on the Linux operating system, which is commonly used to run web-based computer servers.
Among the actions that Drovorub enables are file download and upload capabilities, the execution of arbitrary commands, and techniques to evade detection.
The advisory provides guidance to systems administrators and network security specialists so they can defend against the malware. It includes detection strategies, mitigation techniques, configuration recommendations, and other tips to reduce the risk of compromise.


rferl--2020-08-13--Azerbaijan Says Russia Has Provided Military Goods To Armenia Since Deadly Border Clashes

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has expressed concern that Russia has provided military supplies to Armenia in the weeks following deadly clashes along the border between the two South Caucasus countries in July .
According to a statement issued by Aliyev ’ s press service on August 13 , Aliyev called Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day to seek “ clarification of this issue.
” Baku claimed that “ more than 400 tons ” of military goods have been provided by Russia to Armenia “ via the airspace of Kazakhstan , Turkmenistan , and Iran ” since the clashes erupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 Azerbaijani servicemen , including a general , were killed during several days of fighting that erupted along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on July 12 and involved the use of heavy artillery and drones .
The Kremlin also issued a statement on the August 12 telephone conversation between Putin and Aliyev , but it did not mention the discussion of the issue of military supplies .
“ The presidents discussed regional issues within the context of the tension along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in July .
The Russian side stressed the inadmissibility of any action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation , ” the Kremlin said in its statement .
Armenian officials have not commented on the Azerbaijani president ’ s statement .
In the wake of the clashes , the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , in which Russia acts as a co-chair along with the United States and France , urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to restart peace talks aimed at resolving the decades-long conflict involving ethnic Armenian separatists over Azerbaijan ’ s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Armenia hosts a Russian military base and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Treaty Organization , which entitles it to receive discounted armaments from Russia .
It is believed that since 2011 Azerbaijan has purchased up to $ 4 billion worth of arms from Russia .
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and a delegation of high-ranking military officials arrived in Baku on August 12 to observe the final part of a joint live-fire military exercise involving Turkish and Azerbaijani land and air forces .

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has expressed concern that Russia has provided military supplies to Armenia in the weeks following deadly clashes along the border between the two South Caucasus countries in July.
According to a statement issued by Aliyev’s press service on August 13, Aliyev called Russian President Vladimir Putin the previous day to seek “clarification of this issue.”
Baku claimed that “more than 400 tons” of military goods have been provided by Russia to Armenia “via the airspace of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran” since the clashes erupted.
At least five Armenian servicemen and 12 Azerbaijani servicemen, including a general, were killed during several days of fighting that erupted along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on July 12 and involved the use of heavy artillery and drones.
The Kremlin also issued a statement on the August 12 telephone conversation between Putin and Aliyev, but it did not mention the discussion of the issue of military supplies.
“The presidents discussed regional issues within the context of the tension along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border in July. The Russian side stressed the inadmissibility of any action that would lead to the escalation of the situation,” the Kremlin said in its statement.
Armenian officials have not commented on the Azerbaijani president’s statement.
In the wake of the clashes, the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, in which Russia acts as a co-chair along with the United States and France, urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to restart peace talks aimed at resolving the decades-long conflict involving ethnic Armenian separatists over Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia hosts a Russian military base and is a member of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, which entitles it to receive discounted armaments from Russia.
It is believed that since 2011 Azerbaijan has purchased up to $4 billion worth of arms from Russia.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and a delegation of high-ranking military officials arrived in Baku on August 12 to observe the final part of a joint live-fire military exercise involving Turkish and Azerbaijani land and air forces.


rferl--2020-08-13--Belarus Protests Continue As Authorities Release Some Jailed In Crackdown

MINSK -- Tens of thousands of Belarusians engaged in a fifth day of peaceful protests on August 13 against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka ’ s disputed reelection and a harsh crackdown that has drawn international outrage .
In an apparent attempt to calm tensions , authorities late in the evening released more than 1,000 people from detention and the interior minister issued a rare apology for the use of excessive force against some bystanders .
`` I take responsibility and apologize for injuries of random people at the protests who got it in the neck , '' said Minister of Internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters had engaged in violence .
Another Lukashenka ally , the head of a national state council Natalya Kochanova , said the president had ordered an urgent review of detentions .
`` We do n't fight , we do n't need war , '' she said .
`` By this evening more than a thousand people have been freed under an obligation of not taking part in unsanctioned events . ''
Riot police have used batons to ruthlessly and openly beat people on the streets , as well as fired live ammunition at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least two dead .
Some 6,000 people remain in detention , with numerous unconfirmed reports emerging that detainees have been beaten and abused while in police custody .
Meanwhile , international pressure on the Belarusian government to end the violence and defuse the crisis is mounting .
A group of United Nations human rights experts on August 13 issued a statement condemning the actions of police in Belarus .
“ We are outraged by the police violence towards peaceful protesters and journalists , ” the statement said .
“ The security forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protesters or allow them to exercise their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
” The UN statement urged the international community “ to strengthen pressure on the government of Belarus to stop violently attacking its own citizens who are exercising their fundamental rights.
” Ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on August 14 to discuss Belarus , the leaders of Estonia , Latvia , Lithuania , and Poland issued a joint statement offering to act as mediators “ for the sake of a peace settlement of the crisis in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of a forum that could produce “ a national dialogue ” in the wake of the disputed August 9 election .
Across Belarus , tens of thousands joined protests of various stripes , including workers from some state-run industries staging strikes .
Early on August 13 , groups of women in Minsk formed a `` chain of solidarity '' -- standing next to each other and raising their hands with victory signs and flowers .
Drivers passing those engaged in the nonviolent protest action honked car horns in support .
Elsewhere , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
1 held flowers to express solidarity with protesters -- an act they also had carried out the previous day .
Dozens of musicians from the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society also stood outside a concert hall in Minsk singing `` O Mighty God ! ''
while holding up letters to spell out `` My voice was stolen.
” Belarusian tennis star Vera Lapko wrote on Instagram on August 12 that she has been unable to concentrate on preparations for the U.S. Open because of the violent crackdown by authorities in her country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Olympic medalist , condemned the violent dispersal of protesters in a statement on Facebook .
More than 700 CEOs and investors of IT companies in Belarus signed a joint letter to demand an end to the crackdown and for a new `` open and fair '' presidential election .
The Belarusian Association of Journalists said that 23 journalists remain in police custody .
In all , the association reported , 68 journalists were detained following the election .
Russian conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov says he was protesting the brutal police crackdown by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Lukashenka several years ago for his contribution to the arts -- the Order of Francysk Skaryna .
Since August 11 , several well-known news anchors and reporters for Belarusian state television have announced they are quitting their jobs in solidarity with the protesters .
The move has been welcomed by retired veteran Belarusian television anchor Zinaida Bandarenka , who had quit her state TV job in the early 2000s to protest Lukashenka 's authoritarian rule .
`` You carried out a civil action .
Today , Belarusians are different .
People understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bandarenka said .
`` It is impossible to serve this government anymore .
What is happening now is a move by Belarus , by our society , which is tired and can no longer stand lies and arrogance . ''
In a significant development , workers at some state-run industrial facilities joined protests and called for a nationwide general strike in protest against the Central Election Commission 's official election tally .
Some police and members of Belarus 's OMON security force said on social media that they have thrown away or burned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disgust about the violent dispersal of peaceful demonstrations .
The opposition NEXTA Life Telegram channel shared about a dozen such statements by angry police officers .
Meanwhile , a police officer in the northern city of Navapolatsak who 'd announced his resignation on August 11 and denounced police violence has appeared in court to face charges of organizing an unsanctioned protest .
The court in Navapolatsak acquitted police Captain Yahor Emyalyanau on August 13 .
Meduza reports that Homel police officer Ivan Kolas -- who went missing after calling on other police to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled Belarus .
More than 1,000 scientists and researchers signed an open letter calling for an end to the violence against protesters and the release of all demonstrators and “ political detainees.
” The letter was posted on the Onliner.by news website .
Other media reports from Belarus on August 13 said that inmates at Correctional Colony No .
2 in the eastern city of Babruysk started a riot overnight to protest the official vote count and show solidarity with demonstrators across the country .
Journalists positioned hundreds of meters from the prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chanting `` Go away ! ''
along with the sound of guard dogs barking and banging metal .
There was no official statement from prison officials about what happened inside the facility .
But local residents said Interior Ministry troops were brought into the penitentiary on August 13 .
Meanwhile , some 100 protesters were released from Minsk 's central detention center overnight .
The Interior Ministry said on August 13 that `` disorder across the country had lost intensity , but the level of aggression towards law enforcement remains high . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers have been injured , including 28 who 've been hospitalized , since the protests began .

MINSK -- Tens of thousands of Belarusians engaged in a fifth day of peaceful protests on August 13 against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s disputed reelection and a harsh crackdown that has drawn international outrage.
In an apparent attempt to calm tensions, authorities late in the evening released more than 1,000 people from detention and the interior minister issued a rare apology for the use of excessive force against some bystanders.
"I take responsibility and apologize for injuries of random people at the protests who got it in the neck," Interior Minister Yury Karayeu said, adding that some protesters had engaged in violence.
Another Lukashenka ally, the head of a national state council, Natalya Kochanova, said the president had ordered an urgent review of detentions.
"We don't fight, we don't need war," she said. "By this evening more than a thousand people have been freed under an obligation of not taking part in unsanctioned events."
Riot police have used batons to ruthlessly and openly beat people on the streets, as well as fired live ammunition at some protesters, leaving hundreds injured and at least two dead.
Some 6,000 people remain in detention, with numerous unconfirmed reports emerging that detainees have been beaten and abused while in police custody.
Meanwhile, international pressure on the Belarusian government to end the violence and defuse the crisis is mounting. A group of United Nations human rights experts on August 13 issued a statement condemning the actions of police in Belarus.
“We are outraged by the police violence towards peaceful protesters and journalists,” the statement said. “The security forces do not seem to seek dialogue with the protesters or allow them to exercise their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.”
The UN statement urged the international community “to strengthen pressure on the government of Belarus to stop violently attacking its own citizens who are exercising their fundamental rights.”
Ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on August 14 to discuss Belarus, the leaders of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland issued a joint statement offering to act as mediators “for the sake of a peace settlement of the crisis in Belarus.”
The statement called for the creation of a forum that could produce “a national dialogue” in the wake of the disputed August 9 election.
Across Belarus, tens of thousands joined protests of various stripes, including workers from some state-run industries staging strikes.
Early on August 13, groups of women in Minsk formed a "chain of solidarity" -- standing next to each other and raising their hands with victory signs and flowers.
Drivers passing those engaged in the nonviolent protest action honked car horns in support.
Elsewhere, medical workers at Minsk's Central Hospital No. 1 held flowers to express solidarity with protesters -- an act they also had carried out the previous day.
Dozens of musicians from the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society also stood outside a concert hall in Minsk singing "O Mighty God!" while holding up letters to spell out "My voice was stolen.”
Belarusian tennis star Vera Lapko wrote on Instagram on August 12 that she has been unable to concentrate on preparations for the U.S. Open because of the violent crackdown by authorities in her country.
Belarusian gymnast Hanna Hlazkova, an Olympic medalist, condemned the violent dispersal of protesters in a statement on Facebook.
More than 700 CEOs and investors of IT companies in Belarus signed a joint letter to demand an end to the crackdown and for a new "open and fair" presidential election.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists said that 23 journalists remain in police custody. In all, the association reported, 68 journalists were detained following the election.
Russian conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov says he was protesting the brutal police crackdown by returning a Belarusian award he had received from Lukashenka several years ago for his contribution to the arts -- the Order of Francysk Skaryna.
Since August 11, several well-known news anchors and reporters for Belarusian state television have announced they are quitting their jobs in solidarity with the protesters.
Postelection Crackdown In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
They include anchors Volha Bahatyrevich, Uladzimer Burko, Vera Karetnikava, Yauhen Perlin, Syarhey Kazlovich, Tatsyana Barodkina, and Andrey Makayonak.
The move has been welcomed by retired veteran Belarusian television anchor Zinaida Bandarenka, who had quit her state TV job in the early 2000s to protest Lukashenka's authoritarian rule.
"You carried out a civil action. Today, Belarusians are different. People understand you and they support you," Bandarenka said. "It is impossible to serve this government anymore. What is happening now is a move by Belarus, by our society, which is tired and can no longer stand lies and arrogance."
In a significant development, workers at some state-run industrial facilities joined protests and called for a nationwide general strike in protest against the Central Election Commission's official election tally.
Some police and members of Belarus's OMON security force said on social media that they have thrown away or burned their uniforms to show their shame and disgust about the violent dispersal of peaceful demonstrations.
The opposition NEXTA Life Telegram channel shared about a dozen such statements by angry police officers.
Meanwhile, a police officer in the northern city of Navapolatsak who'd announced his resignation on August 11 and denounced police violence has appeared in court to face charges of organizing an unsanctioned protest.
The court in Navapolatsak acquitted police Captain Yahor Emyalyanau on August 13.
Meduza reports that Homel police officer Ivan Kolas -- who went missing after calling on other police to refrain from beating unarmed protesters -- has fled Belarus.
More than 1,000 scientists and researchers signed an open letter calling for an end to the violence against protesters and the release of all demonstrators and “political detainees.” The letter was posted on the Onliner.by news website.
Other media reports from Belarus on August 13 said that inmates at Correctional Colony No. 2 in the eastern city of Babruysk started a riot overnight to protest the official vote count and show solidarity with demonstrators across the country.
Journalists positioned hundreds of meters from the prison reported that they could hear inmates inside chanting "Go away!" along with the sound of guard dogs barking and banging metal.
There was no official statement from prison officials about what happened inside the facility.
But local residents said Interior Ministry troops were brought into the penitentiary on August 13.
Meanwhile, some 100 protesters were released from Minsk's central detention center overnight.
The Interior Ministry said on August 13 that "disorder across the country had lost intensity, but the level of aggression towards law enforcement remains high."
The ministry said a total of 103 police officers have been injured, including 28 who've been hospitalized, since the protests began.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-08-13--Nobel Laureate Alexievich Says Lukashenka Has 'Declared War' On Belarusian People


rferl--2020-08-14--Ex-Kyrgyz President's Prison Sentence Upheld

BISHKEK -- The Bishkek City Court has upheld a lower court 's ruling sentencing former President Almazbek Atambaev to 11 years and two months in prison for the illegal release of notorious crime boss Aziz Batukaev in 2013 .
Atambaev 's lawyer , Sergei Slesarev , told reporters that the defense team will decide on its further steps after it obtains a copy of the court 's ruling .
The Birinchi Mai district court in Bishkek sentenced Atambaev in June after finding him guilty of corruption .
Aziz Batukaev , who was unexpectedly released from prison in 2013 and immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of several notorious crimes -- including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an Interior Ministry official .
Atambaev was arrested in early August last year after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters .
The move to detain Atambaev was sparked by his refusal to obey three summons to appear at the Interior Ministry for questioning involving Batukaev 's release .
The standoff between security forces and his supporters resulted in the death of a security officer and more than 170 injuries -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers .
The violence underscored a power struggle between Atambaev and his handpicked successor , Sooronbai Jeenbekov , which has raised fears of instability in the Central Asian country .
The former president is currently also on trial in another case linked to last year 's violence , in which he and 13 others are charged with murder , attempted murder , threatening or assaulting state representatives , hostage taking , and the forcible seizure of power .
Kyrgyzstan saw a smooth and peaceful transfer of power in 2017 from Atambaev , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was welcomed by the international community after presidential changes -- in 2005 and 2010 -- came after revolts .

BISHKEK -- The Bishkek City Court has upheld a lower court's ruling sentencing former President Almazbek Atambaev to 11 years and two months in prison for the illegal release of notorious crime boss Aziz Batukaev in 2013.
Atambaev's lawyer, Sergei Slesarev, told reporters that the defense team will decide on its further steps after it obtains a copy of the court's ruling.
The Birinchi Mai district court in Bishkek sentenced Atambaev in June after finding him guilty of corruption.
Atambaev has denied any wrongdoing.
Aziz Batukaev, who was unexpectedly released from prison in 2013 and immediately left the country for Russia, was convicted of several notorious crimes -- including the murders of a Kyrgyz lawmaker and an Interior Ministry official.
Atambaev was arrested in early August last year after he surrendered to police following a deadly two-day standoff between security forces and his supporters.
The move to detain Atambaev was sparked by his refusal to obey three summons to appear at the Interior Ministry for questioning involving Batukaev's release.
The standoff between security forces and his supporters resulted in the death of a security officer and more than 170 injuries -- 79 of them sustained by law enforcement officers.
The violence underscored a power struggle between Atambaev and his handpicked successor, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, which has raised fears of instability in the Central Asian country.
The former president is currently also on trial in another case linked to last year's violence, in which he and 13 others are charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting state representatives, hostage taking, and the forcible seizure of power.
Kyrgyzstan saw a smooth and peaceful transfer of power in 2017 from Atambaev, a northerner, to southerner Jeenbekov, which was welcomed by the international community after presidential changes -- in 2005 and 2010 -- came after revolts.


rferl--2020-08-14--Belarusians Join Rising Wave Of Strikes Amid Postelection Protests

MINSK -- Workers at factories and other businesses across Belarus are joining protests in growing numbers to denounce the disputed presidential election that handed Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term and sparked nationwide protests that have been brutally put down by authorities .
In some of his first remarks on the growing work stoppage , Lukashenka said if the strikes continued , the workers `` will not be able to feed '' their families .
His remarks televised on August 14 came amid reports that Prime Minister Raman Halouchanka had met face-to-face with striking workers at two major industrial plants in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work stoppages , thousands of workers at the Hrodna Azot chemical plant in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna walked off the job and met plant administrators and city authorities .
The workers held up posters , saying `` We demand Lukashenka 's resignation , '' `` We did not elect him , '' and `` Our votes have been stolen . ''
Hrodna Mayor Mechyslau Hoy , and the plant 's director , Ihar Babyr , were at the meeting , where independent labor-union representatives and workers condemned the ongoing crackdown on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in power since 1994 , was declared the winner of the August 9 poll with some 80 percent of the vote .
Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , who drew crowds in the thousands at campaign rallies across the country and who has since left Belarus for Lithuania since the vote , finished a distant second with just under 10 percent .
The United States and European Union criticized the vote and condemned the postelection crackdown , as have NGOs like Amnesty International .
On August 13 , workers of the BelAZ plant in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trucks and other construction vehicles and equipment , walked off the job , demanding new presidential election .
Managers of BelAZ , one of the largest industrial facilities in the former Soviet Union , met with the workers in the evening on August 13 .
No members of the media were allowed to attend that gathering .
One of the plant 's employees , a technician who requested his name not be mentioned , told RFE/RL that the workers had put forward four demands : the resignation of Lukashenka and his government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters , the release of all political prisoners and thousands of protesters detained during the last several days , and the holding a new presidential election with all candidates who had been barred from the recent poll .
According to the employee , the workers warned that they will go on strike if their demands are not handed over to the leadership of the plant by 3 p.m. on August 17 .
After the BelAZ workers ' protest , Zhodzina city Mayor Dzmitry Zablotski announced a meeting with the workers and other city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zhodzina in the evening that same day , which was attended by thousands of people .
The workers and other residents demanded Zablotski 's resignation after he admitted in front of the people that he was aware of the mass arrests of protesters in the city .
People started chanting `` Go away ! ''
and Zablotski left the podium .
A doctor from a local hospital said at the meeting that every day `` people with terrible injuries are being brought to us , '' adding that she had `` never seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People at the meeting carried out an impromptu poll with a majority raising their hand to indicate they had voted for Tsikhanouskaya .
Media reports say thousands of workers at more than 20 other industrial facilities and organizations across Belarus are on strike or are about to .
The information has not been officially confirmed , while at some facilities workers said vital part of plants and factories continue to operate .
Meanwhile , Lukashenka , in a televised report on August 14 , said that strikes at plants and factories could negatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complexes .
`` If you want , go on strike , if you want to work , work ...
Yes , you can walk on the street [ to join the protesters ] .
There are thousands of them .
You can join , walk around with them .
But even if they give you money , it will last only for two days…and then what ?
” Lukashenka said in a statement .
The 65-year-old authoritarian leader , who is facing the greatest challenge to his 26-year rule , stressed that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flee , `` as our informed ones insist . ''
His comments came as Halouchanka on August 14 visited the Minsk Tractor Plant and MAZ truck-manufacturing plant in the Belarusian capital , to talk to the striking workers .
No further details were immediately available on the outcome of those discussions .
With reporting by Nasha Niva and Tut.by

MINSK -- Several thousand protesters gathered in front of the main government building in the Belarusian capital to demand a recount of the country’s disputed August 9 election, which handed strongman President Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term and sparked nationwide protests that have been brutally put down by security forces.
The spontaneous August 14 march was led by workers from the Minsk Tractor Works, one of numerous plants around the country where workers have walked off the job. Drivers in passing cars honked their horns in support, and there were few signs of police or security forces.
The demonstration was later joined by railway workers and others. Unverified reports put the number of protesters at as high as 20,000.
Demonstrators demanded that the August 9 election be invalidated, that a new election be held under a new Central Election Commission, and that all “political prisoners” currently in custody be released.
Security forces told demonstrators that “if the protest is peaceful, no force will be used” and warned them not to allow any “provocations.”
After about four hours, the demonstrators dispersed, chanting “Every day!” to indicate their intention to continue pressing their demands.
The united campaign headquarters of the opposition has called for “peaceful demonstrations” in cities across the country on August 15 and 16. During a televised meeting with government officials, Lukashenka urged Belarusians not to attend protests, claiming that the opposition wanted “to use you and your children as cannon fodder.”
He added the accusation that the protests were being organized by foreigners from Poland, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and Russia.
In remarks on the growing work stoppages earlier in the day, Lukashenka said if the strikes continued, the workers "will not be able to feed" their families.
His remarks televised on August 14 came amid reports that Prime Minister Raman Halouchanka had met face-to-face with striking workers at two major industrial plants in Minsk.
In one of the latest work stoppages, thousands of workers at the Hrodna Azot chemical plant in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna walked off the job and met plant administrators and city authorities.
The workers held up posters, saying "We demand Lukashenka's resignation," "We did not elect him," and "Our votes have been stolen."
WATCH: Strikes Add Momentum To Wave Of Election Protests In Belarus
Hrodna Mayor Mechyslau Hoy, and the plant's director, Ihar Babyr, were at the meeting, where independent labor-union representatives and workers condemned the ongoing crackdown on protesters across the country.
Lukashenka, in power since 1994, was declared the winner of the August 9 poll with some 80 percent of the vote. Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who drew crowds in the thousands at campaign rallies across the country and who has since left Belarus for Lithuania since the vote, finished a distant second with just under 10 percent.
The United States and European Union criticized the vote and condemned the postelection crackdown, as have NGOs like Amnesty International.
On August 13, workers of the BelAZ plant in the city of Zhodzina near Minsk, which manufactures trucks and other construction vehicles and equipment, walked off the job, demanding new presidential election.
Managers of BelAZ, one of the largest industrial facilities in the former Soviet Union, met with the workers in the evening on August 13. No members of the media were allowed to attend that gathering.
One of the plant's employees, a technician who requested his name not be mentioned, told RFE/RL that the workers had put forward four demands: the resignation of Lukashenka and his government, an immediate halt to police violence against protesters, the release of all political prisoners and thousands of protesters detained during the last several days, and the holding a new presidential election with all candidates who had been barred from the recent poll.
According to the employee, the workers warned that they will go on strike if their demands are not handed over to the leadership of the plant by 3 p.m. on August 17.
After the BelAZ workers' protest, Zhodzina city Mayor Dzmitry Zablotski announced a meeting with the workers and other city residents near a shopping mall in downtown Zhodzina in the evening that same day, which was attended by thousands of people.
The workers and other residents demanded Zablotski's resignation after he admitted in front of the people that he was aware of the mass arrests of protesters in the city.
People started chanting "Go away!" and Zablotski left the podium.
A doctor from a local hospital said at the meeting that every day "people with terrible injuries are being brought to us," adding that she had "never seen such injuries in my life."
People at the meeting carried out an impromptu poll with a majority raising their hand to indicate they had voted for Tsikhanouskaya.
Media reports say thousands of workers at more than 20 other industrial facilities and organizations across Belarus are on strike or are about to.
The information has not been officially confirmed, while at some facilities workers said vital part of plants and factories continue to operate.
Meanwhile, Lukashenka, in a televised report on August 14, said that strikes at plants and factories could negatively affect the future of the affected industrial complexes.
"If you want, go on strike, if you want to work, work...Yes, you can walk on the street [to join the protesters]. There are thousands of them. You can join, walk around with them. But even if they give you money, it will last only for two days…and then what?” Lukashenka said in a statement.
The 65-year-old authoritarian leader, who is facing the greatest challenge to his 26-year rule, stressed that he is in the country and did not flee, "as our informed ones insist."
His comments came as Halouchanka on August 14 visited the Minsk Tractor Works and MAZ truck-manufacturing plant in the Belarusian capital, to talk to the striking workers.
No further details were immediately available on the outcome of those discussions.
With reporting by Nasha Niva and Tut.by