rferl--2020-12-22--Parties To Iran Nuclear Deal Say They're Preparing For Possible U.S. Return To Accord

Remaining parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal said on December 21 that they are preparing for a possible return of the United States to the accord .
President-elect Joe Biden , who takes office on January 20 , has said he will try to rejoin the deal , which was struck when he was vice president .
In a joint statement following a virtual foreign ministers ’ meeting on the ailing nuclear deal , Germany , France , and the U.K. , along with accord signatories China , Russia , and Iran , said they were ready to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nuclear accord .
“ Ministers acknowledged the prospect of a return of the U.S. to the JCPOA and underlined their readiness to positively address this in a joint effort , ” they said in a statement , referring to the formal name of the accord , the Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action .
`` Ministers reiterated their deep regret towards the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement , '' they added .
The three European powers , known as the E3 , have struggled to keep the JCPOA on life support since President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and imposed punishing sanctions on Iran under a so-called “ maximum pressure ” campaign .
In response , Iran has gradually breached parts of the agreement restricting the amount of enriched uranium it can stockpile and the purity to which the uranium is enriched .
Iran says it can come back into compliance with the deal once the United States and the E3 fulfill their end of the agreement by providing Tehran economic relief promised under the accord .
Biden has suggested he will reenter the JCPOA if Iran complies with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as Iran ’ s ballistic missiles and support for regional proxies , to “ follow-on ” agreements .
Iran says its missile program and regional policies are off the table and that Washington and the E3 must first comply with the nuclear agreement .
“ Renegotiation is out of question , ” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter after the ministers ’ meeting , reiterating that Iran will not agree to a new deal .
“ Iran will rapidly reverse remedial measures in response to U.S. unlawful withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US/E3 perform their duties .
The Iranian people MUST feel the effects of sanctions lifting , ” he said .
EU foreign ministers appear to be coalescing around the idea that the first priority should be to save what ’ s left of the nuclear accord , before adding more complicated and contentious issues .
“ We are standing at a crossroads today , '' German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters in Berlin , adding that the deal 's fate will be determined in the coming weeks and months .
“ To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there must be no more tactical maneuvers of the kind we have seen plenty of in recent times .
They would do nothing but further undermine the agreement , ” he added .
“ The opportunity that is now being offered -- this last window of opportunity -- must not be squandered , ” Maas said .
“ We made that very clear today to Iran in particular.
” Complicating the situation is the assassination in November of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh near Tehran .
Iran has blamed Israel and , indirectly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility that Iran or one of its regional proxies will retaliate .
In response to the killing , hard-liners in Iran ’ s parliament passed a bill calling for the further expansion to Iran 's nuclear program and an end to inspections of nuclear facilities by the UN watchdog , the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) .
Iran ’ s Foreign Ministry said it opposes the bill and President Hassan Rohani ’ s moderate government has suggested he will not sign it into law .
IAEA inspections are considered one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alive .
All sides are also running up against the timeline of June elections in Iran , in which Rohani will not be running because of term limits .
Analysts say a possible hard-liner victory in those elections would complicate saving the JCPOA , which is opposed by Rohani 's domestic critics .
With reporting by AFP , AP , and dpa


rferl--2020-12-22--Kosovo Heading For Fresh Elections After High Court Rules Parliament Vote For Government Was Illegal

Kosovo 's highest court has ruled that the parliamentary vote electing a new government in June was unconstitutional , sending the country into fresh nationwide elections .
The Constitutional Court of Kosovo ruled on December 21 that the election of the government of Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti was illegal because one member of parliament who voted for the government had previously served time in prison .
The vote of lawmaker Etem Arifi was one of 61 for Hoti ’ s government , which was elected by the minimum number in the 120-seat parliament .
The court ruled that the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the president of Kosovo to set a date for new elections , which must be held no later than 40 days from the day of the announcement .
The current government can continue serving until parliament elects a new one .
Acting President Vjosa Osmani will call on political parties on December 22 to discuss the date of fresh elections , Bekim Kupina , Osmani 's spokesperson , told RFE/RL .
The complaint before the court was brought by leftist-nationalist opposition party Vetevendosje ( Self-Determination ) , which claimed that Arifi ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been sentenced to prison for one year and three months on a fraud charge .
According to the constitution , a deputy ’ s mandate comes to an end when the deputy is convicted and sentenced to one or more years in prison by a final court decision .
Arifi was sentenced to prison in September 2019 .
The Central Election Commission claimed it was not informed of Arifi ’ s sentence before the general election in October last year , which Vetevendosje won .
In March , the government of Albin Kurti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down by a no-confidence motion raised by Hoti ’ s Democratic League of Kosovo ( LDK ) .
The approval in June of the new government led by Hoti , a 44-year-old economics professor and former finance minister , ended months of political turmoil .
With reporting by RFE/RL ’ s Balkan Service and Reuters

Acting Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani began consultations on December 22 with the political parties on setting the date for early elections after the Constitutional Court ruled that the parliamentary vote electing a new government in June was unconstitutional.
The consultations will continue on December 23. So far, the end of January or February 7 were proposed as possible dates for the election.
The Constitutional Court of Kosovo ruled on December 21 that the election of the government of Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti was illegal because one member of parliament who voted for the government had previously served time in prison.
The vote of lawmaker Etem Arifi was one of 61 for Hoti’s government, which was elected by the minimum number in the 120-seat parliament.
The court ruled that the government did not get enough votes and called on Osmani to set a date for new elections, which must be held no later than 40 days from the day of the announcement.
The current government can continue serving until parliament elects a new one.
The complaint before the court was brought by leftist-nationalist opposition party Vetevendosje (Self-Determination), which claimed that Arifi’s vote was unconstitutional because he had been sentenced to prison for one year and three months on a fraud charge.
According to the constitution, a deputy’s mandate comes to an end when the deputy is convicted and sentenced to one or more years in prison by a final court decision.
Arifi was sentenced to prison in September 2019.
The Central Election Commission claimed it was not informed of Arifi’s sentence before the general election in October last year, which Vetevendosje won.
In March, the government of Albin Kurti, leader of Vetevendosje, was brought down by a no-confidence motion raised by Hoti’s Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).
The approval in June of the new government led by Hoti, a 44-year-old economics professor and former finance minister, ended months of political turmoil.
Hoti said on December 22 that he will respect the court's decision.
"It is our obligation to follow the procedures for announcing elections within the constitutional deadline," Hoti told a news conference in Pristina.
With reporting by AP and Reuters


rferl--2020-12-23--Six Alleged Associates Of Late Russian Ultranationalist Charged With Murder

Six alleged associates of the notorious Russian antigay ultranationalist , Maksim Martsinkevich , whose death in custody in September sparked allegations of foul play , have been charged with the murders of several individuals from Central Asia .
A spokeswoman of the Investigative Committee , Svetlana Petrenko , said on December 23 that the six men , Andrei Kail , Aleksandr Lysenkov , Maksim Khotulev , Pavel Khrulyov-Myshkin , Aleksei Gudilin , and Semyon Tokmakov , had been apprehended in the cities of Moscow , Sochi , and Tyumen in a joint probe by the Interior Ministry and the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the six have been charged with being involved in the `` murders of two or more people motivated by ethnic hatred '' with regard to a series of murders of people from Central Asia in the mid-2000s .
`` One of those who took direct part in the murders was the former leader of the rightist radical groups -- Format 18 and Restrukt -- Maksim Martsinkevich , '' Petrenko said .
The 36-year-old Martsinkevich , also known by his nickname Tesak ( Machete ) , was found dead in a detention center in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials said Martsinkevich committed suicide , hinting that he may have been driven to that move by a confession in connection with ethnically charged killings in the mid-2000s , for which Martsinkevich faced a possible life sentence .
Martsinkevich had since said in prison that he had abandoned his neo-Nazi views .
In addition to his Format 18 activities , Martsinkevich founded a homophobic group called Occupy Pedophilia , whose aim was to `` cure '' homosexuals .
Russian authorities opened an investigation against him after several videos showing Martsinkevich and his followers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Internet in 2013 .
In December 2018 , a court in Moscow found Martsinkevich guilty of robbery and hooliganism and sentenced him to 10 years in prison .
Before that , Martsinkevich had been convicted three times on extremism charges .
Requests by Martsinkevich 's parents , who said their son was murdered while in custody , to launch a probe into his death have been rejected by Russian authorities .
With reporting by Interfax and TASS

Six alleged associates of the notorious Russian antigay ultranationalist, Maksim Martsinkevich, whose death in custody in September sparked allegations of foul play, have been charged with the murders of several individuals from Central Asia.
A spokeswoman of the Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko, said on December 23 that the six men, Andrei Kail, Aleksandr Lysenkov, Maksim Khotulev, Pavel Khrulyov-Myshkin, Aleksei Gudilin, and Semyon Tokmakov, had been apprehended in the cities of Moscow, Sochi, and Tyumen in a joint probe by the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service.
According to Petrenko, the six have been charged with being involved in the "murders of two or more people motivated by ethnic hatred" with regard to a series of murders of people from Central Asia in the mid-2000s.
"One of those who took direct part in the murders was the former leader of the rightist radical groups -- Format 18 and Restrukt -- Maksim Martsinkevich," Petrenko said.
The 36-year-old Martsinkevich, also known by his nickname Tesak (Machete), was found dead in a detention center in the city of Chelyabinsk in September.
Officials said Martsinkevich committed suicide, hinting that he may have been driven to that move by a confession in connection with ethnically charged killings in the mid-2000s, for which Martsinkevich faced a possible life sentence.
Martsinkevich had since said in prison that he had abandoned his neo-Nazi views.
In addition to his Format 18 activities, Martsinkevich founded a homophobic group called Occupy Pedophilia, whose aim was to "cure" homosexuals.
Russian authorities opened an investigation against him after several videos showing Martsinkevich and his followers humiliating and beating gays circulated on the Internet in 2013.
In December 2018, a court in Moscow found Martsinkevich guilty of robbery and hooliganism and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
Before that, Martsinkevich had been convicted three times on extremism charges.
Requests by Martsinkevich's parents, who said their son was murdered while in custody, to launch a probe into his death have been rejected by Russian authorities.
With reporting by Interfax and TASS


rferl--2020-12-23--Russia Sees Relations With U.S. Going 'From Bad To Worse'

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has accused the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden of `` Russophobia ” and says he expects relations with the United States to go `` from bad to worse . ''
`` It would be strange to expect good things from people , many of whom made their careers on Russophobia and throwing mud at my country , '' Ryabkov said on December 23 , less than a month ahead of Biden ’ s inauguration .
Relations between Moscow and Washington have deteriorated in recent years over issues including Russia 's seizure of Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its role in wars in eastern Ukraine and Libya , its election meddling in the United States and Europe , and a series of major cyberattacks blamed on the Russians .
Biden , who will be inaugurated on January 20 , 2021 , is expected to take a tougher stance toward the Kremlin on its human rights record and foreign policies compared with outgoing President Donald Trump , who has been criticized by some for being too soft on Russia .
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Biden for his election victory six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was ready for `` collaboration . ''
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on December 23 warned that Moscow was expecting `` nothing positive '' in ties with the United States .
Ryabkov struck a similar note in an interview with Russia ’ s news agency Interfax , saying the country should move to a `` total containment '' approach in relations with Washington and retain `` selective dialogue '' on subjects that are of interest to Moscow .
He said that Russia would not initiate any contacts with Biden 's transition staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` unilateral concessions.
” And if the United States continued approaching Russia as a `` strategic rival , '' then Moscow would `` treat them in a similar way , '' the deputy foreign minister added .
Referring to U.S. sanctions imposed this week on 45 Russian companies with alleged ties to the country ’ s military , Ryabkov said the outgoing administration was trying to `` slam the door loudly ” on Moscow , with the trend likely to remain when Biden moves into the White House .
`` We are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very typical for the past four years and so far there is no feeling that this trend has outlived its usefulness , '' Ryabkov said .
Speaking to reporters , Peskov said Russia had been “ consistently getting new sanctions .
So , there is nothing positive so far , unfortunately , '' in Russia-U.S. relations .
Separately , Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised a response to the new U.S. sanctions , and said that the United States had `` long been pursuing a hostile policy '' toward Russia .
The comments come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to publicly identify the perpetrator of a large-scale breach of U.S. government agencies -- a hack some of Trump 's top allies have blamed on Russia .
In a speech in Delaware , Biden faulted the Trump administration for stripping U.S. defenses against cyberattacks , and pledged a tough response when officials discover who was behind the cyberintrusion .
The hackers `` can be assured that we will respond and probably respond in kind , ” he said .
The U.S. administration has not made a formal assessment of who was behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr said all signs pointed to Moscow .
Trump has downplayed the seriousness of the attack uncovered last week and floated the idea that China might be responsible for the hacking spree .
The Kremlin has denied any role in the hacking .
With reporting by AFP , Reuters , and AP

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has accused the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden of "Russophobia” and says he expects relations with the United States to go "from bad to worse."
"It would be strange to expect good things from people, many of whom made their careers on Russophobia and throwing mud at my country," Ryabkov said on December 23, less than a month ahead of Biden’s inauguration.
Relations between Moscow and Washington have deteriorated in recent years over issues including Russia's seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014, its role in wars in eastern Ukraine and Libya, its election meddling in the United States and Europe, and a series of major cyberattacks blamed on the Russians.
Biden, who will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021, is expected to take a tougher stance toward the Kremlin on its human rights record and foreign policies compared with outgoing President Donald Trump, who has been criticized by some for being too soft on Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Biden for his election victory six weeks after the November 3 vote and said he was ready for "collaboration."
But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on December 23 warned that Moscow was expecting "nothing positive" in ties with the United States.
Ryabkov struck a similar note in an interview with Russia’s news agency Interfax, saying the country should move to a "total containment" approach in relations with Washington and retain "selective dialogue" on subjects that are of interest to Moscow.
He said that Russia would not initiate any contacts with Biden's transition staff, and would also not make any "unilateral concessions.”
And if the United States continued approaching Russia as a "strategic rival," then Moscow would "treat them in a similar way," the deputy foreign minister added.
Referring to U.S. sanctions imposed this week on 45 Russian companies with alleged ties to the country’s military, Ryabkov said the outgoing administration was trying to "slam the door loudly” on Moscow, with the trend likely to remain when Biden moves into the White House.
"We are going from bad to worse. This was very typical for the past four years and so far there is no feeling that this trend has outlived its usefulness," Ryabkov said.
Speaking to reporters, Peskov said Russia had been “consistently getting new sanctions. So, there is nothing positive so far, unfortunately," in Russia-U.S. relations.
Separately, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised a response to the new U.S. sanctions, and said that the United States had "long been pursuing a hostile policy" toward Russia.
The comments come a day after Biden called on Trump to publicly identify the perpetrator of a large-scale breach of U.S. government agencies -- a hack some of Trump's top allies have blamed on Russia.
In a speech in Delaware, Biden faulted the Trump administration for stripping U.S. defenses against cyberattacks, and pledged a tough response when officials discover who was behind the cyberintrusion.
The hackers "can be assured that we will respond and probably respond in kind,” he said.
The U.S. administration has not made a formal assessment of who was behind the attack, but Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr said all signs pointed to Moscow.
Trump has downplayed the seriousness of the attack uncovered last week and floated the idea that China might be responsible for the hacking spree.
The Kremlin has denied any role in the hacking.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP


rferl--2020-12-23--Late Uzbek President Karimov's Aide Arrested On Unspecified Charges

TASHKENT -- An aide to late Uzbek President Islam Karimov has been arrested on unspecified charges .
An official of the Uzbek Prosecutor-General 's Office told RFE/RL on December 22 on condition of anonymity that Ulugbek Mirzamuhamedov was arrested in late November .
He declined to give any details other than saying that Mirzamuhamedov is currently being held in the detention center of the State Security Service in Tashkent .
Media reports in the Central Asian nation said earlier that Mirzamuhamedov was arrested after his home was searched by police in late November .
Mirzamuhamedov 's neighbors confirmed to RFE/RL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had been taken away by police .
The 52-year old former official was one of the closest associates of the authoritarian Karimov , the country 's first president , and worked for many years as his aide right up to Karimov 's death in 2016 .
President Shavkat Mirziyoev , who took over Uzbekistan following Karimov 's death , fired Mirzamuhamedov immediately after taking office .
Although he was very influential , Mirzamuhamedov tried to keep a low profile and was not frequently seen in public .
According to documents obtained by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 percent of the Murad Buildings construction company that was involved in large development projects in Tashkent and other towns and cities .

TASHKENT -- An aide to late Uzbek President Islam Karimov has been arrested on unspecified charges.
An official of the Uzbek Prosecutor-General's Office told RFE/RL on December 22 on condition of anonymity that Ulugbek Mirzamuhamedov was arrested in late November. He declined to give any details other than saying that Mirzamuhamedov is currently being held in the detention center of the State Security Service in Tashkent.
Media reports in the Central Asian nation said earlier that Mirzamuhamedov was arrested after his home was searched by police in late November.
Mirzamuhamedov's neighbors confirmed to RFE/RL that the house was searched and that he had been taken away by police.
The 52-year old former official was one of the closest associates of the authoritarian Karimov, the country's first president, and worked for many years as his aide right up to Karimov's death in 2016.
President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who took over Uzbekistan following Karimov's death, fired Mirzamuhamedov immediately after taking office.
Although he was very influential, Mirzamuhamedov tried to keep a low profile and was not frequently seen in public.
According to documents obtained by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, Mirzamuhamedov owned 50 percent of the Murad Buildings construction company that was involved in large development projects in Tashkent and other towns and cities.


rferl--2020-12-23--Russian Lawmakers Expand Scope Of 'Foreign Agents' Law Limiting Press Freedom, Work Of NGOs

The Russian parliament 's lower chamber has approved several controversial bills that human rights watchdogs and the opposition have said undermine democratic processes .
Among the legislation approved by the State Duma on December 23 was a series of amendments to the controversial law on `` foreign agents '' that requires organizations that have received the label to report their activities and face financial audits .
The changes expand the scope of individuals and groups that can be designated `` foreign agents , '' introduce new restrictions and registration and reporting requirements , and oblige the media to note the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups .
The new law says individuals , including foreign journalists , involved in Russia 's political developments or collecting materials and data related to Russia 's defense or national security issues must be included on the list of foreign agents .
It also says that individuals labeled as “ foreign agents ” would be banned from joining the civil service or holding a municipal government position , while forcing them to mark their letters to authorities and other material with a “ foreign agent ” label .
Last month , Amnesty International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` drastically limit and damage the work not only of civil society organizations that receive funds from outside Russia but many other groups as well . ''
Another bill related to `` foreign agents '' and approved on December 23 lays out a punishment of up to five years in prison for individuals or organizations labeled as foreign agents who fail to inform official entities about their status , and/or refuse to report their activities to Russian authorities .
The “ foreign agent ” law , originally passed in 2012 , requires labeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial audits .
Critics say the law has been arbitrarily applied to target Russian civil society organizations , human rights defenders , and political activists , including outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny ’ s Anti-Corruption Foundation .
The State Duma also approved in a final reading on December 23 a bill that would allow media regulator , Roskomnadzor , to block websites that `` discriminate against Russian media . ''
Roskomnadzor would be allowed to partially , fully restrict , or slow access to websites found in violation of the law .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as YouTube , Facebook , and Twitter .
Among other bills approved on December 23 is one that bans financial support of public events by foreign entities .
That legislation includes prohibiting the financing of public events in Russia by foreign governments , organizations , citizens , stateless citizens , individuals and organizations labeled as foreign agents , Russian citizens younger than 16 , anonymous contributors , and Russian organizations that were registered less than one year before providing financial support to a public event .
All of the bills approved on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parliament ’ s upper chamber , the Federation Council , before they are endorsed into law by President Vladimir Putin .
With reporting by TASS and Interfax

The Russian parliament's lower chamber has approved several controversial bills that human rights watchdogs and the opposition have said undermine democratic processes.
Among the legislation approved by the State Duma on December 23 was a series of amendments to the controversial law on "foreign agents" that requires organizations that have received the designation to report their activities and face financial audits.
The changes expand the scope of individuals and groups that can be designated "foreign agents," introduce new restrictions and registration and reporting requirements, and oblige the media to note the designation whenever they mention these individuals or groups.
The new law says individuals, including foreign journalists, involved in Russia's political developments or collecting materials and data related to Russia's defense or national security issues must be included on the list of foreign agents.
It also says that individuals labeled as "foreign agents" would be banned from joining the civil service or holding a municipal government position, while forcing them to mark their letters to authorities and other material with a "foreign agent" label.
Last month, Amnesty International slammed the proposed legislation saying it would "drastically limit and damage the work not only of civil society organizations that receive funds from outside Russia but many other groups as well."
Another bill related to "foreign agents" and approved on December 23 lays out a punishment of up to five years in prison for individuals or organizations labeled as foreign agents who fail to inform official entities about their status, and/or refuse to report their activities to Russian authorities.
The "foreign agent" law, originally passed in 2012, requires designated organizations to report their activities and face financial audits. Critics say the law has been arbitrarily applied to target Russian civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and political activists, including outspoken Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.
A further measure designating foreign-funded media as "foreign agents" was adopted in 2017, under which Russia's Justice Ministry listed several services of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Current Time, and Voice of America (VOA) as "foreign agents." Current Time is the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.
U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in August warned that the upcoming amendments to the law on "foreign agents" would "impose new burdensome requirements" on RFE/RL's operations in Russia as well as on VOA's.
Pompeo told RFE/RL on August 12 said that he believed that "we think we can put real pressure and convince them that the right thing to do is to allow press freedom."
"We've condemned it. We've also imposed enormous sanctions on Russia for other elements of their malign activity," Pompeo said. "We hope that the rest of the world will join us in this. We hope that those nations that value the freedom of press, who want independent reporters to be able to ask questions, even if sometimes leaders don't like them, will join with us."
The State Duma also approved in a final reading on December 23 a bill that would allow the state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, to block websites that "discriminate against Russian media."
Roskomnadzor would be allowed to partially, fully restrict, or slow access to websites found in violation of the law.
The bill is seen affecting major social-media websites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.
The State Duma also approved a bill on introducing jail terms for people found guilty of making slanderous comments on the Internet or in the media.
Under the legislation, a person convicted of slander on the Internet could face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million rubles ($13,300).
People accused of making "slanderous" accusations of rape or other grave crimes could face up to five years behind bars, according to the bill.
Among other bills approved on December 23 is one that bans financial support of public events by foreign entities.
That legislation includes prohibiting the financing of public events in Russia by foreign governments, organizations, citizens, stateless citizens, individuals and organizations labeled as foreign agents, Russian citizens younger than 16, anonymous contributors, and Russian organizations that were registered less than one year before providing financial support to a public event.
All of the bills approved on December 23 must still be approved by the parliament's upper chamber, the Federation Council, before they are endorsed into law by President Vladimir Putin.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-12-23--Kazakh Activist Receives Sentence For Links With Banned Political Group

SHYMKENT , Kazakhstan -- An activist in Kazakhstan 's southern region of Turkistan has been handed a parole-like sentence for his links with a banned political movement .
The Keles district court on December 22 sentenced Marat Duisembiev to 3 1/2 years of `` freedom limitation '' after finding him guilty of involvement in the activities of the banned opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan ( DVK ) .
The trial was held online due to coronavirus restrictions .
Duisembiev participated in the process via a video link from a detention center in the regional capital , Shymkent .
The 44-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he openly called for people to take part in an unsanctioned rally organized by the DVK .
Human rights organizations in Kazakhstan recognized him as a political prisoner last month .
Duisenbiev 's sentence was handed down two days after another activist , Alibek Moldin , was sentenced to one year of `` freedom limitation '' for being associated with the DVK-linked unregistered Koshe ( Street ) Party , also banned in Kazakhstan as an extremist organization .
DVK is led by Mukhtar Ablyazov , the fugitive former head of Kazakhstan ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kazakh government .
Kazakh authorities labeled DVK extremist and banned the group in March 2018 .
Several activists have been sentenced to various prison terms and limitations in Kazakhstan in recent months for involvement in the DVK 's activities , including taking part in the DVK-organized unsanctioned rallies .
Opponents of the Kazakh government have said that the crackdown on the DVK 's supporters has intensified ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 10 .
Human rights groups have said Kazakhstan ’ s law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold rallies and envisions prosecution for organizing and participating in unsanctioned rallies even though the nation ’ s constitution guarantees its citizens the right of free assembly .

SHYMKENT, Kazakhstan -- An activist in Kazakhstan's southern region of Turkistan has been handed a parole-like sentence for his links with a banned political movement.
The Keles district court on December 22 sentenced Marat Duisembiev to 3 1/2 years of "freedom limitation" after finding him guilty of involvement in the activities of the banned opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK).
The trial was held online due to coronavirus restrictions. Duisembiev participated in the process via a video link from a detention center in the regional capital, Shymkent.
The 44-year-old activist was arrested and charged in August after he openly called for people to take part in an unsanctioned rally organized by the DVK.
Human rights organizations in Kazakhstan recognized him as a political prisoner last month.
Duisenbiev's sentence was handed down two days after another activist, Alibek Moldin, was sentenced to one year of "freedom limitation" for being associated with the DVK-linked unregistered Koshe (Street) Party, also banned in Kazakhstan as an extremist organization.
DVK is led by Mukhtar Ablyazov, the fugitive former head of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank and outspoken critic of the Kazakh government. Kazakh authorities labeled DVK extremist and banned the group in March 2018.
Several activists have been sentenced to various prison terms and limitations in Kazakhstan in recent months for involvement in the DVK's activities, including taking part in the DVK-organized unsanctioned rallies.
Opponents of the Kazakh government have said that the crackdown on the DVK's supporters has intensified ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 10.
Human rights groups have said Kazakhstan’s law on public gatherings contradicts international standards as it requires preliminary permission from authorities to hold rallies and envisions prosecution for organizing and participating in unsanctioned rallies even though the nation’s constitution guarantees its citizens the right of free assembly.


rferl--2020-12-23--Moldova Lurches Toward Snap Elections After PM, Cabinet Resign

Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu and his government have resigned in a move to help push one of Europe ’ s poorest countries toward early parliamentary elections .
Chicu said he made the move on December 23 following a meeting with outgoing President Igor Dodon and Zinaida Greceanii , the head of parliament .
`` It [ an election ] is an objective that we have declared a priority to bring the country back to normal , '' Chicu said .
Parliament was scheduled to debate a no-confidence motion against the government at its December 23 session .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the streets in Chisinau to demand early elections after lawmakers passed a bill transferring control of the country 's intelligence agency from the president to parliament .
The move was seen as a way to boost the power of parliament , where pro-Moscow Socialists aligned with Dodon hold a razor-thin one-seat majority in the 101-seat legislature .
The government 's resignation comes a day before the end of Dodon 's term as president .
President-elect Maia Sandu , who defeated Dodon in a November election , will be inaugurated on December 24 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a referendum on two divergent visions for the future of the Eastern European nation of 3.5 million people that is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania .
Sandu , a former World Bank economist who favors closer ties to the European Union , promised during her presidential campaign to battle endemic corruption in Moldova .
Since the election she has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester , prompting the Kremlin to warn it could lead to `` serious destabilization.
” Sandu is expected to nominate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outgoing parliament .
Since the prime minister has resigned , she can dissolve parliament if there are two failed attempts to find a successor .

Moldovan Prime Minister Ion Chicu and his government have resigned in a move to help push one of Europe’s poorest countries toward early parliamentary elections.
Chicu said he made the move on December 23 following a meeting with outgoing President Igor Dodon and Zinaida Greceanii, the head of parliament.
"It [an election] is an objective that we have declared a priority to bring the country back to normal," Chicu said.
Parliament was scheduled to debate a no-confidence motion against the government at its December 23 session.
Earlier this month, around 20,000 protesters took to the streets in Chisinau to demand early elections after lawmakers passed a bill transferring control of the country's intelligence agency from the president to parliament.
The move was seen as a way to boost the power of parliament, where pro-Moscow Socialists aligned with Dodon hold a razor-thin one-seat majority in the 101-seat legislature.
The government's resignation comes a day before the end of Dodon's term as president. President-elect Maia Sandu, who defeated Dodon in a November election, will be inaugurated on December 24.
The November presidential election was seen as a referendum on two divergent visions for the future of the Eastern European nation of 3.5 million people that is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.
Sandu, a former World Bank economist who favors closer ties to the European Union, promised during her presidential campaign to battle endemic corruption in Moldova.
Since the election she has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester, prompting the Kremlin to warn it could lead to "serious destabilization.”
Sandu is expected to nominate a new prime minister after consulting with the outgoing parliament.
Since the prime minister has resigned, she can dissolve parliament if there are two failed attempts to find a successor.


rferl--2020-12-23--Russia Expels Two Colombian Embassy Employees In Tit-For-Tat Move

Russia ’ s government has declared two employees of the Colombian Embassy in Moscow diplomats `` personae non gratae '' following the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from the South American country due to what local media reported was espionage .
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on December 23 it had summoned the Colombian ambassador the previous day to protest against the “ groundless decision ” to expel two diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Bogota .
The envoy was also informed of Moscow ’ s decision to declare `` personae non gratae '' to two employees of the Colombian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Colombia said that two Russian diplomats were stripped of accreditation and forced to leave the country , saying they had been engaged in activities that were “ incompatible ” with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations .
Colombian officials did not provide specifics as to why the two diplomats were expelled , but local media cited anonymous security sources as saying they were engaged in gathering military intelligence and economic information related to natural resource extraction .
In an interview with television outlet NTN24 , Colombian President Ivan Duque declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it would go against the principle of continuing good bilateral relations with Russia .
Francisco Espinosa , the head of Colombia 's migration agency , told a news conference the two men left on December 8 for “ issues related to the state.
” With reporting by El Tiempo and El Colombiano

Russia’s government has declared two employees of the Colombian Embassy in Moscow diplomats "personae non gratae" following the expulsion of two Russian diplomats from the South American country due to what local media reported was espionage.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on December 23 it had summoned the Colombian ambassador the previous day to protest against the “groundless decision” to expel two diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Bogota.
The envoy was also informed of Moscow’s decision to declare "personae non gratae" to two employees of the Colombian diplomatic mission, the ministry said in a statement.
Colombia said that two Russian diplomats were stripped of accreditation and forced to leave the country, saying they had been engaged in activities that were “incompatible” with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Colombian officials did not provide specifics as to why the two diplomats were expelled, but local media cited anonymous security sources as saying they were engaged in gathering military intelligence and economic information related to natural resource extraction.
In an interview with television outlet NTN24, Colombian President Ivan Duque declined to reveal more information about the issue, saying it would go against the principle of continuing good bilateral relations with Russia.
Francisco Espinosa, the head of Colombia's migration agency, told a news conference the two men left on December 8 for “issues related to the state.”
With reporting by El Tiempo and El Colombiano


rferl--2020-12-22--Bulgarian Diplomat Mladenov Unable To Take Up Role As UN Libya Envoy

Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he will be unable to take up the role as UN Libya envoy in 2021 due to `` personal and family reasons . ''
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on December 22 that Mladenov told Guterres he will resign from the United Nations when his current role as UN Middle East envoy comes to an end on December 31 .
Mladenov was due to replace Ghassan Salame , who stepped down as the UN Libya envoy in March due to stress .
The UN Security Council last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mladenov as the new Libya mediator and for Norwegian diplomat Tor Wennesland to succeed Mladenov as Middle East envoy .
Mladenov has been the UN Middle East envoy since 2015 -- a post where he was charged with mediating between Israel and the Palestinians .
As a result of Mladenov 's announcement , Dujarric says the UN 's current acting Libya envoy , Stephanie Williams , will continue in the role .
Meanwhile , Turkey 's parliament on December 22 authorized an 18-month extension of its troop deployment in Libya to support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government of National Accord .
Turkey 's support for that government helped Tripoli stave off an offensive in April 2019 by eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar that was backed by Russia , Egypt , and the United Arab Emirates .
The warring sides reached a cease-fire agreement in October to formally end the fighting -- setting the stage for elections at the end of 2021 .
Based on reporting by Reuters , AFP , and Anadolu

Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he will be unable to take up the role as UN Libya envoy in 2021 due to "personal and family reasons."
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on December 22 that Mladenov told Guterres he will resign from the United Nations when his current role as UN Middle East envoy comes to an end on December 31.
Mladenov was due to replace Ghassan Salame, who stepped down as the UN Libya envoy in March due to stress.
The UN Security Council last week had approved Guterres's proposal to appoint Mladenov as the new Libya mediator and for Norwegian diplomat Tor Wennesland to succeed Mladenov as Middle East envoy.
Mladenov has been the UN Middle East envoy since 2015 -- a post where he was charged with mediating between Israel and the Palestinians.
As a result of Mladenov's announcement, Dujarric says the UN's current acting Libya envoy, Stephanie Williams, will continue in the role.
Meanwhile, Turkey's parliament on December 22 authorized an 18-month extension of its troop deployment in Libya to support the UN-recognized government in Tripoli -- the so-called Government of National Accord.
Turkey's support for that government helped Tripoli stave off an offensive in April 2019 by eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar that was backed by Russia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
The warring sides reached a cease-fire agreement in October to formally end the fighting -- setting the stage for elections at the end of 2021.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and Anadolu


rferl--2020-12-22--Romanian President Asks Finance Minister To Form Government

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced outgoing Finance Minister Florin Citu as prime minister-designate following a parliamentary poll earlier this month .
Citu 's task will be to form a center-right coalition government able to stave off an economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic and boost investment .
The leftist Social Democrats ( PSD ) -- the heir to the Communist Party -- emerged as the strongest grouping in the December 6 elections , which were marred by absenteeism prompted in part by the coronavirus pandemic , but failed to secure enough votes for a majority in parliament .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( PNL ) , who has ruled through a minority government since October last year , formed an alliance with USR-PLUS -- a relatively new center-right grouping -- and the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR .
Party leaders said the new parliament could hold a vote of confidence to endorse the new cabinet as early as December 23 .
The coalition will control around 55 percent of parliamentary seats , a majority that analysts say may be relatively fragile .
`` I will do everything possible to ensure a stable and long-lived government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Iohannis .
Both the Liberals and USR-Plus have pledged to reverse actions by previous PSD-led governments to undermine the independence of the judiciary that have sparked huge anti-corruption protests .
Citu , a 48-year-old , U.S.-educated former banker , has yet to unveil his cabinet line-up and governing program .
Ministers must also submit to parliamentary hearings before a confidence vote .
Romania , a country of under 20 million people and one of the poorest European Union members , has reported almost 600,000 coronavirus cases and 15,000 deaths this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.2 percent .
With reporting by digi24.ro , hotnews.ro , g4media.ro , Reuters , and AP

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has announced outgoing Finance Minister Florin Citu as prime minister-designate following a parliamentary poll earlier this month.
Citu's task will be to form a center-right coalition government able to stave off an economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic and boost investment.
The leftist Social Democrats (PSD) -- the heir to the Communist Party -- emerged as the strongest grouping in the December 6 elections, which were marred by absenteeism prompted in part by the coronavirus pandemic, but failed to secure enough votes for a majority in parliament.
Citu’s center-right National Liberal Party (PNL), who has ruled through a minority government since October last year, formed an alliance with USR-PLUS -- a relatively new center-right grouping -- and the ethnic Hungarian party UDMR.
Party leaders said the new parliament could hold a vote of confidence to endorse the new cabinet as early as December 23.
The coalition will control around 55 percent of parliamentary seats, a majority that analysts say may be relatively fragile.
"I will do everything possible to ensure a stable and long-lived government," Citu said during a joint appearance with Iohannis.
Both the Liberals and USR-Plus have pledged to reverse actions by previous PSD-led governments to undermine the independence of the judiciary that have sparked huge anti-corruption protests.
Citu, a 48-year-old, U.S.-educated former banker, has yet to unveil his cabinet line-up and governing program. Ministers must also submit to parliamentary hearings before a confidence vote.
Romania, a country of under 20 million people and one of the poorest European Union members, has reported almost 600,000 coronavirus cases and 15,000 deaths this year, and expects its economy to shrink by 4.2 percent.
With reporting by digi24.ro, hotnews.ro, g4media.ro, Reuters, and AP


rferl--2020-12-22--Belarusian Press Club's Chief Detained; Offices And Homes Searched

MINSK -- The head of the Belarusian Press Club , Yulia Slutskaya , has been detained by police in Minsk .
Authorities have also searched the offices of the independent journalistic organization and the homes of some of its members .
Slutskaya 's relatives said on December 22 that she was detained when she arrived back in Belarus after a holiday abroad where she had spent time with her daughter and grandchildren .
The relatives said they do not know Slutskaya 's current whereabouts .
Meanwhile , the program director of the Belarusian Press Club , Ala Sharko , informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stormed into her apartment on December 22 .
Sharko 's lawyer , Syarhey Zikratski , says police forced him out when he arrived at the apartment during the search operation .
The Belarusian Press Club said via its Instagram account that police also searched the apartment of Syarhey Yakupau , the director of the group 's educational programs .
The moves come just days after the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) listed Belarus as a country where authorities have significantly increased their arrests of reporters in recent months..
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country over a disputed presidential election in August .
Election officials in Minsk say incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka won a landslide victory .
Opposition supporters say the results were rigged in Lukashenka 's favor .
Since August , at least 373 journalists have been arrested in Belarus .
At least six remain in custody .
In October , the Belarusian Foreign Ministry revoked media accreditations from several foreign news organizations in a move widely criticized as an attempt to stifle reporting about ongoing anti-government demonstrations .
Founded in 2011 , the Belarusian Press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional development of independent media and journalists . ''

MINSK -- The head of the Belarusian Press Club, Yulia Slutskaya, has been detained by police in Minsk. Authorities have also searched the offices of the independent journalistic organization and the homes of some of its members.
Slutskaya's relatives said on December 22 that she was detained when she arrived back in Belarus after a holiday abroad where she had spent time with her daughter and grandchildren. The relatives said they do not know Slutskaya's current whereabouts.
Meanwhile, the program director of the Belarusian Press Club, Ala Sharko, informed the Belarusian Journalists' Association that police stormed into her apartment on December 22.
Sharko's lawyer, Syarhey Zikratski, says police forced him out when he arrived at the apartment during the search operation.
The Belarusian Press Club said via its Instagram account that police also searched the apartment of Syarhey Yakupau, the director of the group's educational programs.
The moves come just days after the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) listed Belarus as a country where authorities have significantly increased their arrests of reporters in recent months..
The arrests come as mass protests continue across the country over a disputed presidential election in August.
Election officials in Minsk say incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka won a landslide victory. Opposition supporters say the results were rigged in Lukashenka's favor.
Since August, at least 373 journalists have been arrested in Belarus. At least six remain in custody.
In October, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry revoked media accreditations from several foreign news organizations in a move widely criticized as an attempt to stifle reporting about ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
Founded in 2011, the Belarusian Press Club calls itself "a platform for professional development of independent media and journalists."


rferl--2020-12-22--Ex-Minister's Pretrial Detention Extended Again In Russian Embezzlement Case

A Moscow court has again extended the pretrial detention of Mikhail Abyzov -- a former Russian government minister waiting for trial on embezzlement charges since he was arrested in March 2019 .
The ruling by the Moscow City Court on December 22 allows Russian authorities to keep Abyzov in jail before his trial concludes for at least another three months , until March 25 next year .
His pretrial detention could be extended again at that time by another three months with a similar court ruling .
Abyzov had been Russia 's Minister for Open Government Affairs from 2012 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Dmitry Medvedev .
He is one of several liberal-leaning former or current government officials in Russia who has been targeted by criminal investigations in recent years .
Abyzov 's arrest was seen by some observers in Moscow as part of a crackdown by Russia 's security and intelligence services against reformist politicians .
As a minister in Medvedev 's cabinet , Abyzov 's duties had included trying to make the Russian government more transparent and accountable .
But Russia 's Investigative Committee charges that Abyzov was a member of a criminal organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 53.6 million , from the Siberian Energy Company and Regional Electric Grid in Novosibirsk .
Investigators allege that Abyzov and five accomplices stole the money and transferred the funds abroad .
They have also accused Abyzov of founding the criminal enterprise in April 2011 before he became a government minister .
Abyzov has held several executive positions at major Russian energy firms since the mid-1990s , including a role on the board of directors at the electric-power holding company RAO UES .
In 2017 , anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 11.7 million .
Navalny reported that Abyzov amassed his wealth through his energy sector connections in Novosibirsk .
With reporting by TASS and Interfax

A Moscow court has again extended the pretrial detention of Mikhail Abyzov -- a former Russian government minister waiting for trial on embezzlement charges since he was arrested in March 2019.
The ruling by the Moscow City Court on December 22 allows Russian authorities to keep Abyzov in jail before his trial concludes for at least another three months, until March 25 next year. His pretrial detention could be extended again at that time by another three months with a similar court ruling.
Abyzov had been Russia's Minister for Open Government Affairs from 2012 to 2018 in the cabinet of former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
He is one of several liberal-leaning former or current government officials in Russia who has been targeted by criminal investigations in recent years.
Abyzov's arrest was seen by some observers in Moscow as part of a crackdown by Russia's security and intelligence services against reformist politicians.
As a minister in Medvedev's cabinet, Abyzov's duties had included trying to make the Russian government more transparent and accountable.
But Russia's Investigative Committee charges that Abyzov was a member of a criminal organization that embezzled 4 billion rubles, or about $53.6 million, from the Siberian Energy Company and Regional Electric Grid in Novosibirsk.
Investigators allege that Abyzov and five accomplices stole the money and transferred the funds abroad. They have also accused Abyzov of founding the criminal enterprise in April 2011 before he became a government minister.
Abyzov has held several executive positions at major Russian energy firms since the mid-1990s, including a role on the board of directors at the electric-power holding company RAO UES.
In 2017, anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny reported that Abyzov owns a mansion in Italy worth about $11.7 million. Navalny reported that Abyzov amassed his wealth through his energy sector connections in Novosibirsk.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-12-22--Kazakh Activist Placed In Psychiatric Clinic, Lawyer Warns Of Opposition Sweep Ahead Of Vote

AQTOBE , Kazakhstan -- Authorities in the northwestern Kazakh city of Aqtobe have forcibly placed a wheelchair-bound activist in a psychiatric clinic after he allegedly tore down a poster of the ruling Nur Otan party .
Dana Zhanai , the chairwoman of the Qaharman human rights center , said on December 22 that activist Asanali Suyubaev had been taken to a psychiatric clinic a day earlier , a move she says is likely part of a campaign by the ruling party to sideline activists ahead of January 10 parliamentary elections .
The clinic 's deputy chief physician , Esenaman Nysanov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been brought to the facility by medical personnel and police .
`` The patient has mental changes .
But he does not accept it .
He behaved in a strange way , namely , while outside , he was tearing election posters , which can be defined in a medical term as addictive behavior , '' Nysanov said , adding that Suyubaev had been under `` psychiatric control '' since 2012 .
Aqtobe police refused to comment on Suyubaev ’ s situation .
Zhanai told RFE/RL that Suyubaev was forcibly placed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he distributed leaflets for the unregistered and banned Koshe ( Street ) party .
`` The authorities isolated him intentionally right before the [ January 10 ] parliamentary elections .
Activists have started a campaign to prove that the ruling Nur Otan party 's ratings are fictitious and that votes will be stolen during the poll .
Because of that , many activists across Kazakhstan are being persecuted now .
Many are under house arrest , in detention centers , and in this case , they put Suyubaev in a psychiatric clinic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kazakhstan have criticized authorities for using a Soviet-era method of stifling dissent by placing opponents in psychiatric clinics..
Earlier in November , another government critic , journalist Aigul Otepova , was placed in a psychiatric clinic for 18 days .
She was released on December 11 and remains under house arrest over posting an article on Facebook criticizing official efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak .
Investigators have charged her with having links with banned opposition movement Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan , which Otepova denies .

AQTOBE, Kazakhstan -- Authorities in the northwestern Kazakh city of Aqtobe have forcibly placed a wheelchair-bound activist in a psychiatric clinic after he allegedly tore down a poster of the ruling Nur Otan party.
Dana Zhanai, the chairwoman of the Qaharman human rights center, said on December 22 that activist Asanali Suyubaev had been taken to a psychiatric clinic a day earlier, a move she says is likely part of a campaign by the ruling party to sideline activists ahead of January 10 parliamentary elections.
The clinic's deputy chief physician, Esenaman Nysanov, confirmed to RFE/RL that Suyubaev had been brought to the facility by medical personnel and police.
"The patient has mental changes. But he does not accept it. He behaved in a strange way, namely, while outside, he was tearing election posters, which can be defined in a medical term as addictive behavior," Nysanov said, adding that Suyubaev had been under "psychiatric control" since 2012.
Aqtobe police refused to comment on Suyubaev’s situation.
Zhanai told RFE/RL that Suyubaev was forcibly placed in a psychiatric clinic for 20 days in April after he distributed leaflets for the unregistered and banned Koshe (Street) party.
"The authorities isolated him intentionally right before the [January 10] parliamentary elections. Activists have started a campaign to prove that the ruling Nur Otan party's ratings are fictitious and that votes will be stolen during the poll. Because of that, many activists across Kazakhstan are being persecuted now. Many are under house arrest, in detention centers, and in this case, they put Suyubaev in a psychiatric clinic," Zhanai said.
Rights activists in Kazakhstan have criticized authorities for using a Soviet-era method of stifling dissent by placing opponents in psychiatric clinics..
Earlier in November, another government critic, journalist Aigul Otepova, was placed in a psychiatric clinic for 18 days. She was released on December 11 and remains under house arrest over posting an article on Facebook criticizing official efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
Investigators have charged her with having links with banned opposition movement Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, which Otepova denies.


rferl--2020-12-22--Russian Documentary Filmmaker Detained While Picketing In Support Of Navalny

MOSCOW -- A Russian documentary filmmaker was detained briefly by police after publicly expressing support for opposition politician Aleksei Navalny , who says the release of a phone conversation with a Russian agent shows how the country 's Federal Security Service ( FSB ) poisoned the Kremlin critic with a Novichok nerve agent .
Vitaly Mansky was picked up by police after he neared the FSB building in Moscow on December 22 while holding a blue pair of men 's underwear , a nod to the phone conversation where FSB agent Konstantin Kudryavtsev admitted Navalny 's underwear had been laced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the 44-year-old opposition leader .
Mansky , who later confirmed to the Interfax news agency that he had been freed , was one of several activists who held similar singe-person pickets in Moscow , demanding a probe to be launched into Navalny 's poisoning .
Reports said several others were also detained .
Similar pickets were also held in front of FSB buildings in the Siberian cities of Omsk and Irkutsk on December 22 .
The protests were sparked by Navalny 's December 21 release of a 49-minute phone conversation with Kudryavtsev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer was duped by Navalny into giving the details , with the opposition activist posing as a high-ranking security official conducting a debriefing on the August attack in the Siberian city of Tomsk .
Navalny was airlifted to Germany for treatment several days after collapsing on a plane in Russia .
Laboratories in Germany , France , and Sweden later concluded that the anti-corruption campaigner was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent .
The EU and Britain in mid-October imposed asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted assassination.
” Russian officials , including President Vladimir Putin , have denied involvement in the poisoning .

MOSCOW -- A Russian documentary filmmaker was detained briefly by police after publicly expressing support for opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who says the release of a phone conversation with a Russian agent shows how the country's Federal Security Service (FSB) poisoned the Kremlin critic with a Novichok nerve agent.
Vitaly Mansky was picked up by police after he neared the FSB building in Moscow on December 22 while holding a blue pair of men's underwear, a nod to the phone conversation where FSB agent Konstantin Kudryavtsev admitted Navalny's underwear had been laced with poison in an apparent assassination attempt on the 44-year-old opposition leader.
Mansky, who later confirmed to the Interfax news agency that he had been freed, was one of several activists who held similar singe-person pickets in Moscow, demanding a probe to be launched into Navalny's poisoning. Reports said several others were also detained.
Similar pickets were also held in front of FSB buildings in the Siberian cities of Omsk and Irkutsk on December 22.
The protests were sparked by Navalny's December 21 release of a 49-minute phone conversation with Kudryavtsev. During the call, the FSB officer was duped by Navalny into giving the details, with the opposition activist posing as a high-ranking security official conducting a debriefing on the August attack in the Siberian city of Tomsk.
Navalny was airlifted to Germany for treatment several days after collapsing on a plane in Russia.
Laboratories in Germany, France, and Sweden later concluded that the anti-corruption campaigner was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent.
The EU and Britain in mid-October imposed asset freezes and travel bans against six senior Russian officials and a state scientific research center for the "attempted assassination.”
Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have denied involvement in the poisoning.


rferl--2020-12-22--Afghanistan's Abdullah Pushes Regional Support For Peace Talks In Tajikistan

DUSHANBE -- The chairman of Afghanistan 's High Council for National Reconciliation , Abdullah Abdullah , has held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and other top officials in the Tajik capital as he looks to drum up regional support for peace talks with the Taliban .
Abdullah , who is an ethnic Tajik , said on December 22 that he and Rahmon had discussed peace in Afghanistan for two hours , as the country looks forward to a second round of peace talks with militants to end almost two decades of deadly violence in the war-torn country .
Abdullah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a two-day visit to Dushanbe , added that his side will defend `` two of the most important goals of the Afghan people : stability in the country and securing the rights of all of the Afghan people , '' which have been achieved in the past 19 years .
Abdullah , along with other members of the Afghan delegation , also met with other Tajik officials , government members , and lawmakers .
Tajikistan 's presidential press service said that Rahmon expressed `` his support '' for the peace process in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the peace talks will have a positive impact not only on Afghanistan but for the wider region and the world in general . ''
Last week during an online summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States , a Russia-led grouping of several former Soviet republics , Rahmon expressed concerns over a reported concentration of armed militants along the Afghan side of the 1,400-kilometer Tajik-Afghan border .

DUSHANBE -- The chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah, has held talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and other top officials in the Tajik capital as he looks to drum up regional support for peace talks with the Taliban.
Abdullah, who is an ethnic Tajik, said on December 22 that he and Rahmon had discussed peace in Afghanistan for two hours, as the country looks forward to a second round of peace talks with militants to end almost two decades of deadly violence in the war-torn country.
Abdullah, who is on the final day of a two-day visit to Dushanbe, added that his side will defend "two of the most important goals of the Afghan people: stability in the country and securing the rights of all of the Afghan people," which have been achieved in the past 19 years.
Abdullah, along with other members of the Afghan delegation, also met with other Tajik officials, government members, and lawmakers.
Tajikistan's presidential press service said that Rahmon expressed "his support" for the peace process in Afghanistan and stressed that "constructive results from the peace talks will have a positive impact not only on Afghanistan but for the wider region and the world in general."
Last week during an online summit of leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a Russia-led grouping of several former Soviet republics, Rahmon expressed concerns over a reported concentration of armed militants along the Afghan side of the 1,400-kilometer Tajik-Afghan border.


rferl--2020-12-22--Bosnian Serb Leader Dodik Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Milorad Dodik , the Serb member of Bosnia-Herzegovina 's tripartite presidency , has been diagnosed with pneumonia and has tested @ @ @ @ @ University Clinical Center in Banja Luka made the announcement on December 22 , a day @ @ @ @ @ was hospitalized with what was described at the time as nausea and stomach pains .
@ @ @ @ @ condition is stable , he is feeling well , and is receiving adequate therapy , @ @ @ @ @ .
A statement from Dodik 's office said that he tested negative for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ following a meeting with a person infected with COVID-19 three days earlier .

Milorad Dodik, the Serb member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, has been diagnosed with pneumonia and has tested positive for COVID-19.
The University Clinical Center in Banja Luka made the announcement on December 22, a day after announcing the 61-year-old Dodik was hospitalized with what was described at the time as nausea and stomach pains.
"Milorad Dodik's health condition is stable, he is feeling well, and is receiving adequate therapy," according to the clinic.
A statement from Dodik's office said that he tested negative for the coronavirus on December 19 after self-isolating following a meeting with a person infected with COVID-19 three days earlier.


rferl--2020-12-22--Thousands Protest As Armenian Opposition Presses For Pashinian To Resign As Prime Minister

YEREVAN -- Thousands of people have poured into the Armenian capital ’ s main square as the opposition continues its campaign to pressure Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to quit over last month ’ s cease-fire deal with Azerbaijan .
The protesters gathered in Republic Square on December 22 and chanted slogans such as , “ Nikol , traitor ” as riot police guarded the prime minister ’ s offices nearby .
Another group of demonstrators walked into another building that houses several government ministries and briefly scuffled with security forces there , while a major highway was reportedly blocked by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties have vowed to hold daily demonstrations until Pashinian agrees to hand over power to a “ transitional ” government tasked with organizing snap parliamentary elections within a year .
Vazgen Manukian , who has been nominated by the opposition National Salvation Movement to head such a government , urged Armenian armed forces and police to stop carrying out Pashinian ’ s orders and “ join the people.
” “ Switch to our side so that we solve the issue today , ” Manukian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pashinian earlier on December 22 made clear that he has no intention to leave office and portrayed the anti-government protests as a revolt by the country ’ s “ elites ” who had lost their “ privileges ” when he swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018 .
The prime minister has come under fire since agreeing to a Moscow-brokered deal with Azerbaijan that took effect on November 10 , ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
His opponents want him to quit over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the conflict that handed Azerbaijan swaths of territory that ethnic Armenians had controlled since the 1990s .
They also say Pashinian is uncapable of dealing with the new security challenges Armenia is facing .
Calls for his resignation have been backed by President Armen Sarkisian , the head of Armenia 's Apostolic Church , as well as other prominent public figures in the country and the Armenian diaspora .

YEREVAN -- Thousands of people have poured into the Armenian capital’s main square as the opposition continues its campaign to pressure Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian to quit over last month’s cease-fire deal with Azerbaijan.
The protesters gathered in Republic Square on December 22 and chanted slogans such as, “Nikol, traitor” as riot police guarded the prime minister’s offices nearby.
Another group of demonstrators walked into another building that houses several government ministries and briefly scuffled with security forces there, while a major highway was reportedly blocked by opposition supporters in the afternoon.
Leaders of a coalition of more than a dozen opposition parties have vowed to hold daily demonstrations until Pashinian agrees to hand over power to a “transitional” government tasked with organizing snap parliamentary elections within a year.
Vazgen Manukian, who has been nominated by the opposition National Salvation Movement to head such a government, urged Armenian armed forces and police to stop carrying out Pashinian’s orders and “join the people.”
“Switch to our side so that we solve the issue today,” Manukian told the crowd on Republic Square.
Pashinian earlier on December 22 made clear that he has no intention to leave office and portrayed the anti-government protests as a revolt by the country’s “elites” who had lost their “privileges” when he swept to power amid nationwide protests in 2018.
The prime minister has come under fire since agreeing to a Moscow-brokered deal with Azerbaijan that took effect on November 10, ending six weeks of fierce fighting in and around the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
His opponents want him to quit over what they say was his disastrous handling of the conflict that handed Azerbaijan swaths of territory that ethnic Armenians had controlled since the 1990s.
They also say Pashinian is uncapable of dealing with the new security challenges Armenia is facing.
Calls for his resignation have been backed by President Armen Sarkisian, the head of Armenia's Apostolic Church, as well as other prominent public figures in the country and the Armenian diaspora.


rferl--2020-12-24--Trump Warns Iran Over Rocket Attacks On Embassy In Iraq

President Donald Trump has warned Iran against any attack on U.S. military or diplomatic personnel in Iraq , days after suspected Iran-backed Iraqi militia launched a barrage of rockets at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad ’ s heavily fortified Green Zone .
The warning , issued on Twitter on December 23 , came after top U.S. national security officials met to prepare a range of options to propose to the president in order to deter any attack on U.S. interests in Iraq .
The so-called principals committee group , including acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller , Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met at the White House , Reuters reported , citing an anonymous official .
For weeks , U.S. officials have suggested Iran or allied Iraqi militia could carry out retaliatory attacks to mark the first anniversary of the U.S. drone strike that killed Iran ’ s top general , Qasem Soleimani , and Iraqi militia leaders outside Baghdad 's airport on January 3 .
The aim of the White House meeting was `` to develop the right set of options that we could present to the president to make sure that we deter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from conducting attacks on our personnel , ” a senior administration official told Reuters .
Following the meeting , Trump took to Twitter to comment on a hail of rockets that targeted Baghdad ’ s heavily fortified Green Zone on December 20 , causing minor damage to the U.S. Embassy compound and residential areas in the international zone .
“ Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets .
Three rockets failed to launch .
Guess where they were from : IRAN , ” Trump wrote above a picture claiming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq .
Some friendly health advice to Iran : If one American is killed , I will hold Iran responsible .
Think it over , ” Trump wrote , repeating a redline over any American casualties .
Following the December 20 attack , an Iraqi military statement said “ an outlawed group ” launched eight rockets at the Green Zone , the location of embassies and government buildings .
Most of the rockets landed near an empty residential complex and checkpoint , injuring one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were killed or injured by the rockets , the attack and Trump ’ s threat underscore a highly combustible situation in Iraq that could quickly spiral out of control .
A rocket attack blamed on Iran-backed militia in December 2019 killed a U.S. defense contractor and wounded several U.S. and Iraqi soldiers at a military base in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk , touching off a cycle of escalation that led to Soleimani 's killing and Iran launching retaliatory ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops , bringing the two rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a new show of force directed at Iran around the anniversary of Soleimani ’ s killing , a U.S. nuclear submarine carrying 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles crossed the Strait of Hormuz on December 21 .
The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November , and two American B-52 bombers recently overflew the region in a demonstration of strength aimed at Iran .
`` My assessment is we are in a very good position and we 'll be prepared for anything the Iranians or their proxies acting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Kenneth McKenzie , the U.S. commander for the Middle East , told journalists on December 20 .
U.S. officials have blamed Iran-backed Iraqi militia for carrying out a string of attacks on U.S. interests in Iraq this year , prompting Washington to threaten a diplomatic and military withdrawal from the country .
The Trump administration in November ordered a reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq from 3,000 to 2,500 by mid-January .
Several Iraq militia groups in October announced a brief suspension of attacks on U.S. interests on condition that a timetable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave Iraq .
That truce came to an end on November 18 with a rocket strike on the U.S. Embassy .
Meanwhile , the United States said in early December it was partially withdrawing some staff from its embassy in response to rising tensions .
U.S. officials say the temporary staff reduction was in response to possible threats around the anniversary of Soleimani 's killing and that of leading Iraqi paramilitary figure Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis .
Aggravating the situation , tensions spiked again across the region following assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran has blamed Israel and , indirectly , the United States , raising the possibility that Iran or one of its regional proxies will retaliate .
The developments in Iraq come as Trump ramps up pressure on Iran ahead of a transition to President-elect Joe Biden , who has said he will try to revive diplomacy with Iran upon entering the White House in January .
Biden is expected to try to rejoin the Iran nuclear accord that Trump quit in 2018 and work with allies to strengthen its terms , if Tehran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports have suggested Iran has told allied Iraqi militia groups to avoid provoking the United States in the final weeks of the Trump administration out of concern the situation could escalate before a more dovish Biden administration comes to power .
But there are also questions about how much direct operational control Iran really maintains over an array Iraqi militia groups and proxies across the region , raising the prospect of accidents and miscalculations .
`` I do believe we remain in a period of heightened risk , '' McKenzie , the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News on December 22 .
`` I would just emphasize this key point : We 're not looking to escalate ourselves .
We 're not looking for war with Iran , I really want to emphasize that . ''
`` It is my belief that Iran does n't want a war with the United States right now , '' he added .
With reporting by AFP and Reuters .

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


rferl--2020-12-23--Romania's New Parliament Approves Pro-Western Government

Romanian lawmakers have approved a new center-right pro-Western coalition government headed by U.S.-educated banker Florin Citu , a former finance minister who has pledged to overcome the coronavirus crisis and the economic woes it has caused .
Some 260 lawmakers in the freshly elected parliament voted in favor of approving Citu 's cabinet , with 186 against .
`` My government will have two major objectives : getting over the health crisis and getting the economy back on track , '' Citu , 48 , said in a speech to both houses of parliament .
Citu , who served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Liberal Party ( PNL ) , has a degree in economics from the University of Iowa .
Shortly after the vote , the new cabinet was sworn in by President Klaus Iohannis .
Following the December 6 election , PNL formed a center-right alliance with the newly formed USR-PLUS alliance and the UDMR ethnic Hungarian party .
The leftist PSD , the heir to the Communist Party , won the most votes in the election -- some 30 percent -- but failed to find partners to form a government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to electoral strength between the three members of the alliance .
The new government presented an ambitious reform program to speed up construction of desperately needed transport infrastructure , reform an antiquated and corruption-ridden health-care network , and strengthen a judiciary system that was the target of years of political pressure from PSD .
Citu 's government must also revive Romania 's economy following the impact of the coronavirus , which has infected 604,251 people in the country and killed 14,766 .
The country launches its vaccination program on December 27 .
@ @ @ @ @ @

Romanian lawmakers have approved a new center-right pro-Western coalition government headed by U.S.-educated banker Florin Citu, a former finance minister who has pledged to overcome the coronavirus crisis and the economic woes it has caused.
Some 260 lawmakers in the freshly elected parliament voted in favor of approving Citu's cabinet, with 186 against.
"My government will have two major objectives: getting over the health crisis and getting the economy back on track," Citu, 48, said in a speech to both houses of parliament.
Citu, who served as finance minister in the outgoing minority government of the National Liberal Party (PNL), has a degree in economics from the University of Iowa.
Shortly after the vote, the new cabinet was sworn in by President Klaus Iohannis.
Following the December 6 election, PNL formed a center-right alliance with the newly formed USR-PLUS alliance and the UDMR ethnic Hungarian party.
The leftist PSD, the heir to the Communist Party, won the most votes in the election -- some 30 percent -- but failed to find partners to form a government.
The 20 ministries have been divided up according to electoral strength between the three members of the alliance.
The new government presented an ambitious reform program to speed up construction of desperately needed transport infrastructure, reform an antiquated and corruption-ridden health-care network, and strengthen a judiciary system that was the target of years of political pressure from PSD.
Citu's government must also revive Romania's economy following the impact of the coronavirus, which has infected 604,251 people in the country and killed 14,766.
The country launches its vaccination program on December 27.
With reporting by Reuters and AFP


rferl--2020-12-23--U.S. Puts Sanctions On Belarusian Police, Official Over Crackdown

The United States has imposed sanctions on Belarusian police units and a senior security official in Minsk over their violent crackdown on mass demonstrations against the contested reelection of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on December 23 denounced what he said were ongoing `` efforts to undermine Belarusian democracy . ''
`` We stand with the brave people of Belarus and support their right to free and fair elections , '' Pompeo said .
In announcing the sanctions on December 23 , the Treasury Department said it will freeze any U.S. assets and prohibit any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Henadz Kazakevich .
Kazakevich had appeared in a video in October threatening to use lethal force against those demonstrating against official results of Belarus 's August presidential election -- a vote in which Lukashenka was declared the winner of a sixth term .
The demonstrators have rejected the results , saying they were rigged in Lukashenka 's favor .
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets for months , declaring that opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the real winner .
The Treasury Department on December 23 also imposed sanctions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They include the Minsk Special Purpose Police Unit ( OMON ) , the General Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee , and the Minsk-based KGB `` Alpha Unit . ''
The United States previously imposed sanctions on individual election officials accused of rigging the August vote .
But the expanded sanctions announced by Washington on December 23 also included the Belarusian Central Election Commission .
Washington has had sanctions in place since 2006 on Lukashenka over a previous crackdown against those protesting his disputed reelection .
The European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenka and one of his sons , Viktar , over the latest violence , including a freeze on their assets and travel visa bans .

The United States has imposed sanctions on Belarusian police units and a senior security official in Minsk over their violent crackdown on mass demonstrations against the contested reelection of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on December 23 denounced what he said were ongoing "efforts to undermine Belarusian democracy."
"We stand with the brave people of Belarus and support their right to free and fair elections," Pompeo said.
In announcing the sanctions on December 23, the Treasury Department said it will freeze any U.S. assets and prohibit any transactions with Belarusian First Deputy Interior Minister Henadz Kazakevich.
Kazakevich had appeared in a video in October threatening to use lethal force against those demonstrating against official results of Belarus's August presidential election -- a vote in which Lukashenka was declared the winner of a sixth term.
The demonstrators have rejected the results, saying they were rigged in Lukashenka's favor.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets for months, declaring that opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya was the real winner.
The Treasury Department on December 23 also imposed sanctions on three security bodies involved in the crackdown.
They include the Minsk Special Purpose Police Unit (OMON), the General Directorate of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee, and the Minsk-based KGB "Alpha Unit."
The United States previously imposed sanctions on individual election officials accused of rigging the August vote.
But the expanded sanctions announced by Washington on December 23 also included the Belarusian Central Election Commission.
Washington has had sanctions in place since 2006 on Lukashenka over a previous crackdown against those protesting his disputed reelection.
The European Union has also imposed fresh measures against Lukashenka and one of his sons, Viktar, over the latest violence, including a freeze on their assets and travel visa bans.
With reporting by AFP