rferl--2020-07-02--Novak Djokovic, Wife Test Negative For Coronavirus

Serbia 's Novak Djokovic , the world 's top-ranked men 's tennis player , and his wife have tested negative for the coronavirus , his media team said on July 2 , 10 days after announcing they had contracted COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus .
Djokovic tested positive after playing in an exhibition tournament he organized in Serbia and Croatia amid the pandemic .
No social distancing was observed at the matches in Belgrade and Zadar , Croatia .
“ Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena are negative for COVID-19 .
That was shown by the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Belgrade , ” his media team said in a statement .
Both Djokovic and his wife had no symptoms and were in self-isolation in the Serbian capital since testing positive , the statement said .
Djokovic was the fourth player infected after participating in the matches in Belgrade and Zadar .
The others were Grigor Dimitrov , Borna Coric , and Viktor Troicki .
Djokovic 's coach , Goran Ivanisevic , has also said he has the virus .
Djokovic came under fire for organizing the tournament with few health precautions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the event even as the tennis world remains in lockdown .
At the time , participants did not break any local laws in either Serbia or Croatia as those countries had relaxed restrictions implemented because of the pandemic .
But a current spike of coronavirus cases in Serbia following the relaxation has prompted the reintroduction of some limitations , such as compulsory wearing of masks , social distancing , and a ban on gatherings of more than five people in towns hit by a surge in cases .
Based on reporting by AP @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the world's top-ranked men's tennis player, and his wife have tested negative for the coronavirus, his media team said on July 2, 10 days after announcing they had contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Djokovic tested positive after playing in an exhibition tournament he organized in Serbia and Croatia amid the pandemic. No social distancing was observed at the matches in Belgrade and Zadar, Croatia.
“Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena are negative for COVID-19. That was shown by the results of the PCR tests that both had in Belgrade,” his media team said in a statement.
Both Djokovic and his wife had no symptoms and were in self-isolation in the Serbian capital since testing positive, the statement said.
Djokovic was the fourth player infected after participating in the matches in Belgrade and Zadar. The others were Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric, and Viktor Troicki.
Djokovic's coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has also said he has the virus.
Djokovic came under fire for organizing the tournament with few health precautions and publicly partying after the Belgrade round of the event even as the tennis world remains in lockdown.
At the time, participants did not break any local laws in either Serbia or Croatia as those countries had relaxed restrictions implemented because of the pandemic.
But a current spike of coronavirus cases in Serbia following the relaxation has prompted the reintroduction of some limitations, such as compulsory wearing of masks, social distancing, and a ban on gatherings of more than five people in towns hit by a surge in cases.
Based on reporting by AP, dpa, AFP, and Reuters


rferl--2020-07-02--EU Calls For Investigation Into Irregularities In 'Triumphant' Vote For Putin

MOSCOW -- The European Union has called on Russia to probe reports of irregularities in a national , nonbinding plebiscite that approved a sprawling package of constitutional amendments that , among other things , would open the possibility for President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036 .
The Kremlin on July 2 hailed the landslide victory that saw almost 78 percent of ballots approving the package of more than 200 changes to the constitution as `` a triumphant referendum on trust in President Vladimir Putin.
” But reports of irregularities at some polling stations , and intimidation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , prompted the 27-nation bloc to call for an immediate investigation .
`` We are aware of reports and allegations of irregularities during the vote , including voter coercion , double voting , violation of secrecy of the vote , and allegations of police violence against a journalist who was present to observe , '' EU spokesman Peter Stano said .
`` We expect these reports to be duly investigated because these are serious allegations , '' Stano added .
WATCH : Russian Police Break Arm Of Journalist Covering Constitutional Vote The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the country ’ s stability and security , while Putin ’ s critics charge they are a bid for the 67-year-old to secure power for life .
Voters were given the option of accepting or rejecting the entire package of amendments .
The most-controversial among more than 200 amendments in the package is one that resets Putin ’ s term-limit clock to zero , opening the way for him to run for reelection when his current six-year term expires in 2024 , and again in 2030 .
According to results released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEC ) early on July 2 , with all ballots counted , 77.9 percent of voters endorsed the Kremlin-backed package of more than 200 constitutional amendments .
Some 21.3 percent voted against .
The official turnout was about 65 percent , the commission said .
Voting was spread out over a week in an effort to maintain precautions to limit the spread of the coronavirus .
Putin had declared July 1 , the final day of the voting , to be a public holiday in a bid to encourage voter turnout .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a foregone conclusion -- copies of the new constitution were already on sale in bookshops weeks ahead of the ballot -- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov trumpeted the outcome .
`` Now that Russians have given such support for changes to the constitution , this will all become the foundation for a better future for our country , '' Peskov said .
Ella Pamfilova , head of the commission overseeing the vote said balloting had been transparent and that officials had done everything to ensure its integrity , but critics and opposition figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ results ’ are a fake and a huge lie , ” opposition politician Aleksei Navalny wrote in a blogpost .
“ They have nothing in common with the opinions of the citizens of Russia .
We have witnessed a show , the ending of which was scripted in advance.
” He told supporters in a video he would `` never recognize this result . ''
Navalny said the opposition would not protest now because of the coronavirus pandemic but will later this year if its candidates are blocked from taking part in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are falsified .
`` What Putin fears most is the street , '' said Navalny .
Putin `` will not leave until we start to take to the streets in the hundreds of thousands and in the millions . ''
The anti-amendments campaign Nyet !
released its own exit polling estimating that in Moscow , 55 percent voted against the package , while in St. Petersburg , 63 percent opposed the amendments .
There were numerous reports of alleged ballot-box stuffing and other irregularities in the voting on July 1 .
Police in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Frenkel of the MediaZona outlet as he was covering the voting .
Russian authorities said they were investigating the incident .
The Committee to Protect Journalists ( CPJ ) , a New York-based media rights group , issued a statement on July 1 criticizing the Russian authorities for having “ attacked , arrested , or harassed at least five journalists in the lead-up ” to the plebiscite .
Russians were encouraged to vote with prize draws offering flats and advertisements putting the spotlight on popular amendments such as one that guarantees inflation-linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the polls , Putin ordered one-off payments of 10,000 rubles ( $ 141 ) to those with children .
Opposition to the amendments has been divided , with some groups -- including the Communist Party -- calling for a “ no ” vote and others -- including prominent opposition leader Navalny and the Yabloko party -- calling for a boycott of the plebiscite .
According to the CEC , the package of amendments received at least 50 percent support in almost every region of the country .
It said the Republic of Tyva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent .
The Nenets Autonomous Region was the only one to reject the amendments , results showed , with about 53 percent voting no .
Some officials said the rejection by Nenets is likely the result of residents not wanting to unify with the Arkhangelsk region , which was one of the amendments in the package .
Putin has said that he may take part in 2024 presidential poll .
If he ran for another term after that , he would be 84 by the time his final term expired .
Putin 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and civil rights activists have described the amendments as a “ constitutional coup.
” In addition to enabling Putin to seek additional terms , the amendments would broaden the powers of the parliament in the formation of the government and redistribute some authority among various government structures .
They also explicitly state the priority of Russian law over international law , ban same-sex marriages , describe a “ belief in God ” as a core national value , define the Russian language as “ the language of the state-forming ethnicity , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of the Russian Federation.
” The vote comes amid growing discontent in Russia over the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic , and as polls have shown a decline in Putin ’ s popularity in recent years .
His approval rating sank to a low of 59 percent during the spring , according to the independent Levada Center polling agency .
Putin , a longtime KGB officer during the Soviet era , has been president or prime minister since 1999 .
His supporters credit him with strengthening the country and its economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the crises of the 1990s .
Critics say he has weakened democratic institutions , marginalized political opponents , stifled criticism , and allowed corruption to flourish .
The EU also criticized an amendment of the reform that gave Russian law primacy over its international commitments , which defied the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights , of which Moscow is a signatory .
`` We expect Russia , regardless of any amendments to this constitution , to live up to its international obligations , '' EU spokesman Stano said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any voting that was held in Crimea , which has been annexed by Russia , and eastern Ukraine .
With reporting by Current Time , Reuters , AP , AFP , dpa , and TASS

MOSCOW -- The European Union has called on Russia to probe reports of irregularities in a national, nonbinding plebiscite that approved a sprawling package of constitutional amendments that, among other things, would open the possibility for President Vladimir Putin to remain in power until 2036.
The Kremlin on July 2 hailed the landslide victory that saw almost 78 percent of ballots approving the package of more than 200 changes to the constitution as "a triumphant referendum on trust in President Vladimir Putin.”
But reports of irregularities at some polling stations, and intimidation of activists and journalists seeking to monitor the vote, prompted the 27-nation bloc to call for an immediate investigation.
"We are aware of reports and allegations of irregularities during the vote, including voter coercion, double voting, violation of secrecy of the vote, and allegations of police violence against a journalist who was present to observe," EU spokesman Peter Stano said.
"We expect these reports to be duly investigated because these are serious allegations," Stano added.
The U.S. mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe issued a statement the same day saying it was "troubled by reports of Russian government efforts to manipulate the result of the vote."
WATCH: Russian Police Break Arm Of Journalist Covering Constitutional Vote
The Kremlin has said the amendments are necessary for the country’s stability and security, while Putin’s critics charge they are a bid for the 67-year-old to secure power for life.
Voters were given the option of accepting or rejecting the entire package of amendments.
The most-controversial among more than 200 amendments in the package is one that resets Putin’s term-limit clock to zero, opening the way for him to run for reelection when his current six-year term expires in 2024, and again in 2030.
According to results released by Russia’s Central Election Commission early on July 2, with all ballots counted, 77.9 percent of voters endorsed the Kremlin-backed package. Some 21.3 percent voted against.
The official turnout was about 65 percent, the commission said. Voting was spread out over a week in an effort to maintain precautions to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Putin had declared July 1, the final day of the voting, to be a public holiday in a bid to encourage voter turnout.
Even though the result was seen by many as a foregone conclusion -- copies of the new constitution were already on sale in bookshops weeks ahead of the ballot -- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov trumpeted the outcome.
"Now that Russians have given such support for changes to the constitution, this will all become the foundation for a better future for our country," Peskov said.
Ella Pamfilova, head of the commission overseeing the vote said balloting had been transparent and that officials had done everything to ensure its integrity, but critics and opposition figures denounced the outcome.
"The just-announced 'results' are a fake and a huge lie," opposition politician Aleksei Navalny wrote in a blog post on July 1. "They have nothing in common with the opinions of the citizens of Russia. We have witnessed a show, the ending of which was scripted in advance."
He told supporters in a video he would "never recognize this result."
Navalny said the opposition would not protest now because of the coronavirus pandemic but will later this year if its candidates are blocked from taking part in regional elections or if the election results are falsified.
"What Putin fears most is the street," said Navalny. Putin "will not leave until we start to take to the streets in the hundreds of thousands and in the millions."
The anti-amendments campaign Nyet! released its own exit polling estimating that in Moscow, 55 percent voted against the package, while in St. Petersburg, 63 percent opposed the amendments.
There were numerous reports of alleged ballot-box stuffing and other irregularities in the voting on July 1. Police in St. Petersburg broke the arm of journalist David Frenkel of the MediaZona outlet as he was covering the voting. Russian authorities said they were investigating the incident.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, a New York-based media rights group, issued a statement on July 1 criticizing the Russian authorities for having “attacked, arrested, or harassed at least five journalists in the lead-up” to the plebiscite.
Russians were encouraged to vote with prize draws offering flats and advertisements putting the spotlight on popular amendments such as one that guarantees inflation-linked pensions.
Even as voters headed to the polls, Putin ordered one-off payments of 10,000 rubles ($141) to those with children.
Opposition to the amendments has been divided, with some groups -- including the Communist Party -- calling for a “no” vote and others -- including prominent opposition leader Navalny and the Yabloko party -- calling for a boycott of the plebiscite.
According to the election commission, the package of amendments received at least 50 percent support in almost every region of the country. It said the Republic of Tyva polled the highest support -- almost 97 percent. The Nenets autonomous region was the only one to reject the amendments, results showed, with about 53 percent voting no.
Some officials said the rejection by Nenets is likely the result of residents not wanting to unify with the Arkhangelsk region, which was one of the amendments in the package.
Putin has said that he may take part in 2024 presidential poll. If he ran for another term after that, he would be 84 by the time his final term expired.
Putin's critics, law experts, opposition politicians, and civil rights activists have described the amendments as a “constitutional coup.”
In addition to enabling Putin to seek additional terms, the amendments would broaden the powers of the parliament in the formation of the government and redistribute some authority among various government structures.
They also explicitly state the priority of Russian law over international law, ban same-sex marriages, describe a “belief in God” as a core national value, define the Russian language as “the language of the state-forming ethnicity,” and make it “impossible to alienate parts of the Russian Federation.”
The vote comes amid growing discontent in Russia over the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, and as polls have shown a decline in Putin’s popularity in recent years. His approval rating sank to a low of 59 percent during the spring, according to the independent Levada Center polling agency.
Putin, a longtime KGB officer during the Soviet era, has been president or prime minister since 1999.
His supporters credit him with strengthening the country and its economy after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the crises of the 1990s.
Critics say he has weakened democratic institutions, marginalized political opponents, stifled criticism, and allowed corruption to flourish.
The EU also criticized an amendment of the reform that gave Russian law primacy over its international commitments, which defied the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, of which Moscow is a signatory.
"We expect Russia, regardless of any amendments to this constitution, to live up to its international obligations," EU spokesman Stano said, adding that the bloc did not recognize any voting that was held in Crimea, which has been annexed by Russia, and eastern Ukraine.
With reporting by Current Time, Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa, and TASS


rferl--2020-07-02--Light Sentence For Kyrgyz Domestic Abuser Irks Activists

BISHKEK -- A man in Kyrgyzstan 's southern region of Jalal-Abad has been freed from custody despite being found guilty of severely beating and torturing his wife in a case that became widely known after a video showing the beating went viral last month .
In following new sentencing guidelines that were part of a 2019 reform package that criminalized domestic violence , the judge handed the man a two-year suspended sentence , with a warning that if he breaks the law the sentence can be turned into a two-year prison term .
The unidentified 51-year-old resident of the Suzak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video circulated on the Internet showing him beating and pouring buckets of water on his shaken wife who cried as she stood outside with two car tires hanging from a rope around her neck .
As the man abused the woman , he gave instructions to another woman , apparently a relative , to `` properly '' film the scene .
Rights activists decried the sentence saying it sends the wrong message to offenders .
`` Impunity for domestic violence : that 's the message a two-year suspended sentence ... sends , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Human Rights Watch , wrote on Twitter on July 2 .
`` Strengthening laws for dv ( domestic violence ) is a start , but if courts wo n't sanction abusers caught on tape ?
Ugh , '' she added .
The woman being abused in the video , who was hospitalized after the incident , originally filed a lawsuit against her husband , who was arrested days later .
But police said the woman later withdrew her suit , saying that she had forgiven her spouse .
Local prosecutors , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyrgyz authorities have been trying to curb domestic violence in the country for years .
The Interior Ministry said earlier this year that almost 6,145 domestic violence cases had been registered in 2019 but only 649 resulted in criminal cases .

BISHKEK -- A man in Kyrgyzstan's southern region of Jalal-Abad has been freed from custody despite being found guilty of severely beating and torturing his wife in a case that became widely known after a video showing the beating went viral last month.
In following new sentencing guidelines that were part of a 2019 reform package that criminalized domestic violence, the judge handed the man a two-year suspended sentence, with a warning that if he breaks the law the sentence can be turned into a two-year prison term.
The unidentified 51-year-old resident of the Suzak district was arrested in mid-June after a video circulated on the Internet showing him beating and pouring buckets of water on his shaken wife who cried as she stood outside with two car tires hanging from a rope around her neck.
As the man abused the woman, he gave instructions to another woman, apparently a relative, to "properly" film the scene.
Rights activists decried the sentence saying it sends the wrong message to offenders.
"Impunity for domestic violence: that's the message a two-year suspended sentence...sends," Mihra Rittmann, senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, wrote on Twitter on July 2.
"Strengthening laws for dv (domestic violence) is a start, but if courts won't sanction abusers caught on tape? Ugh," she added.
The woman being abused in the video, who was hospitalized after the incident, originally filed a lawsuit against her husband, who was arrested days later.
But police said the woman later withdrew her suit, saying that she had forgiven her spouse. Local prosecutors, however, refused to close the case.
Kyrgyz authorities have been trying to curb domestic violence in the country for years.
The Interior Ministry said earlier this year that almost 6,145 domestic violence cases had been registered in 2019 but only 649 resulted in criminal cases.


rferl--2020-07-02--COVID-19: Kazakhstan Reimposes Restrictions As Coronavirus Cases Surge

The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 510,000 , with more than 10.7 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness .
Authorities in Kazakhstan have reintroduced a partial lockdown amid a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the Central Asian nation .
The government announced on July 2 that the two-week restriction will start on July 5 .
The restrictions include a ban on public events , entertainment , sports events , and mass celebrations of family events or commemorations .
Limitations on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented .
Outdoor gatherings of more than three people will be prohibited .
`` The banned activities will include operations of beauty salons , hairdressers , fitness centers , gyms , indoor and outdoor markets , beaches , aquaparks , all cultural [ places of interest ] , museums , exhibition halls , conferences , mosques and churches , preschool institutions , cinemas , children 's summer camps , etc.
, '' the government said in a statement , adding that at least 80 percent of employees of state organizations and companies will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the government 's July 2 session that the two-week quarantine may be extended for another 14-day period or tightened further if need be .
The spread of the virus intensified in Kazakhstan after a state of emergency declared on March 16 was lifted on May 11 .
The Word Health Organization has designated Kazakhstan as a country experiencing a `` rapid '' spread of the coronavirus .
Kazakh health authorities said on July 2 that the number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 42,574 , of which 14,059 people recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of U.S. senators have called on Central Asian leaders to release activists being detained because of the risk of contracting the coronavirus in prison .
The call came in letters addressed to four Central Asian leaders , Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev of Kazakhstan , Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan , Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov of Turkmenistan , and Shavkat Mirziyoev of Uzbekistan , and signed by a dozen senators .
“ Individuals should never be imprisoned for exercising their rights of freedom of assembly , association , and speech , ” the senators wrote in the July 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these individuals on the merits of their cases , but today , we also urge you to act quickly on health and humanitarian grounds .
While all nations and citizens have been affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic , the risks to the detainee population are particularly acute given the enclosed living conditions , ” they added .
Although , no separate letter was addressed to the Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov , the senators in a joint statement called on him to release Azimjan Askarov , an ethnic Uzbek human rights activist sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` unfounded charges of participating in mass disturbances , inciting ethnic hatred , and abetting the murder of a police officer . ''
UN Human Rights Committee experts found in April 2016 that Askarov “ had been arbitrarily detained , held in inhumane conditions , tortured and mistreated , and prevented from adequately preparing his trial defense . ''

The global death toll from the coronavirus is over 510,000, with more than 10.7 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions.
Kazakhstan
Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, who continues to play a major role in ruling the country even after his sudden resignation last year, has reportedly recovered after contracting the coronavirus.
Spokesman Aidos Ukibai wrote on Twitter that Nazarbaev's latest coronavirus test came back negative on July 2, just four days before his 80th birthday.
"In accordance with doctors' recommendations, Nursultan Nazarbaev continues to with a self-isolation regime, working remotely, and frequently walking in fresh air," Ukibai wrote.
Nazarbaev will turn 80 on July 6, a day marked in the Central Asian country as the Day of the Capital, which many consider a way to celebrate Nazarbaev's birthday on a national level. The day after his sudden resignation in March 2019, Astana was renamed Nur-Sultan after the former leader.
However, this year, starting on July 5, all mass gatherings and celebrations have been banned for at least two weeks due to a spike in the number of coronavirus cases across the country.
Nazarbaev was first reported as infected with the coronavirus on June 18.
His resignation more than a year ago after ruling the oil-rich former Soviet republic for almost 30 years came as surprise. But he continues to lead the ruling Nur-Otan party and the country's powerful Security Council.
He also enjoys the broad benefits of the title of "elbasy," the leader of the nation.
Nazarbaev's opponents say he de facto continues to run the country of 18 million by supervising actions of incumbent President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev.
Meanwhile, the reimposed restrictions include a ban on public events, entertainment, sports events, and mass celebrations of family events or commemorations. Limitations on the movement of people will also be implemented.
Outdoor gatherings of more than three people will be prohibited.
"The banned activities will include operations of beauty salons, hairdressers, fitness centers, gyms, indoor and outdoor markets, beaches, aquaparks, all cultural [places of interest], museums, exhibition halls, conferences, mosques and churches, preschool institutions, cinemas, children's summer camps, etc.," the government said in a statement, adding that at least 80 percent of employees of state organizations and companies will work remotely.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
Prime Minister Asqar Mamin said at the government's July 2 session that the two-week quarantine may be extended for another 14-day period or tightened further if need be.
The spread of the virus intensified in Kazakhstan after a state of emergency declared on March 16 was lifted on May 11.
The Word Health Organization has designated Kazakhstan as a country experiencing a "rapid" spread of the coronavirus.
Kazakh health authorities said on July 2 that the number of coronavirus cases in the country reached 42,574, of which 14,059 people recovered and 188 died.
Central Asia
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators have called on Central Asian leaders to release activists being detained because of the risk of contracting the coronavirus in prison.
The call came in letters addressed to four Central Asian leaders, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev of Kazakhstan, Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov of Turkmenistan, and Shavkat Mirziyoev of Uzbekistan, and signed by a dozen senators.
“Individuals should never be imprisoned for exercising their rights of freedom of assembly, association, and speech,” the senators wrote in the July 1 letter.
“We call for releasing these individuals on the merits of their cases, but today, we also urge you to act quickly on health and humanitarian grounds. While all nations and citizens have been affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the risks to the detainee population are particularly acute given the enclosed living conditions,” they added.
Although, no separate letter was addressed to the Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, the senators in a joint statement called on him to release Azimjan Askarov, an ethnic Uzbek human rights activist sentenced in 2010 to life in prison on "unfounded charges of participating in mass disturbances, inciting ethnic hatred, and abetting the murder of a police officer."
UN Human Rights Committee experts found in April 2016 that Askarov “had been arbitrarily detained, held in inhumane conditions, tortured and mistreated, and prevented from adequately preparing his trial defense."
With reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service


rferl--2020-07-02--Iran Says Natanz Nuclear Facility Not Damaged Despite 'Incident'

Iran says there has been an “ incident ” at one of its nuclear facilities monitored by the UN 's atomic agency , but there was no damage to the site .
Iran ’ s Atomic Energy Organization spokesman Behruz Kamalvandi said the incident occurred early on July 2 at the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in central Iran where a building under construction , described as an `` industrial shed , '' was damaged , though there was no impact on its centrifuge facility .
There was no previously announced construction work at Natanz , the Islamic republic 's main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south of Tehran , which includes underground facilities built under some 7.6 meters of concrete to offer protection from air strikes .
`` The incident did not cause any casualties and did not damage the current activities of this complex , '' Kamalvandi was quoted as saying by several Iranian media outlets including the state-run IRNA news agency .
The affected building was above ground and not part of the enrichment facility itself , Kamalvandi said , adding that there was “ no need for concern ” over the incident , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Natanz is among the sites now monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) after Iran 's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers .
U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in May 2018 .
Iran now is breaking all the production limits set by the deal , but still allows IAEA inspectors and cameras to watch its nuclear sites .
Currently , the IAEA says Iran enriches uranium to about 4.5 percent purity , above the terms of the nuclear deal , but far below weapons-grade levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the center of a dispute last year as Iranian officials refused to allow an IAEA inspector into the facility in October after allegedly testing positive for suspected traces of explosive nitrates .
Based on reporting by Reuters , AP , Tasnim , and IRNA

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


rferl--2020-07-02--U.S. Intelligence Officials To Hold Classified Briefing On Allegations Russia Offered Bounties To Ta

U.S. Intelligence Officials To Hold Classified Briefing On Allegations Russia Offered Bounties To Taliban

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is due to be briefed on July 2 by senior intelligence officials following reports alleging Russia paid the Taliban bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan .
The briefing comes amid mounting calls for new sanctions against Russia and as the president and administration officials step up their defense of the administration ’ s response to the matter .
The intelligence officials who will speak with the lawmakers in a classified briefing on Capitol Hill include CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe .
U.S. President Donald Trump on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the reported Russian effort to get the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers because many U.S. intelligence officials doubted it was true .
`` We never heard about it because intelligence never found it to be of that level , '' he told Fox Business Network .
`` The intelligence people…many of them did n't believe it happened at all . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( Republican-Kentucky ) , who is among the lawmakers to be briefed on July 2 , said he didn ’ t think Trump should be “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , have been upping the pressure on Trump over the report , which first appeared last week in The New York Times based on multiple unidentified sources with knowledge of the matter .
They have questioned how the president could not have known about the intelligence and why he has not issued a stronger response .
Lawmakers from both parties have demanded more information about the alleged bounty scheme and whether any bounties were paid for the death of U.S. troops .
Many , including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( Democrat-California ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if the allegations are true .
`` We must institute sanctions against Russia and we must do it right away , '' she said on MSNBC on July 1 .
Senator Chuck Grassley ( Republican-Iowa ) , speaking on the Senate floor , said the matter “ demands a strong response , and I don ’ t mean a diplomatic response , ” if the reports are true .
'We Took This Seriously' White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters that if the allegations are verified , “ I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action . ''
He added that Washington may never know the truth of the matter because of leaks to the media .
O'Brien provided a few specifics , saying Trump was not verbally briefed by his CIA briefer , and he defended that decision as `` the right call . ''
The briefer , a senior career civil servant , `` did n't have confidence in the intelligence , '' O'Brien said .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the situation was handled “ incredibly well ” to ensure the safety of U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we handled it appropriately , ” Pompeo said at a briefing .
He said the administration receives intelligence about threats to Americans every day and each is addressed .
Pompeo added that Russian activity in Afghanistan is nothing new and when there is credible information suggesting Russians are putting American lives at risk , the United States responds `` in a way that is serious . ''
Russia and the Taliban have denied the existence of any offer of bounties to kill U.S. troops .
But according to The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European government sources familiar with intelligence reporting say bounties were offered .
They said that in recent weeks the United States had acquired fresh information backing up the allegations that Russia had encouraged Taliban-affiliated militants to kill U.S. and allied soldiers in Afghanistan , according to the news reports .
At least two sources have said the U.S. intelligence community is confident Russia encouraged the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan but there was internal debate over whether Moscow had actually paid bounties .
Another person familiar with the matter said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include it in May in its daily publication , and its inclusion there undermines the administration ’ s claim that it was not verified , the source said .
A withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is a top agenda item for the president , who is up for reelection in November .
The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in February intended to pave the way for peace talks between the militant group and the U.S.-backed government in Kabul and bring an end to the long-running conflict .
With @ @ @ @ @

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has been briefed by senior intelligence officials following reports alleging Russia paid the Taliban bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Lawmakers from the Democratic and Republican parties have demanded more information about the alleged bounty scheme and whether any bounties were paid for the death of U.S. troops. Many have called for sanctions against Russia, if the allegations are true.
The top intelligence officials who spoke with the lawmakers in a classified briefing on Capitol Hill included CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat-California), who participated in the gathering, told reporters that U.S. sanctions on Russia should be beefed up to include the country's intelligence and defense sectors.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that "independent of the briefing, I don't think the president is close to tough enough on Vladimir Putin."
U.S. President Donald Trump on July 1 reiterated that he was not told about the reported Russian effort to get the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers because many U.S. intelligence officials doubted it was true.
"We never heard about it because intelligence never found it to be of that level," he told Fox Business Network. "The intelligence people…many of them didn't believe it happened at all."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican-Kentucky), who was among the lawmakers briefed on July 2, said he didn'’t think Trump should be "subjected to every rumor."
Democrats, however, have been upping the pressure on Trump over the report, which first appeared last week in The New York Times based on multiple unidentified sources with knowledge of the matter. They have questioned how the president could not have known about the intelligence and why he has not issued a stronger response.
Senator Chuck Grassley (Republican-Iowa), speaking on the Senate floor on July 1, said the matter "demands a strong response, and I don't mean a diplomatic response," if the reports are true.
'We Took This Seriously'
White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters that if the allegations are verified, “I can guarantee you the president will take strong action." He added that Washington may never know the truth of the matter because of leaks to the media.
O'Brien provided a few specifics, saying Trump was not verbally briefed by his CIA briefer, and he defended that decision as "the right call." The briefer, a senior career civil servant, "didn't have confidence in the intelligence," O'Brien said.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the situation was handled “incredibly well” to ensure the safety of U.S. troops.
“We took this seriously, we handled it appropriately,” Pompeo said at a briefing. He said the administration receives intelligence about threats to Americans every day and each is addressed.
Pompeo added that Russian activity in Afghanistan is nothing new and when there is credible information suggesting Russians are putting American lives at risk, the United States responds "in a way that is serious."
Russia and the Taliban have denied the existence of any offer of bounties to kill U.S. troops.
But according to The New York Times and other media outlets unidentified U.S. and European government sources familiar with intelligence reporting say bounties were offered.
They said that in recent weeks the United States had acquired fresh information backing up the allegations that Russia had encouraged Taliban-affiliated militants to kill U.S. and allied soldiers in Afghanistan, according to the news reports.
At least two sources have said the U.S. intelligence community is confident Russia encouraged the Taliban to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan but there was internal debate over whether Moscow had actually paid bounties.
Another person familiar with the matter said the CIA was sufficiently confident of the intelligence to include it in May in its daily publication, and its inclusion there undermines the administration’s claim that it was not verified, the source said.
A withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is a top agenda item for the president, who is up for reelection in November. The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in February intended to pave the way for peace talks between the militant group and the U.S.-backed government in Kabul and bring an end to the long-running conflict.
With reporting by AP and Reuters


rferl--2020-07-01--Ukrainian Central Bank Chief Resigns, Cites 'Political Pressure'

KYIV -- The governor of Ukraine 's central bank , Yakiv Smoliy , says he is resigning because of “ systematic political pressure that denied fulfillment ” of his duties .
Smoliy announced on Twitter on July 1 he had submitted his resignation to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy .
`` Let it be a warning for attempts to undermine institutional independence of the central bank , '' he wrote .
Zelenskiy 's office said in a statement that ensuring the National Bank of Ukraine 's ( NBU ) independence remained its priority , and that the bank and the government should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies .
The NBU has previously complained of being subjected to pressure , including over its decision in 2016 to nationalize Ukraine 's largest lender , PrivatBank .
Smoliy has been the head of the NBU since March 2018 .
Under his leadership , the bank has kept its reputation among investors as a respected institution that managed to bring down inflation .
His announcement comes as the country 's economy is expected to contract by around 5 percent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
If Zelenskiy accepts the resignation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , $ 5 billion loan program approved by the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) last month to help Ukraine cope with the economic fallout of the pandemic .
“ The NBU is the most trusted institution amongst foreign institutional investors .
Terrible news for Ukraine .
The future of the IMF programme must be in doubt .
Who succeeds Smoliy will be critical , ” Timothy Ash at Blue Bay Asset Management tweeted .

KYIV -- The governor of Ukraine's central bank, Yakiv Smoliy, says he is resigning because of “systematic political pressure that denied fulfillment” of his duties.
Smoliy announced on Twitter on July 1 he had submitted his resignation to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
"Let it be a warning for attempts to undermine institutional independence of the central bank," he wrote.
Zelenskiy's office said in a statement that ensuring the National Bank of Ukraine's (NBU) independence remained its priority, and that the bank and the government should continue to implement prudent monetary and fiscal policies.
The NBU has previously complained of being subjected to pressure, including over its decision in 2016 to nationalize Ukraine's largest lender, PrivatBank.
Smoliy has been the head of the NBU since March 2018. Under his leadership, the bank has kept its reputation among investors as a respected institution that managed to bring down inflation.
His announcement comes as the country's economy is expected to contract by around 5 percent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If Zelenskiy accepts the resignation, experts said it could derail an 18-month, $5 billion loan program approved by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last month to help Ukraine cope with the economic fallout of the pandemic.
“The NBU is the most trusted institution amongst foreign institutional investors. Terrible news for Ukraine. The future of the IMF programme must be in doubt. Who succeeds Smoliy will be critical,” Timothy Ash at Blue Bay Asset Management tweeted.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-07-02--U.S. Congress Urges Ukraine To Negotiate With Renewable Energy Producers Amid Price Dispute

WASHINGTON -- Members of the U.S. Congressional Ukraine Caucus have asked President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to find a compromise with renewable energy producers over prices as a months-long dispute threatens foreign investment .
Ukraine ’ s parliament will hold the first of two readings on July 3 of a new bill that would cut prices for solar and wind energy producers by 15 percent and 7.5 percent , respectively , the latest government proposal to unnerve the business community .
Wind producers have agreed to the government ’ s proposal while solar producers have asked for a two-year extension to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new price formula would otherwise crush their profitability and discourage new investment .
In a July 2 letter addressed to Zelenskiy , House of Representatives members Marcy Kaptur ( Democrat-Ohio ) and Mike Quigley ( Democrat-Illinois ) called on the Ukrainian president to proceed with a “ consensual approach ” in talks with wind and solar energy producers .
“ Maintaining the integrity of this approach would be recognized as a substantial achievement and would bolster Ukraine ’ s credibility in attracting further foreign direct investment in its energy sector and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” they wrote .
Kaptur , who is co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus , held a webinar last month with alternative energy producers operating in Ukraine to discuss the impact of the new bill on their businesses .
Foreign investors , including American businesses , have poured more than $ 2 billion into Ukraine ’ s renewable industry since 2015 , when the nation passed legislation that offered favorable pricing over a ten-year period in order to attract needed investment .
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation , a state agency , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political risk insurance for Ukrainian alternative energy projects .
Zelenskiy , who won in a landslide last year in part on a promise to attract more foreign investment to Ukraine , is now revisiting that earlier agreement , raising questions about his government ’ s respect for investor rights .
Solar producers have said they would bow to the government ’ s price cut if it would extend the period of favorable pricing from 10 years to 12 years .
However , the bill submitted to parliament contains no extension .
Solar investors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter to the government that it faces the prospect of having the industry ’ s success tumble “ into a web of acrimony and litigation ” if it doesn ’ t extend the time frame .
Parliament could choose to amend the bill , which must pass two readings before being sent to the government .
In the meantime , the Ukrainian government has stopped fully paying alternative energy producers for their output .
With the onset of the coronavirus in March , the state has paid as little as 5 percent for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The government ’ s decision to renege on an earlier power agreement is just the latest “ big blow ” for private investors in Ukraine who were initially emboldened by Zelenskiy ’ s promises to reform the economy and boost growth , Morgan Williams , the president of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council ( USUBC ) , a Washington-based lobby group , told RFE/RL .
The 42-year-old Zelenskiy in March unexpectedly sacked his pro-reform government after just six months .
Then , on July 1 , Yakiv Smoliy , the respected governor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quit , saying he faced political pressure in carrying out his duties .
The USUBC joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine , the European Business Association , and other business groups in publishing a statement on July 2 saying the business community was “ deeply concerned ” about Smoliy ’ s resignation and the independence of the central bank .

Members of the U.S. Congressional Ukraine Caucus have asked President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to find a compromise with renewable energy producers over prices as a months-long dispute threatens foreign investment.
Ukraine's parliament will hold the first of two readings on July 3 of a new bill that would cut prices for solar and wind energy producers by 15 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, the latest government proposal to unnerve the business community.
Wind producers have agreed to the government's proposal while solar producers have asked for a two-year extension to the time frame for favorable pricing, saying the new price formula would otherwise crush their profitability and discourage new investment.
In a July 2 letter addressed to Zelenskiy, House of Representatives members Marcy Kaptur (Democrat-Ohio) and Mike Quigley (Democrat-Illinois) called on the Ukrainian president to proceed with a "consensual approach" in talks with wind- and solar-energy producers.
"Maintaining the integrity of this approach would be recognized as a substantial achievement and would bolster Ukraine's credibility in attracting further foreign direct investment in its energy sector and other sectors of Ukraine's economy," they wrote.
Kaptur, who is a co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, held a webinar last month with alternative energy producers operating in Ukraine to discuss the impact of the new bill on their businesses.
Foreign investors, including American businesses, have poured more than $2 billion into Ukraine's renewable industry since 2015, when the country passed legislation that offered favorable pricing over a 10-year period in order to attract needed investment.
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, a state agency, has committed $400 million in financing and political-risk insurance for Ukrainian alternative energy projects.
Zelenskiy, who won in a landslide last year in part on a promise to attract more foreign investment to Ukraine, is now revisiting that earlier agreement, raising questions about his government's respect for investor rights.
Solar producers have said they would bow to the government's price cut if it would extend the period of favorable pricing from 10 years to 12 years. However, the bill submitted to parliament contains no extension.
Solar investors in Ukraine warned in a June 23 letter to the government that it faces the prospect of having the industry's success tumble “"nto a web of acrimony and litigation" if it doesn't extend the time frame.
Parliament could choose to amend the bill, which must pass two readings before being sent to the government.
In the meantime, the Ukrainian government has stopped fully paying alternative energy producers for their output. With the onset of the coronavirus in March, the state has paid as little as 5 percent for the energy it has received from producers.
The government's decision to renege on an earlier power agreement is just the latest "big blow" for private investors in Ukraine who were initially emboldened by Zelenskiy's promises to reform the economy and boost growth, Morgan Williams, the president of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), a Washington-based lobby group, told RFE/RL.
The 42-year-old Zelenskiy in March unexpectedly fired his pro-reform government after just six months. Then, on July 1, Yakiv Smoliy, the respected governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, abruptly quit, saying he faced political pressure in carrying out his duties.
The USUBC joined the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the European Business Association, and other business groups in publishing a statement on July 2 saying the business community was "deeply concerned" about Smoliy's resignation and the independence of the central bank.


rferl--2020-07-02--India Agrees To Multi-Billion Dollar Russian Jet Deal Amid Standoff With China

India has green-lighted the purchase of 33 Russian fighter jets and upgrades to 59 others worth $ 2.4 billion at a time of rising border tensions with China .
The Defense Ministry announced on July 2 the purchase from Russia of 21 MiG-29s as well as upgrades to 59 existing MiG-29 aircraft .
The government also approved the procurement of 12 Russian Su-30 MKI aircraft to be built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited .
The purchase , along with indigenously produced missile systems in line with the government ’ s `` Make in India '' initiative , were made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the defense of our borders , ” the Defense Ministry said in a statement .
The announcement followed a telephone conversation between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Among other things , Modi congratulated Putin for the “ successful completion ” of a national vote on constitutional amendments that could allow the Russian leader to rule until 2036 .
The two leaders also discussed plans for a bilateral summit later this year in India .
New Delhi and Moscow were partners during the Cold War and much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian origin .
In 2019 , India was the third-largest military spender in the world at $ 71.1 billion , according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI ) .
Modi has sought to boost the domestic defense industry by focusing on indigenous design , production , and development , as well as technology transfer agreements with other countries .
Most of India 's arms imports still come from Russia .
The United States and Israel are also major providers of high-tech military hardware .
India ’ s military buildup comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks following a clash on June 15 along a disputed stretch of border in the Himalayas in which India lost 20 soldiers .
With reporting by AFP and Reuters

India has green-lighted the purchase of 33 Russian fighter jets and upgrades to 59 others worth $2.4 billion at a time of rising border tensions with China.
The Defense Ministry on July 2 announced the purchase from Russia of 21 MiG-29s as well as upgrades to 59 existing MiG-29 aircraft.
The government also approved the procurement of 12 Russian Su-30 MKI aircraft to be built under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The purchase, along with indigenously produced missile systems in line with the government’s "Make in India" initiative, were made "to strengthen the armed forces for the defense of our borders," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The announcement followed a telephone conversation between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Among other things, Modi congratulated Putin for the "successful completion" of a national vote on constitutional amendments that could allow the Russian leader to rule until 2036.
The two leaders also discussed plans for a bilateral summit later this year in India.
New Delhi and Moscow were partners during the Cold War and much of India's military hardware is of Russian origin.
In 2019, India was the third-largest military spender in the world at $71.1 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Modi has sought to boost the domestic defense industry by focusing on indigenous design, production, and development, as well as technology transfer agreements with other countries.
Most of India's arms imports still come from Russia. The United States and Israel are also major providers of high-tech military hardware.
India’s military buildup comes as its relationship with China has worsened in recent weeks following a clash on June 15 along a disputed stretch of border in the Himalayas in which India lost 20 soldiers.
With reporting by AFP and Reuters


rferl--2020-07-02--U.S. Seeks To Seize Iran Gasoline Shipments Heading To Venezuela

U.S. prosecutors have filed a lawsuit to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is currently shipping to Venezuela , the latest attempt to increase pressure on the two sanctioned anti-American allies .
The civil-forfeiture complaint filed in the District of Columbia federal court late on July 1 claims the sale was arranged by an Iranian businessman with ties to Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps , a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization .
Since September 2018 , the IRGC 's elite Quds Force has moved oil through a sanctioned shipping network involving dozens of ship managers , vessels , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The profits from these activities support the IRGC 's full range of nefarious activities , including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery , support for terrorism , and a variety of human rights abuses , at home and abroad , '' the prosecutors alleged .
Iran 's mission to the United Nations said that any attempt by the United States to prevent Iranian lawful trading with any country of its choosing would be an act of `` piracy . ''
The four tankers named in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pandi , and Luna -- are carrying 1.1 million barrels of gasoline , the U.S. prosecutors said .
The Justice Department said on July 2 that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a warrant to seize all the gasoline on the vessels , `` based on a probable cause showing of forfeitability . ''
The United States has been pressing for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro 's ouster with a campaign of diplomatic and punitive measures , including sanctions on its energy sector .
The South American country is suffering from a gasoline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tensions have been on the rise between Tehran and Washington since 2018 , when the United States withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions that have battered the Iranian economy .
With reporting by AP and Reuters


rferl--2020-07-02--Prominent Russian Expert On Mercenary Groups Convicted Of Treason

The St. Petersburg City Court has sentenced military analyst Vladimir Neyelov to seven years in prison after convicting him of treason .
`` The court found that Neyelov , for money , gave a German consulting firm information about the process of training and preparing operative agents of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation , '' the court said in a statement on July 2 after a closed trial .
The court added that Neyelov `` partially '' admitted his guilt by arguing that the information he provided was not classified .
Neyelov , 30 , was arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow ’ s Lefortovo remand prison .
Neyelov worked with Moscow 's Center for Strategic Forecasting and specialized in Russia 's private security firms , some of which carry out mercenary activities abroad in cooperation with Russian security forces .
He was often quoted in the media speaking about the Vagner security group , which is controlled by financier Yevgeny Prigozhin .
The Vagner group has sent mercenaries to Ukraine , Syria , Libya , and other countries .
He also is the author or co-author of several books on the activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflicts in the former Soviet space and in Afghanistan .
With reporting by the BBC

The St. Petersburg City Court has sentenced military analyst Vladimir Neyelov to seven years in prison after convicting him of treason.
"The court found that Neyelov, for money, gave a German consulting firm information about the process of training and preparing operative agents of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation," the court said in a statement on July 2 after a closed trial.
The court added that Neyelov "partially" admitted his guilt by arguing that the information he provided was not classified.
Neyelov, 30, was arrested in October 2018 and has been held in Moscow’s Lefortovo remand prison.
Neyelov worked with Moscow's Center for Strategic Forecasting and specialized in Russia's private security firms, some of which carry out mercenary activities abroad in cooperation with Russian security forces.
He was often quoted in the media speaking about the Vagner security group, which is controlled by financier Yevgeny Prigozhin. The Vagner group has sent mercenaries to Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and other countries.
He also is the author or co-author of several books on the activities of Russian private security firms in various conflicts in the former Soviet space and in Afghanistan.
With reporting by the BBC


rferl--2020-07-02--Ukraine's Foreign Minister Says Russia-Annexed Crimea's 'De-Occupation Is Inevitable'

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Russia 's departure from the Black Sea Crimea Peninsula , which it annexed in 2014 , is `` inevitable . ''
In an interview with RFE/RL , Kuleba said that Crimea 's `` de-occupation '' wo n't be stopped , even by the controversial constitutional amendments -- one of which reiterates the `` inviolability of Russian borders '' -- approved in a vote in Russia on July 1 .
`` We insist that this [ annexation ] is temporary , that an illegal occupation is taking place , emphasizing that this is a temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under international law , this is an act of occupation , '' Kuleba said .
He added that it was very unlikely Russia will agree to take part in talks directly focusing on Crimea 's de-occupation , so the notion of the peninsula returning to Ukrainian hands must be gradually included to the agenda by Ukraine and the international community .
`` Russia , as the occupying power , should strictly meet its obligations , in accordance with international law ... .
Namely , they should not violate human rights in Crimea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not draft local Crimean youth to the Russian Army , they should not block any media outlet expressing thoughts that differ from those of the Kremlin , '' he said .
`` One must understand that if Russia fulfills all these obligations -- it would be a very serious contribution to de-occupation of the peninsula , '' Kuleba added , stressing that the international community should help bring such issues into focus when dealing with Russia .
Kuleba also said that after becoming a member of NATO 's Enhanced Opportunities Partner program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in core military exercises with the alliance 's troops and have more access to intelligence data on developments in Crimea , which are also crucial elements for the peninsula 's de-occupation .

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Russia's departure from the Black Sea Crimea Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, is "inevitable."
In an interview with RFE/RL, Kuleba said that Crimea's "de-occupation" won't be stopped, even by the controversial constitutional amendments -- one of which reiterates the "inviolability of Russian borders" -- approved in a vote in Russia on July 1.
"We insist that this [annexation] is temporary, that an illegal occupation is taking place, emphasizing that this is a temporary phenomenon, it is illegal, and under international law, this is an act of occupation," Kuleba said.
He added that it was very unlikely Russia will agree to take part in talks directly focusing on Crimea's de-occupation, so the notion of the peninsula returning to Ukrainian hands must be gradually included to the agenda by Ukraine and the international community.
"Russia, as the occupying power, should strictly meet its obligations, in accordance with international law.... Namely, they should not violate human rights in Crimea, they should not militarize Crimea, they should not draft local Crimean youth to the Russian Army, they should not block any media outlet expressing thoughts that differ from those of the Kremlin," he said.
"One must understand that if Russia fulfills all these obligations -- it would be a very serious contribution to de-occupation of the peninsula," Kuleba added, stressing that the international community should help bring such issues into focus when dealing with Russia.
Kuleba also said that after becoming a member of NATO's Enhanced Opportunities Partner program last month, Ukraine will take part in core military exercises with the alliance's troops and have more access to intelligence data on developments in Crimea, which are also crucial elements for the peninsula's de-occupation.


rferl--2020-07-02--Sweden Says Iran Agrees To Compensate Families From Downing Of Ukrainian Airliner

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde says Iran has agreed that it will compensate the families of foreign victims who died when a Ukrainian airliner was shot down after taking off from Tehran 's main airport in January , killing all 176 people on board .
`` We have signed an agreement of mutual understanding that we will now negotiate with Iran about amends , compensation to the victims ' next of kin , '' Linde told the Swedish news agency TT , adding the agreement was reached following talks with ministers from the countries affected by the crash .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and when .
Iran has said in the past that it wants to negotiate directly with the victims ' families .
Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was heading to Kyiv when it was shot down by Iran 's air defenses on January 8 in what Iranian officials eventually acknowledged was a `` mistake . ''
Many of the 176 victims were Iranian-Canadians , but there were also nationals of Afghanistan , Britain , Sweden , and Ukraine on board .
Iranian forces had been on high alert at the time of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched missile strikes on an Iraqi military base housing U.S. troops .
The Iranian strikes were carried out in response to the killing of a top Iranian general , Qasem Soleimani , in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad airport .
With reporting by dpa and AFP


rferl--2020-07-02--Ukraine Halts Eurobond Sale, Tries To Reassure Investors After Central Bank Head's Exit

Ukraine 's government has decided to pause a planned $ 1.75 billion Eurobond sale in the wake of the resignation of the head of the country 's central bank .
Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko announced the pause on July 2 , saying the decision came after `` a long night of negotiations with investors '' following word that National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) head Yakiv Smoliy had stepped down complaining of `` systematic political pressure . ''
`` We are ready to pause and then decide what to do next , '' Marchenko said , insisting that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stability .
In the wake of the resignation , Ukraine 's currency , the hryvnya , fell to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar since April .
Smoliy 's resignation could also endanger a pending $ 5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) aimed at helping Ukraine cope with the fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic .
The move fueled concerns about the government 's commitment to its reform agenda under President Volodymyr Zelenskiy , who has pledged to combat corruption .
Zelenskiy has accepted Smoliy 's resignation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to formally dismiss him .
In a statement on July 2 , European Union spokesman Peter Stano said that `` establishing a strong and independent National Bank has been a fundamental achievement for Ukraine , and remains crucial to the country 's future success . ''
He added that Smoliy 's resignation `` against the backdrop of alleged political pressure sends a worrying signal . ''
The IMF also urged Ukraine to maintain the bank 's independence under Smoliy 's successor .
The NBU has previously complained of being subjected to political pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationalize Ukraine 's largest lender , PrivatBank .
That bank was previously co-owned by billionaire Ihor Kolomoyskiy , who has close ties to Zelenskiy .
Smoliy has also complained in recent months about alleged pressure to lower interest rates and aid exporters by keeping the hyrvnya weak .
Smoliy had headed the bank since 2018 and under his leadership the bank developed its reputation among investors and earned plaudits for taming inflation .
With reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg

Ukraine's government has decided to pause a planned $1.75 billion Eurobond sale in the wake of the resignation of the head of the country's central bank.
Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko announced the pause on July 2, saying the decision came after "a long night of negotiations with investors" following word that National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) head Yakiv Smoliy had stepped down complaining of "systematic political pressure."
"We are ready to pause and then decide what to do next," Marchenko said, insisting that there was no threat to Ukraine's financial stability.
In the wake of the resignation, Ukraine's currency, the hryvnya, fell to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar since April.
Smoliy's resignation could also endanger a pending $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) aimed at helping Ukraine cope with the fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic.
The move fueled concerns about the government's commitment to its reform agenda under President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has pledged to combat corruption.
Zelenskiy has accepted Smoliy's resignation, meaning that parliament must now vote to formally dismiss him.
In a statement on July 2, European Union spokesman Peter Stano said that "establishing a strong and independent National Bank has been a fundamental achievement for Ukraine, and remains crucial to the country's future success."
He added that Smoliy's resignation "against the backdrop of alleged political pressure sends a worrying signal."
The IMF also urged Ukraine to maintain the bank's independence under Smoliy's successor.
The NBU has previously complained of being subjected to political pressure, including over its 2016 decision to nationalize Ukraine's largest lender, PrivatBank. That bank was previously co-owned by billionaire Ihor Kolomoyskiy, who has close ties to Zelenskiy.
Smoliy has also complained in recent months about alleged pressure to lower interest rates and aid exporters by keeping the hyrvnya weak.
Smoliy had headed the bank since 2018 and under his leadership the bank developed its reputation among investors and earned plaudits for taming inflation.
With reporting by Reuters and Bloomberg


rferl--2020-07-02--U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Trump Appeal Over Russia Probe Material

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a bid by the administration of President Donald Trump to avoid disclosing to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives grand-jury testimony from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
The high court agreed on July 2 to hear the administration 's appeal of a lower-court order for the material related to former Special Counsel Robert Mueller 's report into Russian meddling to be turned over to the House Judiciary Committee .
The move means the documents wo n't likely be released before the November 3 presidential election , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second four-year term in office .
The House panel has argued it needs the underlying grand-jury material to make its own determinations about Trump 's actions as investigators looked into his campaign 's involvement with Russians .
In March , a federal appeals court ruled that the material must be disclosed to lawmakers because the committee 's need for the material outweighed the Justice Department 's interests in keeping the testimony secret .
Mueller 's report , issued in April 2019 , stopped short of reaching conclusions about Trump 's conduct , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed multiple interactions between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia , but did not find sufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and the Kremlin to tip the election .
However , large portions of the report were blacked out , including the grand-jury testimony and material that Mueller said could harm ongoing investigations or infringe on the privacy of third parties .
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a bid by the administration of President Donald Trump to avoid disclosing to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives grand-jury testimony from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The high court agreed on July 2 to hear the administration's appeal of a lower-court order for the material related to former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report into Russian meddling to be turned over to the House Judiciary Committee.
The move means the documents won't likely be released before the November 3 presidential election, in which the Republican president is seeking a second four-year term in office.
The House panel has argued it needs the underlying grand-jury material to make its own determinations about Trump's actions as investigators looked into his campaign's involvement with Russians.
In March, a federal appeals court ruled that the material must be disclosed to lawmakers because the committee's need for the material outweighed the Justice Department's interests in keeping the testimony secret.
Mueller's report, issued in April 2019, stopped short of reaching conclusions about Trump's conduct, including whether he obstructed justice.
The report detailed multiple interactions between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia, but did not find sufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy between the campaign and the Kremlin to tip the election.
However, large portions of the report were blacked out, including the grand-jury testimony and material that Mueller said could harm ongoing investigations or infringe on the privacy of third parties.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP


rferl--2020-07-02--Belarusian Vlogger Gets Another 15 Days In Jail As He Awaits Criminal Charges

HRODNA , Belarus -- Syarhey Tsikhanouski , a jailed Belarusian vlogger who is seeking to take part in an August presidential election and facing criminal charges , has been sentenced to additional 15 days in jail on a charge of `` disobeying the police . ''
Tsikhanouski took part in the July 1 hearing in a court in the western city of Hrodna via video link from a detention center in Minsk , the capital .
He rejected the charge and called it politically motivated .
The Lenin district court found Tsikhanouski guilty of refusing to follow the orders of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 during rallies held to collect signatures for potential independent presidential candidates , including himself .
The court sentenced him to 15 days in jail .
Tsikhanouski 's supporters in the courtroom chanted , `` Shame !
Shame ! ''
and `` Down with the judge ! ''
after the ruling was pronounced .
Tsikhanouski was first arrested in late May and sentenced to 10 days in jail for taking part in the unsanctioned rally in Hrodna .
He was set to be released on June 8 after completing the sentence but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later that he and seven others had been charged with `` the organization and preparation of actions that severely violated public order , '' a reference to the May 29 rally .
If convicted , Tsikhanouski and the seven others in the case may face up to three years in prison .
Tsikhanouski is the owner of a popular YouTube channel called The Country for Life , which challenges the Belarusian authorities .
In mid-May , the Central Election Commission rejected Tsikhanouski 's registration documents for his candidacy for a presidential election scheduled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidacy was rejected , his wife , Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , has been trying to get registered as a candidate herself , collecting the necessary 100,000 signatures to qualify .
Amnesty International has recognized Tsikhanouski and another jailed potential presidential candidate , Viktar Babaryka , and his son Eduard as prisoners of conscience .
Babaryka and his son were arrested on June 18 after the police questioned them on allegations of tax evasion and money laundering in connection with an investigation at Russian-owned Belgazprombank , where the elder Babaryka worked for 20 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the bank and arrested more than a dozen top executives on charges of tax evasion and money laundering .
Babaryka is said to have compiled more than four times the number of signatures needed to be a candidate in the election .
Critics of incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka , who has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years , say his government has shown little tolerance for dissent and independent media .
Several international and domestic rights groups , western governments and the United Nations experts have called on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , rights defenders , journalists , and bloggers ahead of the presidential election .

HRODNA, Belarus -- Syarhey Tsikhanouski, a jailed Belarusian vlogger who is seeking to take part in an August presidential election and facing criminal charges, has been sentenced to additional 15 days in jail on a charge of "disobeying the police."
Tsikhanouski took part in the July 1 hearing in a court in the western city of Hrodna via video link from a detention center in Minsk, the capital.
He rejected the charge and called it politically motivated.
The Lenin district court found Tsikhanouski guilty of refusing to follow the orders of a police officer in Hrodna on May 29 during rallies held to collect signatures for potential independent presidential candidates, including himself.
The court sentenced him to 15 days in jail.
Tsikhanouski's supporters in the courtroom chanted, "Shame! Shame!" and "Down with the judge!" after the ruling was pronounced.
Tsikhanouski was first arrested in late May and sentenced to 10 days in jail for taking part in the unsanctioned rally in Hrodna.
He was set to be released on June 8 after completing the sentence but he was kept incarcerated and said a day later that he and seven others had been charged with "the organization and preparation of actions that severely violated public order," a reference to the May 29 rally.
If convicted, Tsikhanouski and the seven others in the case may face up to three years in prison.
Tsikhanouski is the owner of a popular YouTube channel called The Country for Life, which challenges the Belarusian authorities.
In mid-May, the Central Election Commission rejected Tsikhanouski's registration documents for his candidacy for a presidential election scheduled for August 9.
Since Tsikhanouski's candidacy was rejected, his wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, has been trying to get registered as a candidate herself, collecting the necessary 100,000 signatures to qualify.
Amnesty International has recognized Tsikhanouski and another jailed potential presidential candidate, Viktar Babaryka, and his son Eduard as prisoners of conscience.
Babaryka and his son were arrested on June 18 after the police questioned them on allegations of tax evasion and money laundering in connection with an investigation at Russian-owned Belgazprombank, where the elder Babaryka worked for 20 years.
Belarusian authorities on June 15 took control of the bank and arrested more than a dozen top executives on charges of tax evasion and money laundering.
Babaryka is said to have compiled more than four times the number of signatures needed to be a candidate in the election.
Critics of incumbent President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has been in power in Belarus for more than 25 years, say his government has shown little tolerance for dissent and independent media.
Several international and domestic rights groups, western governments and the United Nations experts have called on Belarusian authorities to stop persecuting political activists, rights defenders, journalists, and bloggers ahead of the presidential election.


rferl--2020-07-02--U.S. Ambassador Says Moscow Likely To Meddle In Georgian Elections

TBILISI -- U.S .
Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has warned that Russia will likely try to interfere in the @ @ @ @ @ We 've seen how active and creative Russian disinformation is in affecting and interfering with @ @ @ @ @ an obvious target , '' Degnan said during a panel discussion organized by the Georgian @ @ @ @ @ 1 .
`` The United States , the U.K. , and other friends of Georgia @ @ @ @ @ be able to discern disinformation from accurate information , to hear and read the media @ @ @ @ @ receiving with greater scrutiny and to be able to evaluate it better , '' she @ @ @ @ @ she did n't `` have any concrete proof , I think it will be quite @ @ @ @ @ to interfere with Georgia 's elections . ''
Degnan pointed to a massive , allegedly @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 Georgian websites in October 2019 as `` a serious warning '' for Georgia and @ @ @ @ @ in Georgian will be held in October .

TBILISI -- U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has warned that Russia will likely try to interfere in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
"We've seen how active and creative Russian disinformation is in affecting and interfering with many elections and Georgia is an obvious target," Degnan said during a panel discussion organized by the Georgian Institute of Politics on July 1.
"The United States, the U.K., and other friends of Georgia are helping the public to be able to discern disinformation from accurate information, to hear and read the media and the information they are receiving with greater scrutiny and to be able to evaluate it better," she added, noting that while she didn't "have any concrete proof, I think it will be quite likely that Russia will try to interfere with Georgia's elections."
Degnan pointed to a massive, allegedly Russian-organized cyberattack on more than 2,000 Georgian websites in October 2019 as "a serious warning" for Georgia and other countries.
Parliamentary elections in Georgian will be held in October.


rferl--2020-07-02--Nornickel Draws Up Permafrost Monitoring Plan After Russian Arctic Fuel Spill

Russia 's Nornickel , one of the world 's leading nickel and palladium producers , has unveiled a long-term program to monitor permafrost and remedy environmental damage after an Arctic fuel spill in its home city of Norilsk .
In what has been described as the worst environmental disaster to impact the Arctic , on May 29 more than 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the soil , two rivers , and a downstream lake after a storage tank at a Nornickel-operated power plant collapsed or sank due to what the company said was the thawing permafrost soil .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been arrested on suspicion of violating environmental-protection rules .
The mayor of Norilsk and a government inspector have also been charged with negligence .
Greenpeace has compared the incident to the devastating 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska , and President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency after the incident .
`` For several years , Nornickel has been working on reducing its environmental impact .
Today we face greater challenges relevant for everyone around the globe -- climate change and its impact on the Arctic region and our operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nornickel 's board , said in a statement .
Nornickel also said it had appointed Andrei Bougrov , who has worked at the company since 2013 , as its senior vice president for environmental protection .
The company plans to boost its cooperation with Russian and foreign researchers focused on the Arctic ecology and permafrost zones to find solutions and improve the industrial safety in the region , Bougrov said in the statement .
According to Nornickel 's estimate , over 90 percent of the spilt fuel has been collected and removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule on the extent of the environmental damage or the cause of the accident , but Greenpeace has estimated it at $ 1.4 billion .
Nornickel has promised to pay the costs of the cleanup , estimated at 10 billion rubles ( $ 145 million ) .
With reporting by Reuters , dpa , and Interfax

Russia's Nornickel, one of the world's leading nickel and palladium producers, has unveiled a long-term program to monitor permafrost and remedy environmental damage after an Arctic fuel spill in its home city of Norilsk.
In what has been described as the worst environmental disaster to impact the Arctic, on May 29 more than 21,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled into the soil, two rivers, and a downstream lake after a storage tank at a Nornickel-operated power plant collapsed or sank due to what the company said was the thawing permafrost soil.
Two plant managers and two top engineers have been arrested on suspicion of violating environmental-protection rules. The mayor of Norilsk and a government inspector have also been charged with negligence.
Greenpeace has compared the incident to the devastating 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska, and President Vladimir Putin declared a state of emergency after the incident.
"For several years, Nornickel has been working on reducing its environmental impact. Today we face greater challenges relevant for everyone around the globe -- climate change and its impact on the Arctic region and our operations," Gareth Penny, the chairman of Nornickel's board, said in a statement.
Nornickel also said it had appointed Andrei Bougrov, who has worked at the company since 2013, as its senior vice president for environmental protection.
The company plans to boost its cooperation with Russian and foreign researchers focused on the Arctic ecology and permafrost zones to find solutions and improve the industrial safety in the region, Bougrov said in the statement.
According to Nornickel's estimate, over 90 percent of the spilt fuel has been collected and removed so far.
Officials are yet to rule on the extent of the environmental damage or the cause of the accident, but Greenpeace has estimated it at $1.4 billion.
Nornickel has promised to pay the costs of the cleanup, estimated at 10 billion rubles ($145 million).
Nornickel is owned by Russia's richest man, Vladimir Potanin.
With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and Interfax