rferl--2020-11-23--European Powers Meeting To Discuss Iran Nuclear Deal After Tehran's Latest Breach

The German government says the foreign ministers of Britain , France , and Germany are meeting in Berlin on November 23 for talks focusing on the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran , days after the UN 's atomic watchdog said Tehran had again breached the agreement .
`` Together with our partners , we strongly call on Iran to stop violating the deal and return to fulfilling all its nuclear obligations completely , '' a German government spokeswoman said on November 23 .
The meeting between German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and his British and French counterparts , Dominic Raab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) said on November 18 that centrifuges in a buried part of Iran 's main uranium-enrichment site at Natanz were now operational .
The nuclear deal with world powers states that Iran can only accumulate enriched uranium with first-generation IR-1 machines and that those are the only centrifuges it can operate at its underground plant at Natanz , apparently built to withstand aerial bombardment .
But the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions against Iran .
In response , Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has breached many restrictions imposed by the deal to curb its atomic activities , including on the purity to which it enriches uranium and its stock of enriched uranium .
Other signatories to the agreement -- Russia , France , Great Britain , China , and the European Union -- insist the agreement is still valid and have urged Tehran to adhere to it .
Iranian officials have complained that the country is not benefiting economically from the agreement , under which the country significantly limited its nuclear program in exchange for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Javad Zarif on November 17 said Tehran would be willing to return to full compliance with the deal if U.S. President-elect Joe Biden lifts U.S. sanctions against the country .
Biden has said he would work with the other powers involved to amend aspects of the agreement once Iran is back in compliance .

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--2020-11-23--Baha'i Homes Reportedly Raided In Cities Across Iran

Activists say Iranian security forces have raided the homes of dozens of Baha ’ is in several cities across the country , confiscating their personal belongings .
The reason for the raids on November 22 was not immediately clear and authorities did not comment on reports of the action .
Simin Fahandej , a spokesperson for the Baha ' i International Community , told the BBC that the homes of at least 20 Baha ’ is in the cities of Tehran , Karaj , Kerman , Isfahan , and Mashhad had been targeted .
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes of 30 to 50 Baha ’ is had been searched .
There were no reports of arrests .
Activists have published the names of a dozen Baha ’ is whose houses were raided on November 22 .
Some of them had reportedly been imprisoned in the past .
“ Instead of addressing the problems of the people and helping [ contain ] the coronavirus crisis , authorities seek to further persecute Baha ’ is , ” Fahandej said , adding that pressure on Baha ’ is has increased in recent months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassment in Iran where their faith is not officially recognized in the constitution .
In past years , scores of followers have been detained and harassed by Iranian authorities .
On November 18 , a subcommittee of the UN General Assembly passed a resolution expressing concern over human rights violations in Iran , including against members of the Baha ’ i faith .
The resolution calls on Iran to “ eliminate , in law and practice… ll forms of discrimination on the basis of thought , conscience , religion or belief , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on access to education , including for members of the Baha ' i faith.
” The situation of Baha ’ is has worsened in Iran since the 1979 revolution and the creation of an Islamic republic .
“ Through various means , the authorities maintain focus on this goal by striving to exclude Baha'is from the public sphere , prevent them from expressing their beliefs , impoverish them economically , undermine their intellectual advancement , erase traces of their history and culture , as well as spread disinformation about them and incite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment of hatred against them , ” Bani Dugal , the representative of the Baha ’ i International Community to the UN in New York , said in a November 19 statement .


rferl--2020-11-23--Trial Of 'Bullied' Russian Conscript Charged With Murdering Eight Opens

CHITA , Russia -- The trial of Russian Army Private Ramil Shamsutdinov , who is accused of murdering eight fellow servicemen last year in what he claims was the result of his brutal hazing , has begun in the Siberian city of Chita .
Shamsutdinov 's lawyer , Ruslan Nagiyev , said on Facebook that the high-profile trial started on November 23 at the Second Military District Court in Chita .
He said journalists were allowed to take pictures at the start , and then asked to leave the courtroom due to a lack of space because of the high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selected the jury for the trial last week after an initial attempt in late October failed .
On October 25 , 2019 , Shamsutdinov shot eight military servicemen , including two high-ranking officers , in the town of Gorny in the Zabaikalye region .
He was arrested soon after and charged with murder .
The case shocked many in Russia and attracted the attention of rights activists after Shamsutdinov claimed that he committed the act after suffering a nervous breakdown caused by the brutal hazing and torture he had endured .
The Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` had a conflict '' with one of the officers he killed .
In March , Private Ruslan Mukhatov was found guilty of bullying Shamsutdinov and was handed a suspended two-year prison term .
On September 23 , the Investigative Committee said Shamsutdinov pleaded guilty to murder charges .
Nagiyev told RFE/RL that the defense team will try to persuade the jury that Shamsutdinov was in a deep state of psychological stress caused by bullying and torture when he committed the act .
Deadly shootings in Russian military units as the result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights organizations for years .
Earlier this month , a soldier at a military air base in the western region of Voronezh shot an officer and two soldiers dead .
In recent years , photos and video footage have been posted online by members of the Russian military that show the severe bullying of young recruits as they are inducted into the army .

CHITA, Russia -- The trial of Russian Army Private Ramil Shamsutdinov, who is accused of murdering eight fellow servicemen last year in what he claims was the result of his brutal hazing, has begun in the Siberian city of Chita.
Shamsutdinov's lawyer, Ruslan Nagiyev, said on Facebook that the high-profile trial started on November 23 at the Second Military District Court in Chita.
He said journalists were allowed to take pictures at the start, and then asked to leave the courtroom due to a lack of space because of the high number of spectators present.
The court selected the jury for the trial last week after an initial attempt in late October failed.
On October 25, 2019, Shamsutdinov shot eight military servicemen, including two high-ranking officers, in the town of Gorny in the Zabaikalye region. He was arrested soon after and charged with murder.
The case shocked many in Russia and attracted the attention of rights activists after Shamsutdinov claimed that he committed the act after suffering a nervous breakdown caused by the brutal hazing and torture he had endured.
The Defense Ministry accepted at the time that Shamsutdinov "had a conflict" with one of the officers he killed. In March, Private Ruslan Mukhatov was found guilty of bullying Shamsutdinov and was handed a suspended two-year prison term.
On September 23, the Investigative Committee said Shamsutdinov pleaded guilty to murder charges.
Nagiyev told RFE/RL that the defense team will try to persuade the jury that Shamsutdinov was in a deep state of psychological stress caused by bullying and torture when he committed the act.
Deadly shootings in Russian military units as the result of widespread hazing have been a focus of human rights organizations for years.
Earlier this month, a soldier at a military air base in the western region of Voronezh shot an officer and two soldiers dead.
In recent years, photos and video footage have been posted online by members of the Russian military that show the severe bullying of young recruits as they are inducted into the army.
With reporting by Chita.ru


rferl--2020-11-23--Kazakh Blogger Critical Of Government Forcibly Admitted To Psychiatric Clinic

NUR-SULTAN -- A Kazakh blogger and journalist accused of being involved in the activities of a banned organization has been taken to a psychiatric clinic on a court order .
Police in the Kazakh capital , Nur-Sultan , on November 23 took Aigul Otepova from her apartment after a court decision to forcibly admit her into a clinic was upheld by an appeals court last week .
Before getting into the police car , Otepova told an RFE/RL correspondent that she had no medical conditions , including mental problems .
`` A recently held medical examination concluded that I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not about my health .
This decision is politically motivated , '' Otepova said .
A court in Nur-Sultan ruled that Otepova must be placed in a psychiatric clinic for one month to check her sanity .
The 50-year-old journalist was put under house arrest on September 17 after she placed a post on Facebook criticizing official efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak .
Last week , her pretrial house arrest was extended until December 27 .
Authorities have accused her of supporting the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan ( DVK ) opposition movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremist group and banned in the country .
Otepova denies any connection with the DVK , saying that she is an independent journalist and blogger who expresses her own views .
Otepova 's daughter told RFE/RL that by placing her mother to a psychiatric clinic , the authorities are trying to silence her ahead of Kazakhstan ’ s parliamentary elections , scheduled for January 10 .
Amnesty International said in a recent statement that Otepova was `` a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted solely for the peaceful expression of her views @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her immediate release .
Human rights groups have criticized the Kazakh government for years for persecuting independent and opposition journalists .
In 2018 , a court in the southern city of Shymkent placed journalist and blogger Ardaq Ashim in a psychiatric clinic after she criticized the government in her articles .
After her release , Ashim left for Ukraine , where she currently resides .

NUR-SULTAN -- A Kazakh blogger and journalist accused of being involved in the activities of a banned organization has been taken to a psychiatric clinic on a court order.
Police in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, on November 23 took Aigul Otepova from her apartment after a court decision to forcibly admit her into a clinic was upheld by an appeals court last week.
Before getting into the police car, Otepova told an RFE/RL correspondent that she had no medical conditions, including mental problems.
"A recently held medical examination concluded that I am absolutely healthy. My situation now is not about my health. This decision is politically motivated," Otepova said.
A court in Nur-Sultan ruled that Otepova must be placed in a psychiatric clinic for one month to check her sanity.
The 50-year-old journalist was put under house arrest on September 17 after she placed a post on Facebook criticizing official efforts to curb the coronavirus outbreak.
Last week, her pretrial house arrest was extended until December 27.
Authorities have accused her of supporting the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) opposition movement, which has been labeled as an extremist group and banned in the country.
Otepova denies any connection with the DVK, saying that she is an independent journalist and blogger who expresses her own views.
Otepova's daughter told RFE/RL that by placing her mother to a psychiatric clinic, the authorities are trying to silence her ahead of Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for January 10.
Amnesty International said in a recent statement that Otepova was "a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted solely for the peaceful expression of her views." The rights group also demanded her immediate release.
Human rights groups have criticized the Kazakh government for years for persecuting independent and opposition journalists.
In 2018, a court in the southern city of Shymkent placed journalist and blogger Ardaq Ashim in a psychiatric clinic after she criticized the government in her articles.
After her release, Ashim left for Ukraine, where she currently resides.


rferl--2020-11-22--Hundreds Detained Despite New Tack By Anti-Government Protesters In Belarus

MINSK -- Rights groups in Belarus say at least 350 protesters were detained in the capital and other cities on November 22 in the latest demonstrations challenging Alyaksandr Lukashenka 's grip on power .
The detentions in Minsk came despite organizers ' efforts to decentralize their gatherings on the 106th day of protests , suggesting neither Lukashenka nor his opponents were prepared to give ground following record numbers of arrests each of the two previous Sundays .
Protesters gathered in several places around Minsk , chanting , `` Long live Belarus ! ''
and carrying signs and the historic red-and-white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to gather in different spots around the capital before forming bigger groups -- a bid to thwart crowd-control efforts by police .
Outside one subway station in central Minsk , demonstrators were met with flash-bang grenades .
Masked and balaclava-wearing officers ripped flags from some people 's hands in another location .
Convoys of military vehicles were spotted in several parts of the city as well .
The Vyasna human rights group counted more than 350 detainees around the country , most of them in the capital but also in other cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported at least four people had been taken away from Minsk police stations in ambulances .
Anti-government marches also took place on November 22 in Hrodna , Bobruisk , Volkovysk , Smolevichi , Homel , Brest , Pinsk , Novopolotsk , and other cities .
Belarus has been gripped by unprecedented protests for more than three months , after Lukashenka claimed reelection for a sixth term .
Opposition groups , who say the election was rigged , have staged regular demonstrations , defying an often brutal crackdown by law enforcement authorities .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each of the previous two Sundays before the November 22 events .
Protesters have demanded that Lukashenka turn over power to Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya , an opposition leader and political novice who they say won the election .
The crackdown in response has included many thousands of detentions , several killings of protesters , the punishment and expulsions of reporters , and the imprisonment and forced exiling of opposition leaders .
European Union foreign ministers agreed on November 19 to expand sanctions on Belarus to include businesses in response to the “ brutality of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Noting that previous sanctions on Lukashenka and dozens of senior officials had failed to halt repression , EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the new set of sanctions “ should go not only to the individuals , but also to institutions and entrepreneurs , and firms.
” Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey responded by saying on November 22 that Minsk would also impose its own sanctions on European officials .
`` If they hurt us , if they impose sanction on us , naturally , we will have to respond adequately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You know that the European Union has imposed extra sanctions on some 15 people .
We will also expand our sanction lists and will include senior officials from the European Union and from a number of European states . ''
Earlier this month , the intensity of the protests had appeared to be waning .
But following the death of a 31-year-old protester who was severely beaten by police , the demonstrations drew new support .
On November 20 , thousands attended a memorial service for the man , Raman Banderenka @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a hero ! ''
and `` Long live Belarus ! ''

MINSK -- Rights groups in Belarus say at least 350 protesters were detained in the capital and other cities on November 22 in the latest demonstrations challenging Alyaksandr Lukashenka's grip on power.
The detentions in Minsk came despite organizers' efforts to decentralize their gatherings on the 106th day of protests, suggesting neither Lukashenka nor his opponents were prepared to give ground following record numbers of arrests each of the two previous Sundays.
Protesters gathered in several places around Minsk, chanting, "Long live Belarus!" and carrying signs and the historic red-and-white Belarusian flag.
Protest organizers had asked people to gather in different spots around the capital before forming bigger groups -- a bid to thwart crowd-control efforts by police.
Outside one subway station in central Minsk, demonstrators were met with flash-bang grenades. Masked and balaclava-wearing officers ripped flags from some people's hands in another location.
Convoys of military vehicles were spotted in several parts of the city as well.
The Vyasna human rights group counted more than 350 detainees around the country, most of them in the capital but also in other cities.
A widely followed volunteers group also reported at least four people had been taken away from Minsk police stations in ambulances.
Anti-government marches also took place on November 22 in Hrodna, Bobruisk, Volkovysk, Smolevichi, Homel, Brest, Pinsk, Novopolotsk, and other cities.
Belarus has been gripped by unprecedented protests for more than three months, after Lukashenka claimed reelection for a sixth term.
Opposition groups, who say the election was rigged, have staged regular demonstrations, defying an often brutal crackdown by law enforcement authorities.
There were more than 1,000 arrests of protesters each of the previous two Sundays before the November 22 events.
Protesters have demanded that Lukashenka turn over power to Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an opposition leader and political novice who they say won the election.
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
The crackdown in response has included many thousands of detentions, several killings of protesters, the punishment and expulsions of reporters, and the imprisonment and forced exiling of opposition leaders.
European Union foreign ministers agreed on November 19 to expand sanctions on Belarus to include businesses in response to the “brutality of authorities” against weeks of pro-democracy protests.
Noting that previous sanctions on Lukashenka and dozens of senior officials had failed to halt repression, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the new set of sanctions “should go not only to the individuals, but also to institutions and entrepreneurs, and firms.”
Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey responded by saying on November 22 that Minsk would also impose its own sanctions on European officials.
"If they hurt us, if they impose sanction on us, naturally, we will have to respond adequately," Makey told Belarusian state television. "You know that the European Union has imposed extra sanctions on some 15 people. We will also expand our sanction lists and will include senior officials from the European Union and from a number of European states."
Earlier this month, the intensity of the protests had appeared to be waning. But following the death of a 31-year-old protester who was severely beaten by police, the demonstrations drew new support.
On November 20, thousands attended a memorial service for the man, Raman Banderenka, with many chanting, "You are a hero!" and "Long live Belarus!"


rferl--2020-11-24--Russia's Media Regulator Opens Case Against Google Over 'Dangerous Content'

Russia 's media regulator , Roskomnadzor , has opened a case against U.S. tech giant Google for failing to remove banned content from its search engine .
Roskomnadzor said November 23 that Google was not removing up to 30 percent of “ dangerous content ” from its search engine .
`` The company is accused of failing to comply with the requirements of Russian legislation on the removal of Internet resources containing information banned in Russia from search results , '' Roskomnadzor said in a statement .
Some of the alleged dangerous content involved extremism , pornography , and promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrative procedure could lead to a court case and a fine of up to 5 million rubles ( $ 65,670 ) .
Google did not immediately comment .
Under Russian law , search engines are required to remove from search results sites blocked in Russia .
To do this , they must connect to Roskomnadzor 's register of prohibited information .
Google has been slapped with relatively small fines several times in the past for its refusal to filter search results .
Google regularly removes links to banned sites from search engines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the grounds for the ban .
With reporting by Interfax , Reuters , and TASS .

Russia's media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has opened a case against U.S. tech giant Google for allegedly failing to remove banned content from its search engine.
Roskomnadzor said on November 23 that Google had not removed up to 30 percent of “dangerous content” from its search engine.
"The company is accused of failing to comply with the requirements of Russian legislation on the removal of Internet resources containing information banned in Russia from search results," Roskomnadzor said in a statement.
Some of the alleged dangerous content involved extremism, pornography, and promoting suicide, it said.
The so-called administrative procedure could lead to a court case and a fine of up to 5 million rubles ($65,670).
Google did not immediately comment.
Under Russian law, search engines are required to remove from their search results sites that are blocked in Russia. To do this, they must connect to Roskomnadzor's register of prohibited information.
Google has been slapped with relatively small fines several times in the past for its refusal to filter search results.
Google regularly removes links to banned sites from search engines, but not automatically and only after studying the grounds for the ban.
With reporting by Interfax, Reuters, and TASS


rferl--2020-11-24--Minor Scuffles With Police As Elderly March In Support Of Belarus's Democracy Movement

MINSK -- Several thousand pensioners in Belarus marched for an eighth-straight week in Minsk on November 23 to protest state violence against the country ’ s pro-democracy movement .
Black-clad security forces wearing balaclavas blocked the columns of elderly shouting `` Freedom for political prisoners ! ''
and `` Murderers ! ''
from completing the regular Monday march , preventing them from entering central Independence Avenue .
At least six people were detained , the Vyasna human rights center reported , including two elderly women in their 70s who were later released .
Minor scuffles were reported , with witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elderly onto the asphalt .
The so-called March of Wisdom has drawn thousands of pensioners in recent weeks joining calls for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka following August ’ s disputed presidential election that extended the strongman ’ s rule .
The opposition says the vote was rigged and the West refuses to accept the outcome , slapping sanctions on Lukashenka and other top officials .
Several protesters have been killed and thousands of people arrested in a widening crackdown that has included credible reports of torture .
Most of the country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave the country .

MINSK -- Several thousand pensioners in Belarus marched for an eighth-straight week in Minsk on November 23 to protest state violence against the country’s pro-democracy movement.
Black-clad security forces wearing balaclavas blocked the columns of elderly protesters from completing the regular Monday march, preventing them from entering central Independence Avenue. The protesters shouted, "Freedom for political prisoners!" and "Murderers!"
Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election.
At least six people were detained, the Vyasna human rights center reported, including two elderly women in their 70s, who were later released.
Minor scuffles were reported, with witnesses saying security forces pushed several of the elderly onto the asphalt.
The so-called March of Wisdom has drawn thousands of pensioners in recent weeks, joining calls for the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka following August’s disputed presidential election that extended the strongman’s rule.
The opposition says the vote was rigged and the West refuses to accept the outcome, slapping sanctions on Lukashenka and other top officials.
Several protesters have been killed and thousands of people arrested in a widening crackdown that has included credible reports of torture.
Most of the country's opposition leaders have been arrested or forced to leave the country.
With reporting by Tut.by


rferl--2020-11-23--Land Mine Kills Officer As Search Continues For Armenian, Azerbaijani Missing

A land mine reportedly killed an Azerbaijani officer and wounded several ethnic Armenian officials and a Russian peacekeeper in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 23 , in the latest reminder of lingering obstacles to identifying the dead two weeks after a cease-fire between archfoes Armenia and Azerbaijan .
Around 2,000 Russian troops moved into areas in and around Nagorno-Karabakh earlier this month as part of the Moscow-brokered truce that ended six weeks of heavy fighting in the 30-year-old conflict that is thought to have killed thousands .
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the land-mine incident .
It said a group of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the area 's de facto leadership , and International Committee of the Red Cross representatives were searching for the bodies of missing soldiers in the Tartar district northeast of Nagorno-Karabakh when the mine exploded .
An Azerbaijani officer died in the blast , near the community of Madagiz , four emergency-situations officials from the breakaway ethnic Armenian side were lightly injured , and the Russian peacekeeper taken to a Baku hospital for treatment .
There was no initial confirmation from the Azerbaijani or Armenian side .
Azerbaijan has consistently refused to report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on September 27 and quickly escalated into an Azerbaijani offensive .
Baku 's forces retook swaths of territory controlled by ethnic Armenians for decades but internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan .
The cease-fire that went into effect on November 10 left most of those gains under Baku 's control and mandated that ethnic Armenian forces withdraw from all seven districts around Nagorno-Karabakh in what was seen by many Armenians as a national defeat .
Yerevan announced on November 23 that it continued the handover of around 120 towns , villages , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both sides of the conflict have complained of a lack of information about soldiers missing and in many cases believed to have been killed in combat .
Yerevan has announced the discovery or handover of the bodies of around 350 soldiers in the last several days .
But in the Armenian capital , Yerevan , family members gathered outside the Defense Ministry on November 23 to demand information about the whereabouts of dozens of troops still missing .
`` We come here so a representative of a state body -- whether a minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives us an answer so we learn at least some information -- what 's happening , '' said one of the women seeking information about her son .
`` We understand that there was a war , but they ignore us -- all of us parents . ''
Azerbaijani families have also complained of similar official failures , exacerbated by a culture of state secrecy in the tightly controlled country of around 10 million people , with some families appealing on social media for answers .
The district of Agdam was handed over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are slated to hand over two more districts in the next week , with thousands more residents likely to flee , in many cases taking all their belongings and torching buildings in the process .
Karvachar ( which Azeris call Kelbacar ) , wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia , was slated for handover after a weeklong delay on November 25 .
The district of Kashatagh ( which Azeris call Lachin ) , west of Nagorno-Karabakh , is scheduled for handover by December 1 .
As the withdrawal continues by ethnic Armenians who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generations in the lands , a path to a permanent peace still appears fraught .
Two of the most influential regional powers in the Caucasus , Russia and Turkey , are said to be quietly disagreeing over the possible role of Turkish peacekeepers as part of the cease-fire .
Russia has extensive relations with both countries but provides security guarantees to Armenia , while Turkey is a staunch Azerbaijani ally with longtime animosities with Yerevan .
Many analysts suggested Moscow won a major concession in the cease-fire through the insertion of peacekeeping troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the strategic and volatile South Caucasus .
Previous Russian `` peacekeeping '' missions in breakaway regions of Georgia and Moldova have remained despite local opposition .
Reuters quoted an unnamed Turkish source as saying on November 23 that Ankara and Moscow are now in disagreement over monitoring the Armenian-Azerbaijani cease-fire .
In addition to Russia 's peacekeepers on the ground , the truce called for a remote monitoring center staffed by Turkey and Russia in the region .
But Turkish authorities are reportedly pushing for their own , independent peacekeeping presence to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including senior officials who visited Yerevan and Baku over the weekend , are said to oppose such a Turkish presence .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Armenian Service , TASS , and Reuters

A land mine reportedly killed an Azerbaijani officer and wounded several ethnic Armenian officials and a Russian peacekeeper in Nagorno-Karabakh on November 23, in the latest reminder of lingering obstacles to identifying the dead two weeks after a cease-fire between archfoes Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Around 2,000 Russian troops moved into areas in and around Nagorno-Karabakh earlier this month as part of the Moscow-brokered truce that ended six weeks of heavy fighting in the 30-year-old conflict that is thought to have killed thousands.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced the land-mine incident.
It said a group of its peacekeepers, Azerbaijani troops, ethnic Armenians from the area's de facto leadership, and International Committee of the Red Cross representatives were searching for the bodies of missing soldiers in the Tartar district northeast of Nagorno-Karabakh when the mine exploded.
An Azerbaijani officer died in the blast, near the community of Madagiz, four emergency-situations officials from the breakaway ethnic Armenian side were lightly injured, and the Russian peacekeeper taken to a Baku hospital for treatment.
There was no initial confirmation from the Azerbaijani or Armenian side.
Azerbaijan has consistently refused to report military casualties since the fighting flared up on September 27 and quickly escalated into an Azerbaijani offensive.
Baku's forces retook swaths of territory controlled by ethnic Armenians for decades but internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
The cease-fire that went into effect on November 10 left most of those gains under Baku's control and mandated that ethnic Armenian forces withdraw from all seven districts around Nagorno-Karabakh in what was seen by many Armenians as a national defeat.
Yerevan announced on November 23 that it continued the handover of around 120 towns, villages, and settlements in the area.
Families on both sides of the conflict have complained of a lack of information about soldiers missing and in many cases believed to have been killed in combat.
Yerevan has announced the discovery or handover of the bodies of around 350 soldiers in the last several days.
But in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, family members gathered outside the Defense Ministry on November 23 to demand information about the whereabouts of dozens of troops still missing.
"We come here so a representative of a state body -- whether a minister or a military man -- comes and gives us an answer so we learn at least some information -- what's happening," said one of the women seeking information about her son. "We understand that there was a war, but they ignore us -- all of us parents."
Azerbaijani families have also complained of similar official failures, exacerbated by a culture of state secrecy in the tightly controlled country of around 10 million people, with some families appealing on social media for answers.
The district of Agdam was handed over on November 20.
Ethnic Armenian forces are slated to hand over two more districts in the next week, with thousands more residents likely to flee, in many cases taking all their belongings and torching buildings in the process.
Karvachar (which Azeris call Kelbacar), wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, was slated for handover after a weeklong delay on November 25. The district of Kashatagh (which Azeris call Lachin), west of Nagorno-Karabakh, is scheduled for handover by December 1.
As the withdrawal continues by ethnic Armenians who have in many cases lived for decades or generations in the lands, a path to a permanent peace still appears fraught.
Two of the most influential regional powers in the Caucasus, Russia and Turkey, are said to be quietly disagreeing over the possible role of Turkish peacekeepers as part of the cease-fire.
Russia has extensive relations with both countries but provides security guarantees to Armenia, while Turkey is a staunch Azerbaijani ally with longtime animosities with Yerevan.
Many analysts suggested Moscow won a major concession in the cease-fire through the insertion of peacekeeping troops that give it boots on the ground in the strategic and volatile South Caucasus.
Previous Russian "peacekeeping" missions in breakaway regions of Georgia and Moldova have remained despite local opposition.
Reuters quoted an unnamed Turkish source as saying on November 23 that Ankara and Moscow are now in disagreement over monitoring the Armenian-Azerbaijani cease-fire.
In addition to Russia's peacekeepers on the ground, the truce called for a remote monitoring center staffed by Turkey and Russia in the region.
But Turkish authorities are reportedly pushing for their own, independent peacekeeping presence to project influence.
Their Russian counterparts, including senior officials who visited Yerevan and Baku over the weekend, are said to oppose such a Turkish presence.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian Service, TASS, and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-23--Trump To Roll Out Stiff Bond Requirements For Visitors From 'Overstay' Countries, Including Iran, Af

Trump To Roll Out Stiff Bond Requirements For Visitors From 'Overstay' Countries, Including Iran, Afghanistan

Washington announced on November 23 that it will launch a six-month trial program next month to force visitors from about two dozen countries to post thousands of dollars in bonds before they enter the United States .
The aim , first spelled out in a presidential memorandum 19 months ago , is to discourage travelers from countries with high rates of visa offenders from overstaying their business and tourism visas .
Its planned rollout by President Donald Trump 's administration comes just weeks before Democrat Joe Biden is expected to be sworn in as the 46th U.S. president in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the posting of bonds of up to $ 15,000 , does not apply to immigrant visas .
The State Department said the rule will take effect on December 24 , less than a month before the inauguration of a new administration , and continue through most of June .
It should target holders of business ( B-1 ) and tourism ( B-2 ) visas from around two dozen countries whose overstay rates exceeded 10 percent in 2019 , most of them in Africa but also including Iran and Afghanistan , for instance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) report on that fiscal year shows the worst offenders were typically from Chad ( 44.94 percent ) , Djibouti ( 37.91 percent ) , and Mauritania ( 30.49 percent ) .
In fact , 15 of the 24 countries above 10 percent are in Africa .
But the list also includes Iran at 21.64 percent and Afghanistan at 11.99 percent , as well as Bhutan and Laos .
The DHS report counted more than 422,000 instances of overstays in fiscal year 2019 by business and tourism visitors , including those who came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who did not .
The planned pilot period into June is an effort to discourage overstays and to test a system for collecting the de facto deposits on leaving .
A Trump memorandum in April 2019 ordered U.S. immigration agencies to craft plans to reduce overstays by visitors on B-1 business and B-2 tourism visas , including under the country 's Visa Waiver Program .
`` Nonimmigrant visa ( visa ) overstay rates are unacceptably high for nationals of certain countries , '' the memo said .
It also told them to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were above 10 percent .
Consular offices have long been discouraged from imposing such bond obligations as a `` cumbersome '' burden .
Trump won office in 2016 pledging to sharply curb immigration , and one of his first major battles in the courts after taking office involved a ban on visitors from a handful of mostly Muslim countries .
He has made limits on foreign migrants , asylum seekers , and even visitors from select countries a central part of his four-year term .
Biden 's transition team did not initially respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether it would seek to kill the overstay-prevention program .
Biden has vowed to reverse many of the Trump administration 's policies in areas like foreign relations , climate change and the environment , and immigration , although making such changes could take time .


rferl--2020-11-23--Azerbaijan Launches Probes Into Videos Showing Possible Torture Of Captured Armenian Soldiers

Azerbaijan 's Prosecutor-General 's Office says it has launched probes into several videos showing the possible torture of captured Armenian soldiers and the desecration of the corpses of Armenian troops by Azerbaijani servicemen during recent fighting in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh that ended with a Russian-brokered truce The Prosecutor-General 's Office issued a statement over the weekend saying that the decision was made after investigators studied videos circulating on the Internet .
`` Those who committed the mentioned illegal acts will be identified and brought to justice , '' the statement said , adding that `` detailed information on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be made public later . ''
The statement also called on Azerbaijani troops and citizens returning to the districts handed back to Azerbaijan to respect and preserve historic monuments and religious buildings on those territories .
`` It should be noted once again that the destruction or any form of damage to existing historical , religious , and cultural monuments in our liberated territories is unacceptable , '' the statement said , stressing that military personnel or civilians who commit such violations will be held responsible .
The statement also said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violation of laws and customs of conducting war by Armenian armed forces as well .
The Moscow-brokered cease-fire statement signed by Russian , Azerbaijani , and Armenian leaders on November 10 called for seven Azerbaijani districts around Nagorno-Karabakh to be placed under Baku 's control , as well as parts of the mainly Armenian-populated region that were recaptured by Azerbaijani forces during the war .
Four of the seven occupied Azerbaijani districts were recaptured by Azerbaijani forces during the war , which broke out on September 27 .
The final districts to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur by December 1 .
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan , but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region 's population reject Azerbaijani rule .
They have been governing their own affairs , with support from Armenia , since Azerbaijan 's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994 .
The latest round of fighting is estimated to have killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides .
Armenians have been leaving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the truce was signed , burning their houses and ripping down electricity poles .

Azerbaijan's Prosecutor-General's Office says it has launched probes into several videos showing the possible torture of captured Armenian soldiers and the desecration of the corpses of Armenian troops by Azerbaijani servicemen during recent fighting in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Prosecutor-General's Office issued a statement over the weekend saying that the decision was made after investigators studied videos circulating on the Internet.
"Those who committed the mentioned illegal acts will be identified and brought to justice," the statement said, adding that "detailed information on the progress and results of the investigations will be made public later."
The statement also called on Azerbaijani troops and citizens returning to the districts handed back to Azerbaijan as part of a Russia-brokered truce to respect and preserve historic monuments and religious buildings on those territories.
"It should be noted once again that the destruction or any form of damage to existing historical, religious, and cultural monuments in our liberated territories is unacceptable," the statement said, stressing that military personnel or civilians who commit such violations will be held responsible.
The statement also said that probes had been launched into alleged unspecified violation of laws and customs of conducting war by Armenian armed forces as well.
The Moscow-brokered cease-fire statement signed by Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian leaders on November 10 called for seven Azerbaijani districts around Nagorno-Karabakh to be placed under Baku's control, as well as parts of the mainly Armenian-populated region that were recaptured by Azerbaijani forces during the war.
Four of the seven occupied Azerbaijani districts were recaptured by Azerbaijani forces during the war, which broke out on September 27.
The final districts to be handed over to Azerbaijan is scheduled to occur by December 1.
Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but the ethnic Armenians who make up most of the region's population reject Azerbaijani rule.
They have been governing their own affairs, with support from Armenia, since Azerbaijan's troops and Azeri civilians were pushed out of the region in a war that ended in a cease-fire in 1994.
The latest round of fighting is estimated to have killed more than 2,000 soldiers and civilians on both sides.
Armenians have been leaving the territories handed back to Azerbaijan en masse since the truce was signed, burning their houses and ripping down electricity poles.


rferl--2020-11-23--Hungary To Test Russian Coronavirus Vaccine

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says Hungary is pressing ahead with testing on a Russian coronavirus vaccine after being the first European country to receive samples of the Sputnik-V last week .
Szijjarto said on November 23 that 10 initial doses of the drug -- hailed in August by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world 's first registered COVID-19 vaccine -- would undergo testing in Hungary for safety and effectiveness .
`` Last week , 10 doses of this vaccine arrived in Hungary , '' Szijjarto said .
`` This shipment arrived , together with the necessary documentation , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which will help our scientists to decide whether this vaccine is safe , effective , recommended for the Hungarian people or not . ''
Last week , Szijjarto said talks were ongoing between a Hungarian drugmaker and Russian partners on possible domestic production of the vaccine .
Sputnik-V has already been administered in Russia to health-care workers and other high-risk groups , despite not having completed advanced clinical trials .
It has not yet been evaluated by the European Medicines Agency , the European Union 's drug regulator .
Szijjarto says EU member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese vaccine makers , and had bought 2.8 million doses of a Chinese antiviral medication .
`` I spoke on the phone with my Chinese counterpart , and we have confirmed that we will stay in contact and maintain our consultations .
After the Chinese vaccine development reaches the point where the samples and their documentation can be sent to Hungary , the Hungarian authorities will also carry out those tests . ''
Budapest has also reserved 12 million doses of vaccine from manufacturers in Europe and the United States , including British-Swedish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the joint U.S.-German vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech .
The government on November 23 limited retail store visits in an effort to separate elderly shoppers and contain the coronavirus pandemic in the most vulnerable over-65 age group .
Infection numbers and daily deaths continue to set record highs , affecting the elderly , in particular , and prompting further restrictions , the government said .
According to official figures , as of November 23 , 3,891 Hungarians have died of COVID-19 and 177,952 people have been infected since the start of the pandemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With reporting by AP and Reuters

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto says Hungary is pressing ahead with testing on a Russian coronavirus vaccine after being the first European country to receive samples of the Sputnik-V last week.
Szijjarto said on November 23 that 10 initial doses of the drug -- hailed in August by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world's first registered COVID-19 vaccine -- would undergo testing in Hungary for safety and effectiveness.
"Last week, 10 doses of this vaccine arrived in Hungary," Szijjarto said.
"This shipment arrived, together with the necessary documentation, for the Hungarian authorities to carry out tests which will help our scientists to decide whether this vaccine is safe, effective, recommended for the Hungarian people or not."
Last week, Szijjarto said talks were ongoing between a Hungarian drugmaker and Russian partners on possible domestic production of the vaccine.
Sputnik-V has already been administered in Russia to health-care workers and other high-risk groups, despite not having completed advanced clinical trials. It has not yet been evaluated by the European Medicines Agency, the European Union's drug regulator.
Szijjarto says EU member Hungary is also in negotiations with three Chinese vaccine makers, and had bought 2.8 million doses of a Chinese antiviral medication.
"I spoke on the phone with my Chinese counterpart, and we have confirmed that we will stay in contact and maintain our consultations. After the Chinese vaccine development reaches the point where the samples and their documentation can be sent to Hungary, the Hungarian authorities will also carry out those tests."
Budapest has also reserved 12 million doses of vaccine from manufacturers in Europe and the United States, including British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Belgian-based Janssen, and the joint U.S.-German vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech.
The government on November 23 limited retail store visits in an effort to separate elderly shoppers and contain the coronavirus pandemic in the most vulnerable over-65 age group.
Infection numbers and daily deaths continue to set record highs, affecting the elderly, in particular, and prompting further restrictions, the government said.
According to official figures, as of November 23, 3,891 Hungarians have died of COVID-19 and 177,952 people have been infected since the start of the pandemic in the country of 10 million people.
With reporting by AP and Reuters


rferl--2020-11-23--Moscow Courts Fine Two Members Of Pussy Riot Protest Group Over Pro-LGBT Action

MOSCOW -- Two members of the well-known Russian Pussy Riot protest group have been fined over their roles in an action to support LGBT rights last month .
Two separate courts in Moscow fined Veronika Nikulshina and Maria Alyokhina 10,000 ( $ 130 ) and 15,000 rubles ( $ 195 ) , respectively after finding them guilty of violating the law on public gatherings , the activists ’ lawyers said on November 23 .
The group 's action against `` state homophobic policies '' was held on October 7 , Russian President Vladimir Putin 's 68th birthday .
The group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Federal Security Service , the presidential administration , the Supreme Court , police headquarters in one Moscow district , and the Culture Ministry .
The group demanded Putin investigate the abductions and torture of gays in Chechnya , stop the persecution of LGBT rights defenders , legalize same-gender partnerships , and to abolish Russia 's `` gay propaganda '' law which de facto outlaws LGBT activism .
Several members of the group were detained after the action , one of whom , Aleksandr Sofeyev , was sentenced to 30 days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Denis Styazhkin and RFE/RL correspondent Artyom Radygin , were briefly detained by police while covering the demonstration .
With reporting by MBKh Media and Mediazona

MOSCOW -- Two members of the well-known Russian Pussy Riot protest group have been fined over their roles in an action to support LGBT rights last month.
Two separate courts in Moscow fined Veronika Nikulshina and Maria Alyokhina 10,000 ($130) and 15,000 rubles ($195), respectively after finding them guilty of violating the law on public gatherings, the activists’ lawyers said on November 23.
The group's action against "state homophobic policies" was held on October 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin's 68th birthday.
The group placed LGBT rainbow flags on the buildings of the Federal Security Service, the presidential administration, the Supreme Court, police headquarters in one Moscow district, and the Culture Ministry.
The group demanded Putin investigate the abductions and torture of gays in Chechnya, stop the persecution of LGBT rights defenders, legalize same-gender partnerships, and to abolish Russia's "gay propaganda" law which de facto outlaws LGBT activism.
Several members of the group were detained after the action, one of whom, Aleksandr Sofeyev, was sentenced to 30 days in jail on October 9.
Two journalists, Denis Styazhkin and RFE/RL correspondent Artyom Radygin, were briefly detained by police while covering the demonstration.
With reporting by MBKh Media and Mediazona


rferl--2020-11-23--HRW Warns Of 'Very Dangerous' Bill Targeting Russian Civil Society

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) has joined other nongovernmental organizations in slamming a bill circulating in the lower house of Russia 's parliament , calling it `` a potentially very dangerous addition to a growing body of oppressive 'foreign agents ' laws . ''
Many independent groups in Russian have seen their funding shrink and their staff intimidated or prosecuted since Russia ’ s `` foreign agents '' law targeting organizations came into force in 2012 .
The legislation was expanded last year to journalists and bloggers and , if the new bill introduced in the State Duma last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` almost anyone , '' HRW warned in a statement on November 23 .
The draft law `` drastically expands the scope of individuals and groups that can be designated 'foreign agents , ' introduces new restrictions and registration and reporting requirements , and obliges the media to note the designation whenever they mention these individuals or groups , '' according to the New York-based watchdog .
Amnesty International has said the new bill `` signals a new witch hunt of civil society groups and human rights defenders standing up for justice and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a person of any nationality can be designated a `` foreign agent '' if they receive money from a foreign state , international or foreign organization , or a foreign or stateless person , and engage in political activity , or are deemed to gather information on Russian military activities that `` can be used against Russia ’ s security or interests . ''
That could jeopardize rights groups ' reporting on human rights violations by Russian forces in armed conflicts in Ukraine , Syria , and elsewhere , HRW said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign journalists , but such journalists engaging in `` foreign agent '' activities `` incompatible with their professional journalistic activities '' can still be designated .
“ For now , human rights defenders , environmentalists , and other activists can avoid the unwarranted and toxic 'foreign agent label , ' by shutting their organizations and continuing their activism as individuals , '' said Hugh Williamson , Europe and Central Asia director at HRW .
`` But under this draft , they would have to end their work entirely , or assume for themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would isolate them from Russian society , '' he added .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has joined other nongovernmental organizations in slamming a bill circulating in the lower house of Russia's parliament, calling it "a potentially very dangerous addition to a growing body of oppressive 'foreign agents' laws."
Many independent groups in Russian have seen their funding shrink and their staff intimidated or prosecuted since Russia’s "foreign agents" law targeting organizations came into force in 2012.
The legislation was expanded last year to journalists and bloggers and, if the new bill introduced in the State Duma last week is adopted, it would include "almost anyone," HRW warned in a statement on November 23.
The draft law "drastically expands the scope of individuals and groups that can be designated 'foreign agents,' introduces new restrictions and registration and reporting requirements, and obliges the media to note the designation whenever they mention these individuals or groups," according to the New York-based watchdog.
Amnesty International has said the new bill "signals a new witch hunt of civil society groups and human rights defenders standing up for justice and dignity."
Under the new bill, a person of any nationality can be designated a "foreign agent" if they receive money from a foreign state, international or foreign organization, or a foreign or stateless person, and engage in political activity, or are deemed to gather information on Russian military activities that "can be used against Russia’s security or interests."
That could jeopardize rights groups' reporting on human rights violations by Russian forces in armed conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere, HRW said.
The draft exempts diplomatic personnel and accredited foreign journalists, but such journalists engaging in "foreign agent" activities "incompatible with their professional journalistic activities" can still be designated.
“For now, human rights defenders, environmentalists, and other activists can avoid the unwarranted and toxic 'foreign agent label,' by shutting their organizations and continuing their activism as individuals," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW.
"But under this draft, they would have to end their work entirely, or assume for themselves the 'foreign agent' label, which would isolate them from Russian society," he added.


rferl--2020-11-23--Watchdog Says Despite Improvement, Air Pollution Still A Leading Health Hazard In Europe

The European Union 's environment watchdog says air quality has improved significantly across Europe over the past decade but pollution remains a leading cause of premature deaths on the continent .
An estimated 417,000 premature deaths in 2018 were linked to fine-particle matter in 41 countries surveyed , according to the annual assessment by the European Environment Agency ( EEA ) released on November 23 .
The Copenhagen-based agency also said that about 60,000 fewer people 's lives were shortened due to such exposure in 2018 , compared with the previous year , because EU , national , and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have improved air quality .
`` The EEA 's data prove that investing in better air quality is an investment for better health and productivity for all Europeans .
Policies and actions that are consistent with Europe 's zero pollution ambition , lead to longer and healthier lives and more resilient societies , '' the watchdog ’ s Executive Director Hans Bruyninckx said in a statement .
Road transport , agriculture , energy production , industry , and households are principal sources of air pollution , according to the Air Quality In Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emissions of nitrogen oxides from transport and pollutant emissions from energy production have declined significantly since 2000 , while there was less progress in reduced emissions from buildings and agriculture .
The report shows that Bulgaria and Romania were among the six EU member states that exceeded the EU 's limit value for fine particulate matter ( particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers ) in 2018 .
The air pollutants can cause or worsen respiratory and cardiovascular diseases , as well as cancer .
With reporting by dpa and AFP

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


rferl--2020-11-23--Plaintiffs Withdraw Financial Compensation Suit Against Jailed Russian Actor Yefremov

Three plaintiffs have withdrawn their case for financial compensation after actor Mikhail Yefremov , who caused a deadly car accident in Moscow , privately met their demands .
Attorney Aleksandr Dobrovinsky said on November 23 that Yefremov , an outspoken Kremlin critic , had paid the three plaintiffs 3 million rubles ( $ 39,300 ) over the accident .
He added that the Khamovniki district court in Moscow accepted the plaintiffs ' motion to withdraw the suit .
Police say Yefremov was inebriated when he drove his car at high speed into an oncoming lane in central Moscow on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car of 57-year-old Sergei Zakharov , who died as a result of the accident .
After Zakharov was pronounced dead , Yefremov was charged and placed under house arrest .
Authorities later said that medical tests confirmed that Yefremov had traces of drugs , including cocaine , in his blood at the moment of the accident .
In September , Moscow ’ s Presnensky district court sentenced Yefremov after finding him guilty of `` causing a deadly traffic accident while driving under the influence . ''
A month ago , the Moscow City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compensation to the relatives of Zakharov , and cut Yefremov ’ s eight-year prison term by six months .
Performances by the 57-year-old Yefremov satirizing President Vladimir Putin and his policies have proven popular among Russians in recent years .
Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS

Three plaintiffs have withdrawn their case for financial compensation after actor Mikhail Yefremov, who caused a deadly car accident in Moscow, privately met their demands.
Attorney Aleksandr Dobrovinsky said on November 23 that Yefremov, an outspoken Kremlin critic, had paid the three plaintiffs 3 million rubles ($39,300) over the accident. He added that the Khamovniki district court in Moscow accepted the plaintiffs' motion to withdraw the suit.
Police say Yefremov was inebriated when he drove his car at high speed into an oncoming lane in central Moscow on the evening of June 8, hitting the car of 57-year-old Sergei Zakharov, who died as a result of the accident.
After Zakharov was pronounced dead, Yefremov was charged and placed under house arrest. Authorities later said that medical tests confirmed that Yefremov had traces of drugs, including cocaine, in his blood at the moment of the accident.
In September, Moscow’s Presnensky district court sentenced Yefremov after finding him guilty of "causing a deadly traffic accident while driving under the influence."
A month ago, the Moscow City Court announced that Yefremov had paid financial compensation to the relatives of Zakharov, and cut Yefremov’s eight-year prison term by six months.
Performances by the 57-year-old Yefremov satirizing President Vladimir Putin and his policies have proven popular among Russians in recent years.
Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS


rferl--2020-11-24--Vaccination With Russia's Sputnik-V To Cost 'Less Than $20'

The financial backers and developers of Russia 's Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine say the two shots required to vaccinate one person will cost “ less than $ 20 ” on international markets and will be free of charge for Russian citizens .
The international market price for Sputnik-V unveiled on November 24 is cheaper than some other Western rivals , such as a vaccine produced by Pfizer , which costs around $ 18 per shot .
However , the Russian vaccine is more expensive than one produced by AstraZeneca , which will be sold in Europe for around $ 3 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund , RDIF , said in a statement that Moscow and its foreign partners have the capacity to make more than 1 billion doses starting from next year , enough to vaccinate over 500 million people .
`` The current agreements between RDIF and leading foreign pharmaceutical companies allow the Sputnik-V vaccine to be produced abroad for 500 million people per year , starting from 2021 .
RDIF is currently considering additional applications from a number of countries and companies to further increase production capacity , '' the statement said .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Ministry , and the state-run Gamaleya National Research Center said that new clinical trial data shows that Sputnik-V was 91.4 percent effective on Day 28 and over 95 percent effective on Day 42 .
They said that 22,000 volunteers had been vaccinated with the first dose and more than 19,000 with both doses .
Trials are also taking place in the United Arab Emirates , Venezuela , and Belarus , according to the statement .
Russia was the first country to approve its coronavirus vaccine for widespread use by the public , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the start of the large-scale trial in September .
The vaccine , which has already been administered in Russia to health-care workers and other high-risk groups , has not yet been evaluated by the European Union ’ s drug regulator .
Russia continues to experience a surge of infections , hospitalizations , and deaths , with many suspecting real numbers are higher than those reported .
The country notched a record high of new cases , with a federal monitoring service reporting 25,173 daily infections on November 23 .
Despite skyrocketing cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impose a second lockdown or to shut businesses nationwide .
Amid an alarming surge in coronavirus infections in much of the world , hopes have been raised that a series of promising new vaccines may become widely available by spring of next year , with the first doses coming out as soon as December .
Around a dozen vaccines are currently in development worldwide .

The financial backers and developers of Russia's Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine say the two shots required to vaccinate one person will cost “less than $20” on international markets and will be free of charge for Russian citizens.
The international market price for Sputnik-V unveiled on November 24 is cheaper than some other Western rivals, such as a vaccine produced by Pfizer, which costs more than $18 per shot.
However, the Russian vaccine is more expensive than one produced by AstraZeneca, which will be sold in Europe for around $3 per shot.
Besides Sputnik-V, nearly a dozen vaccines worldwide are currently undergoing late-stage trials to determine their safety and effectiveness, according to the World Health Organization.
Critics have argued that the development of Russia’s vaccine -- which received approval before undergoing Phase III trials -- was expedited for political reasons to assure the country’s victory in the global race.
In particular, Russia has been criticized by some Western scientists who have accused it of cutting corners in an effort to try to rush out the vaccine and complained about the amount of data available to allow others to interpret its research.
It's also a race Russia wants to win at home. The country has the world's fifth-highest number of recorded COVID-19 cases at 2.14 million, including 24,326 new infections on November 23 alone.
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, RDIF, said in a statement that Moscow and its foreign partners have the capacity to make more than 1 billion doses starting from next year, enough to vaccinate over 500 million people.
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.
"The current agreements between RDIF and leading foreign pharmaceutical companies allow the Sputnik-V vaccine to be produced abroad for 500 million people per year, starting from 2021. RDIF is currently considering additional applications from a number of countries and companies to further increase production capacity," the statement said.
In a separate statement, RDIF, Russia's Health Ministry, and the state-run Gamaleya National Research Center said that new clinical trial data shows that Sputnik-V was 91.4 percent effective on Day 28 and over 95 percent effective on Day 42.
They said that 22,000 volunteers had been vaccinated with the first dose and more than 19,000 with both doses.
Trials are also taking place in the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, and Belarus, according to the statement.
Russia was the first country to approve its coronavirus vaccine for widespread use by the public, registering Sputnik-V in August, ahead of the start of the large-scale trial in September.
The vaccine, which has already been administered in Russia to health-care workers and other high-risk groups, has not yet been evaluated by the European Union’s drug regulator.
Amid an alarming surge in coronavirus infections in much of the world, hopes have been raised that a series of promising new vaccines may become widely available by spring of next year, with the first doses coming out as soon as December.
With reporting by Reuters


rferl--2020-11-24--Early Release For Kazakh Activist Jailed On Terrorism Charge Denied

ALMATY , Kazakhstan -- The Almaty regional court has upheld a lower court 's decision to deny an early release request by Kazakh activist Kenzhebek Abishev , who was jailed for being linked to a political movement founded by a fugitive tycoon .
Abishev 's lawyer , Gulnara Zhuaspaeva , told RFE/RL that the decision was handed down on November 24 .
Abishev 's request for early release was rejected by the Qapshaghai district court on October 5 .
The 53-year-old Abishev was sentenced to seven years in prison in December 2018 after he and two other activists were found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were spreading the ideas of the banned Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan ( DVK ) movement .
Abishev , who Kazakh rights groups have declared a political prisoner , pleaded not guilty , calling the case against him politically motivated .
The DVK was founded by Mukhtar Ablyazov , an outspoken critic of the Kazakh government who has been residing in France for several years .
Ablyazov , who has been organizing unsanctioned anti-government rallies in Kazakhstan via the Internet in recent years , was the head of a bank known as BTA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , and Ukraine on suspicion of embezzling some $ 5 billion .
Several politicians and activists have fled Kazakhstan in recent years , fearing for their safety or anticipating politically motivated prosecution .

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- The Almaty regional court has upheld a lower court's decision to deny an early release request by Kazakh activist Kenzhebek Abishev, who was jailed for being linked to a political movement founded by a fugitive tycoon.
Abishev's lawyer, Gulnara Zhuaspaeva, told RFE/RL that the decision was handed down on November 24. Abishev's request for early release was rejected by the Qapshaghai district court on October 5.
The 53-year-old Abishev was sentenced to seven years in prison in December 2018 after he and two other activists were found guilty of planning a holy war because they were spreading the ideas of the banned Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement.
Abishev, who Kazakh rights groups have declared a political prisoner, pleaded not guilty, calling the case against him politically motivated.
The DVK was founded by Mukhtar Ablyazov, an outspoken critic of the Kazakh government who has been residing in France for several years.
Ablyazov, who has been organizing unsanctioned anti-government rallies in Kazakhstan via the Internet in recent years, was the head of a bank known as BTA. He is wanted by Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine on suspicion of embezzling some $5 billion.
Ablyazov has denied all charges.
Several politicians and activists have fled Kazakhstan in recent years, fearing for their safety or anticipating politically motivated prosecution.


rferl--2020-11-24--Car Of Independent Russian Journalist Set Ablaze In Russia's Chelyabinsk

Unknown arsonists destroyed a car belonging to a journalist at an independent news outlet in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk @ @ @ @ @ reporter 's employer sees as linked to her professional activities .
The Znak.com news website @ @ @ @ @ the car of its reporter , Marina Malkova , was torched overnight .
Malkova , @ @ @ @ @ was at home when she heard a loud noise .
When she looked outside , @ @ @ @ @ .
Security cameras recorded two unknown persons fleeing the site after the apparent arson attack @ @ @ @ @ cars parked in the area , Znak.com said the fact that they chose Malkova 's @ @ @ @ @ targeted the reporter 's vehicle .
Malkova 's articles focus on corruption among local officials @ @ @ @ @ recent report about major sewage problems that led to the flooding of a newly built @ @ @ @ @ infectious diseases was especially sensitive amid concerns over official efforts to tackle COVID-19 .

Unknown arsonists destroyed a car belonging to a journalist at an independent news outlet in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in an attack that the reporter's employer sees as linked to her professional activities.
The Znak.com news website said on November 24 that the car of its reporter, Marina Malkova, was torched overnight.
Malkova, the media outlet said, was at home when she heard a loud noise. When she looked outside, her car was in flames.
Security cameras recorded two unknown persons fleeing the site after the apparent arson attack.
While there were several cars parked in the area, Znak.com said the fact that they chose Malkova's car suggests the attackers specifically targeted the reporter's vehicle.
Malkova's articles focus on corruption among local officials and law enforcement.
A recent report about major sewage problems that led to the flooding of a newly built medical facility for patients with infectious diseases was especially sensitive amid concerns over official efforts to tackle COVID-19.


rferl--2020-11-24--Moscow Says U.S. Destroyer Forced Out Of Russian Waters

Russia 's Defense Ministry says a U.S. Navy destroyer has left Russian waters in the Far East after being warned it might be rammed .
The ministry said in a statement that the USS John S. McCain ventured 2 kilometers into Russian territorial waters on November 24 in the Peter the Great Gulf , near the eastern Russian port city of Vladivostok , before turning back after receiving a warning from the Admiral Vinogradov vessel .
`` The Pacific Fleet 's Admiral Vinogradov anti-submarine destroyer used an international communication channel to warn the foreign vessel that such actions were unacceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country 's territorial waters in a ramming maneuver .
After the warning was issued and the Admiral Vinogradov changed its course , the USS John S. McCain destroyer returned to international waters , '' the statement said .
A statement by the U.S. Pacific Fleet gave no details of the incident but said the U.S. vessel `` asserted navigational rights and freedoms '' in the vicinity of the Peter the Great Gulf `` by challenging Russia 's excessive maritime claims . ''
The Soviet Union declared the area as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States does not recognize that claim .
Such incidents have been reported by Russia often in recent years after ties with the United States and European Union worsened following Moscow 's annexation of Ukraine 's Crimea region in 2014 and its support for separatists in Ukraine 's east .
U.S. and NATO military jets also have routinely intercepted Russian surveillance and strategic-bomber aircraft near NATO-member countries ' and U.S. airspace over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans .
Most incidents are routine and considered nonthreatening .
With reporting by TASS and Interfax

Russia's Defense Ministry says a U.S. Navy destroyer has left Russian waters in the Far East after being warned it might be rammed.
The ministry said in a statement that the USS John S. McCain, which the United States said was "challenging Russia's excessive maritime claims," ventured 2 kilometers into Russian territorial waters in the Peter the Great Gulf, near the eastern Russian port city of Vladivostok, before turning back after receiving a warning from the Admiral Vinogradov vessel.
"The Pacific Fleet's Admiral Vinogradov anti-submarine destroyer used an international communication channel to warn the foreign vessel that such actions were unacceptable and the violator could be driven out of the country's territorial waters in a ramming maneuver. After the warning was issued and the Admiral Vinogradov changed its course, the USS John S. McCain destroyer returned to international waters," the ministry said in the statement.
A statement by the U.S. Pacific Fleet gave no details of the incident but said the U.S. vessel was asserting its "navigational rights and freedoms" in the vicinity of the Peter the Great Gulf.
"By conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are not Russia's territorial sea and that the United States does not acquiesce in Russia's claim that Peter the Great is a "historic bay" under international law," it added.
The Soviet Union declared the area as part of its territorial waters in 1984, but the United States does not recognize it as Russian. Vladivostok is the home port for the Russian Pacific Fleet.
Such incidents have been reported by Russia often in recent years after ties with the United States and European Union worsened following Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and its support for separatists in Ukraine's east.
U.S. and NATO military jets also have routinely intercepted Russian surveillance and strategic-bomber aircraft near NATO-member countries' and U.S. airspace over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Most incidents are routine and considered nonthreatening.
With reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-11-24--New Russian Bill Would Expand Internet Censorship, HRW Warns

Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) is calling on the Russian parliament to dismiss a new bill giving authorities the power to block websites that have censored Russian state media content , saying it would increase censorship in Russia .
Anastasia Zlobina , coordinator for Europe and Central Asia at HRW , said in a statement on November 23 that global Internet companies ’ “ often opaque and inconsistent policies and practices around removing or moderating online content deserve criticism .
“ But totally blocking online platforms used by millions of Russians , as this bill proposes , does the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
The new draft law , which was submitted to parliament on November 19 , would introduce a registry for “ website owners ” that censor “ information of public importance , ” if the authorities deem the censorship to be “ discriminatory or based on economic and political sanctions against Russia.
” The proposed legislation authorizes the prosecutor-general to order full or partial blocking of the listed websites if they continue to “ violate ” Russians ’ right of access to information .
Since April , Russian authorities recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ platforms like Twitter , Facebook , or YouTube censored content from state-owned Russian media companies such as RT and RIA Novosti , according to the bill ’ s explanatory note .
Zlobina said the Russian authorities already have a number of tools to restrict access to online content that have raised concerns over the arbitrary and extrajudicial blocking of legitimate content , including the 2019 so-called “ sovereign Internet ” law , which allows the government to use technology to track , filter , and reroute Internet traffic .
Last month , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ block content deemed inappropriate by the authorities passed its first reading in parliament .
And in December 2019 , fines for noncompliance with data storage regulations were increased by up to 6 million rubles ( $ 78,700 ) .
Zlobina noted that in recent years Russian authorities have ordered Internet services and platforms blocked for noncompliance with the country ’ s legislation .
The European Court of Human Rights in June ruled on four cases brought against Russia , finding that blocking entire websites violates the owners ’ right to impart information and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on the Russian parliament to dismiss a new bill giving authorities the power to block websites that have censored Russian state media content, saying it would increase censorship in Russia.
Anastasia Zlobina, coordinator for Europe and Central Asia at HRW, said in a statement on November 23 that global Internet companies’ “often opaque and inconsistent policies and practices around removing or moderating online content deserve criticism.
“But totally blocking online platforms used by millions of Russians, as this bill proposes, does the opposite of protecting access to information,” she said.
The new draft law, which was submitted to parliament on November 19, would introduce a registry for “website owners” that censor “information of public importance,” if the authorities deem the censorship to be “discriminatory or based on economic and political sanctions against Russia.”
The proposed legislation authorizes the prosecutor-general to order full or partial blocking of the listed websites if they continue to “violate” Russians’ right of access to information.
Since April, Russian authorities recorded at least 20 incidents in which online platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube censored content from state-owned Russian media companies such as RT and RIA Novosti, according to the bill’s explanatory note.
Zlobina said the Russian authorities already have a number of tools to restrict access to online content that have raised concerns over the arbitrary and extrajudicial blocking of legitimate content, including the 2019 so-called “sovereign Internet” law, which allows the government to use technology to track, filter, and reroute Internet traffic.
Last month, a draft law introducing fines for refusing to block content deemed inappropriate by the authorities passed its first reading in parliament.
And in December 2019, fines for noncompliance with data storage regulations were increased by up to 6 million rubles ($78,700).
Zlobina noted that in recent years Russian authorities have ordered Internet services and platforms blocked for noncompliance with the country’s legislation.
The European Court of Human Rights in June ruled on four cases brought against Russia, finding that blocking entire websites violates the owners’ right to impart information and the public’s right to receive it.