rferl--2020-06-01--Putin Sets July 1 For Controversial Constitutional Vote

Russian President Vladimir Putin has set July 1 as the date for the national vote on constitutional amendments that among other things would allow him to remain in power until 2036 .
Putin announced the decision at a meeting with co-chairs of the working group on the preparation of the bill on June 1 .
Ella Pamfilova , the chairwoman of the Central Election Committee , said she supports the idea , adding that the voting will start seven days prior the official date in order to avoid large crowds .
Pamfilova also said that in two or three regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though she did not say which regions .
The bill of constitutional amendments was approved by lawmakers and approved by the Constitutional Court in March .
It was expected to be put to a national vote on April 22 , but this was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak .
Putin 's critics have said that he initiated the amendments to secure power for another 12 years after his current term ends in 2024 by resetting his previous presidential term count back to zero .
The move has sparked protests in Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term , his second consecutive six-year term , began in 2018 .
The existing constitution prohibits presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms , but the amendments would enable him to seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024 , and conceivably a sixth in 2030 .
Final approval of the changes will come if more than half of the country ’ s voters support them in the nationwide vote .
Putin , a 67-year old former KGB officer , has ruled Russia as president or prime minister for more than 20 @

Russian President Vladimir Putin has set July 1 as the date for the national vote on constitutional amendments that among other things would allow him to remain in power until 2036.
Putin announced the decision at a meeting with co-chairs of the working group on the preparation of the bill on June 1.
Ella Pamfilova, the chairwoman of the Central Election Committee, said she supports the idea, adding that the voting will start seven days prior the official date in order to avoid large crowds.
Pamfilova also said that in two or three regions an electronic voting system will be used, though she did not say which regions.
The bill of constitutional amendments was approved by lawmakers and approved by the Constitutional Court in March.
It was expected to be put to a national vote on April 22, but this was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Putin's critics have said that he initiated the amendments to secure power for another 12 years after his current term ends in 2024 by resetting his previous presidential term count back to zero.
The move has sparked protests in Russian cities and towns.
Putin's current term, his second consecutive six-year term, began in 2018. The existing constitution prohibits presidents from serving more than two consecutive terms, but the amendments would enable him to seek a fifth overall presidential term in 2024, and conceivably a sixth in 2030.
Final approval of the changes will come if more than half of the country’s voters support them in the nationwide vote.
Putin, a 67-year old former KGB officer, has ruled Russia as president or prime minister for more than 20 years.


rferl--2020-06-01--Lukashenka Warns No 'Maidan' Following Mass Rallies Supporting Opposition

MINSK -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has openly warned that there will be no `` Maidan '' following mass rallies in Minsk and other towns and cities supporting potential opposition presidential candidates .
Lukashenka used the word Maidan , which became a symbol of pro-European antigovernment protests around the former Soviet Union after protests on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti ( Independence Square ) in the Ukrainian capital , Kyiv , in 2014 toppled Russia-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych .
The Belarusian leader said during a June 1 meeting with the chief of the Belarusian KGB , Valery Vakulchyk , that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for potential independent and opposition presidential candidates necessary for registration with election authorities were organized by foreign forces , calling the demonstrations `` winds blown from different sides to our Belarusian land . ''
`` We absolutely know the goals of those wind-blowers .
They want to organize a little Maidan before or during the presidential poll ...
I want at this meeting to warn you and all those who hear me now , all those ‘ maidanized ’ ones .
There will be no Maidans in Belarus , '' Lukashenka said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hinted that the rallies pose a threat to Belarusian sovereignty and independence , which must be `` defended by the army , the KGB , and all the people . ''
`` We are not going to muzzle anyone .
There are places in Minsk and other cities allocated for public discussions .
I think there are six such places in Minsk .
Our thing is to control that , so that nothing could go over the top .
There are six sites in Minsk , so go and debate there .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all means , secure law and order , '' Lukashenka said , referring to six places in the city designated as areas where public discussions may take place .
`` People can go there and discuss issues .
If they want to do that in the kitchen , please do so , '' Lukashenka added , `` So that they did not create problems for others . ''
Human Rights Watch ( HRW ) warned earlier this month that authorities in Belarus have intensified their crackdown on protesters , opposition bloggers , journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` new wave of arbitrary arrests '' ahead of the election scheduled for August 9 .
More than 1,000 demonstrators joined together in Minsk on May 24 to oppose another term for Lukashenka in one of the biggest protests of the year in the country of around 9 million .
Critics of Lukashenka say his government has shown little tolerance for dissent and independent media .
He has ruled the country since 1994 and is currently serving his fifth presidential term .
Belarus abolished presidential term limits in 2004 .
The country has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions over its poor rights record and lack of fair elections , but Belarus and the West have recently sought to mend ties to reduce Russia ’ s influence in the country .

MINSK -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has openly warned that there will be no "Maidan" following mass rallies in Minsk and other towns and cities supporting potential opposition presidential candidates.
Lukashenka used the word Maidan, which became a symbol of pro-European antigovernment protests around the former Soviet Union after protests on the Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in 2014 toppled Russia-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.
The Belarusian leader said during a June 1 meeting with the chief of the Belarusian KGB, Valery Vakulchyk, that the rallies a day earlier to collect signatures for potential independent and opposition presidential candidates necessary for registration with election authorities were organized by foreign forces, calling the demonstrations "winds blown from different sides to our Belarusian land."
"We absolutely know the goals of those wind-blowers. They want to organize a little Maidan before or during the presidential poll...I want at this meeting to warn you and all those who hear me now, all those ‘maidanized’ ones. There will be no Maidans in Belarus," Lukashenka said.
In his usual flamboyant style, Lukashenka hinted that the rallies pose a threat to Belarusian sovereignty and independence, which must be "defended by the army, the KGB, and all the people."
"We are not going to muzzle anyone. There are places in Minsk and other cities allocated for public discussions. I think there are six such places in Minsk. Our thing is to control that, so that nothing could go over the top. There are six sites in Minsk, so go and debate there. But the KGB and police must, by all means, secure law and order," Lukashenka said, referring to six places in the city designated as areas where public discussions may take place.
"People can go there and discuss issues. If they want to do that in the kitchen, please do so," Lukashenka added, "So that they did not create problems for others."
Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned earlier this month that authorities in Belarus have intensified their crackdown on protesters, opposition bloggers, journalists, and other government critics with a "new wave of arbitrary arrests" ahead of the election scheduled for August 9.
More than 1,000 demonstrators joined together in Minsk on May 24 to oppose another term for Lukashenka in one of the biggest protests of the year in the country of around 9 million.
Critics of Lukashenka say his government has shown little tolerance for dissent and independent media.
He has ruled the country since 1994 and is currently serving his fifth presidential term. Belarus abolished presidential term limits in 2004.
The country has been the target of U.S. and EU sanctions over its poor rights record and lack of fair elections, but Belarus and the West have recently sought to mend ties to reduce Russia’s influence in the country.


rferl--2020-06-02--Seven Civilians Killed By Afghan Roadside Bomb

Officials say that seven civilians have been killed and six others wounded in a roadside bomb attack in northern Afghanistan .
The attack came despite a reduction in overall violence across much of Afghanistan since last-week 's cease-fire between the Taliban and the government .
The explosion struck a small truck carrying a group of laborers late on June 1 in the volatile district of Khan Abad , in the northern Kunduz Province .
No group has claimed responsibility , but Kunduz provincial spokesman Esmatullah Muradi said he suspected the Taliban .
`` The Taliban plant roadside bombs to target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kill civilians , '' Muradi said .
Two of the six wounded in the attack were in critical condition , said district chief Hayatullah Amiri .
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had welcomed the Taliban cease-fire declared to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and authorities responded by announcing around 2,000 Taliban prisoners would be released in a `` goodwill gesture '' with a view to open peace talks .
Afghanistan 's former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah , who has been appointed to lead the talks , said his team was ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The United States and the Taliban signed an agreement in February aimed at ending the longest war in U.S. history .
The deal lays out a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in return for security commitments from the Taliban .
The deal , of which the Afghan government was not a signatory , also stipulates that Kabul nevertheless must free 5,000 Taliban prisoners , while the militants are to release 1,000 captives .
As of last week , Afghan authorities had released 1,100 Taliban militants since early April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of security forces , civil servants , and other people it had been holding .
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , who has been pushing for intra-Afghan peace talks to begin , held a video conference with top officials in Kabul including Ghani and his top deputy , Amrullah Saleh .
Ghani 's office said in a statement that Saleh highlighted the importance of the ongoing drop in violence and the need for the cease-fire to hold .
The two sides discussed the future steps needed to bring peace in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the release of Taliban prisoners and the venue for the intra-Afghan peace talks were also tackled .
Pompeo reiterated the U.S. support for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan , it said .
In Washington , U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said he is optimistic that the Taliban and Afghan government will begin peace talks , adding that U.S. troops could be pulled out ahead of schedule if all goes well .
Khalilzad said on June 1 that there ’ s been a lot of progress as the Afghan government speeds up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in a good place , '' Khalilzad said , adding that levels of violence in Afghanistan have remained relatively low since the Eid al-Fitr cease-fire .
`` We are optimistic that finally we 're moving forward to the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations . ''
Speaking to reporters in Washington , Khalilzad did not set a date and cautioned that `` still more needs to be done '' on freeing prisoners .
Under the February agreement , the United States will pull troops out of Afghanistan by mid-2021 in exchange for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other foreign extremists .
U.S. officials have said that troops already are returning home and the withdrawal is ahead of schedule .
The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and toppled the Taliban regime , saying it had provided a safe haven to Al-Qaeda , which carried out the September 11 , 2001 attacks .
Khalilzad downplayed a recent report to the UN Security Council that said Al-Qaeda and the Taliban `` remain close '' and were in regular consultations over the negotiations with the United States .
`` The Taliban regularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and offered guarantees that it would honor their historical ties , '' independent UN sanctions monitors said in the report .
It said the ties stem from friendship , intermarriage , shared struggle , and ideological sympathy .
Khalilzad said it largely covered a period before the February deal .
`` There is progress , but we will continue to monitor those activities very closely , '' he said of Taliban ties with Al-Qaeda , adding that if the Taliban fails to keep its promises , Washington could reconsider its own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Reuters , and dpa

The education of girls and women is universally accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, including nearly 50 Muslim-majority nations.
But Afghanistan’s hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers have banned teenage girls from attending school after the sixth grade since they returned to power two years ago. The ban was extended in December to women in universities.
Countless protests by Afghans inside the country, pressure from the international community, and lobbying by Muslim scholars and clerics have failed to convince the fundamentalist Taliban leaders to reopen schools.
Experts are divided over whether the ban is rooted in how the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam is shaped by conservative Pashtun tribal customs and cultural practices or if it is prompted by how senior Taliban ideologues interpret Islamic teachings.
Most Taliban leaders are ethnic Pashtun, Sunni Muslim clerics. Many were educated in Deobandi madrasahs in neighboring Pakistan. Deobandism emerged as a puritanical Islamic revivalist movement in 19-century British Colonial India. Based on the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is a prominent strain among Islamists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tribal Influences
Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, argues that the Taliban restrictions against women are linked to social customs and cultural practices in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
Most Taliban leaders come from various Pashtun rural tribal communities in these regions bordering Pakistan.
"They believe that a woman's place is either inside a house or in a grave," Yousafzai said of the basic Taliban belief influenced by the status of women in the families of clerics and religious leaders in these Pashtun regions.
“Women living in the households of the current Taliban policymakers were never educated and never left their homes,” said Yousafzai, who has tracked the Islamist group since it emerged as a ragtag militia in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar in late 1994. “These women never performed any government or nongovernmental jobs.”
Yousafzai says the Taliban backs policies shaped by this worldview by leaning on Islamic teachings supporting such ideas. He says Taliban leaders rely on sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that discourage women from leaving their homes.
“Their primary belief is that pubescent girls should not leave home under any circumstance,” he said. “This is why they view women leaving home for education or work as engaging in moral corruption.”
In Afghanistan, a Muslim nation of some 40 million people, activists and rights advocates accuse the Taliban of implementing "gender apartheid" by denying women education, work, freedom of movement, and deciding how they can appear in public.
Most Muslims agree that Islam allows women to get an education. Yet the Taliban publicly says that it will allow girls access to education only after ensuring complete gender segregation and other unspecified conditions.
Almost all Afghan secondary schools were gender segregated and universities imposed a strict separation between men and women after the Taliban takeover.
Yousafzai says in conservative and traditional Muslim societies around the world, some clerics also favor restrictions on women's education, work, and their role in public life. But the governments in those countries usually oppose or limit such ideas.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia -- one of the most conservative Sunni Muslim nations -- has allowed women to drive and granted them freedom of movement without a male guardian. These steps are part of a reform and modernity drive by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
The Taliban ban on education has invited universal condemnation from Muslims globally.
“The Taliban's ban on women's education is not rooted in [the Islamic] Shari’a law but rather reflects cultural biases that contradict the teachings of Islam,” said Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the United States.
He said that contrary to Taliban practices, “Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and encourages all individuals, regardless of gender, to acquire an education.”
Historical Conflict
But Islamic scholars and those who have attempted to convince the Taliban about reopening girls schools offer a different explanation.
John Mohammad Butt, an Islamic scholar and former BBC broadcaster who is the only Westerner to graduate from India’s Darul Uloom Deoband, argues that the Taliban's policy on girls' education is not tribal but shaped by the century-old conflict over modern education.
“The problem is that girls' education in Afghanistan -- indeed, contemporary education in general -- has generally been introduced in Afghanistan in line with a secular agenda,” he said.
In the 1920s, a coalition of conservative clerics and tribal and community leaders deposed reformist King Amanullah Khan. He wanted to modernize Afghanistan along Turkish leader Kamal Ataturk's secular lines and championed modern education and rights for women.
This opposition to modernity and secularism continued, and conservative clerics opposed women's education and work. It became a key part of the Islamist opposition to the pro-Soviet Afghan communist governments after the April 1978 military coup that ended the Afghan monarchy. The mujahedin accused the communists of spreading immorality by promoting women’s education and empowerment.
“This has led to particular wariness on the part of conservative circles in Afghanistan with regard to girls' education,” Butt said.
'Deep Ideological Conviction'
Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, became part of an effort to rescind the ban by talking to the Taliban last year.
But he says the effort failed because “the ban is a matter of deep ideological conviction” for the current supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.
Baheer says that the most prominent Taliban leaders have studied in Pakistani madrasahs and were thus disconnected from village and tribal life.
“They have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought so that they now enforce the strictest version of Islam on the Afghan population,” he said.
He argues that the ban on girls’ schools is a deliberate policy championed by Akhundzada, who he says has endorsed Taliban Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani's Arabic language book The Islamic Emirate And Its System. In this book, Haqqani supports a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.
Baheer says Haqqani ignores his other wives and other female companions that played an active role in many sectors of society and how they served as students and teachers for men.
“This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of,” he said.
Butt says that even Haqqani has acknowledged the principle that if there is something that women need to act upon, then that is also something that women need to learn about.
“I hope the Taliban authorities will come to realize in the not-too-distant future that education for women will make Afghan women into better Muslims,” he says. “It will enable them to make a stronger contribution to the well-being of their country.”
Two years after grappling with the issue, Western diplomats appear to be encouraging Afghan conservative and clerical circles to find ways to end the ban.
Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, recently tweeted that Afghan women must be educated and contribute to the economy to help their country stand on its own two feet.
“If change to policies is made, it will be because Afghans have asked for it, not a result of foreign requests,” he wrote.


rferl--2020-06-02--COVID-19: Armenia Sees Growth In Cases Amid Lockdown Easing

The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 375,000 with more than 6.2 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Health authorities in Armenia have reported a record number of daily coronavirus infections and deaths amid a steady growth of cases recorded since the government began easing a nationwide lockdown in mid-April .
The number of coronavirus cases in the country of about 3 million rose by 517 to 10,009 in the past 24 hours , the Armenian Health Ministry said on June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Nikol Pashinian announced he and four members of his family had tested positive for the virus .
The ministry said 19 more people died from COVID-19 , bringing the official death toll to 158 .
The fatalities do not include the deaths of 56 other people who were also infected with the virus .
The ministry says that those deaths were primarily caused by other , preexisting conditions .
Health authorities also said that a total of 3,427 patients have recovered from the disease .
The number of infections and deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government in mid-April started to gradually dismantle a nationwide lockdown declared in late March , allowing virtually all sectors of the Armenian economy to reopen by May 10 .
Pashinian 's government has so far signaled no plans to reimpose restrictions , arguing that face masks , social distancing , and frequent handwashing can stop the spread of the virus .
Pashinian has said that the approach by authorities remains the same .
“ We have to learn to live with the novel coronavirus , ” he said .
Pashinian , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue his activities as head of the government while in isolation .
With reporting by Interfax and TASS

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


rferl--2020-06-02--Kyrgyz National Hospitalized In Fresh Incident On Kyrgyz-Tajik Border

BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz national has been hospitalized with a gunshot wound in another shooting near a disputed segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border .
The Kyrgyz Border Guard Service said on June 2 that the incident took place overnight in the southern Batken region .
According to the service , unknown individuals opened fire at a car with Kyrgyz license plates in the Eski-Tash district at around 1.30 a.m. local time .
The man in the car was wounded and is being treated at a hospital in the village of Samarkandek , the Border Guard Service said , adding that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working together on the issue .
The Tajik side has not commented on the situation yet .
It is the fourth shooting incident in the area in recent weeks .
The two countries have accused each other of escalating tensions along the border since early May .
Many border areas in Central Asia have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley , where the borders of Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , and Uzbekistan meet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 in clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbek citizens near Uzbekistan 's Sokh exclave in the same region .

BISHKEK -- A Kyrgyz national has been hospitalized with a gunshot wound in another shooting near a disputed segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.
The Kyrgyz Border Guard Service said on June 2 that the incident took place overnight in the southern Batken region.
According to the service, unknown individuals opened fire at a car with Kyrgyz license plates in the Eski-Tash district at around 1.30 a.m. local time.
The man in the car was wounded and is being treated at a hospital in the village of Samarkandek, the Border Guard Service said, adding that law enforcement officials from both nations are working together on the issue.
The Tajik side has not commented on the situation yet.
It is the fourth shooting incident in the area in recent weeks.
The two countries have accused each other of escalating tensions along the border since early May.
Many border areas in Central Asia have been disputed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan meet.
Dozens of people were wounded on May 31 in clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbek citizens near Uzbekistan's Sokh exclave in the same region.


rferl--2020-06-02--Venezuelan President Says He Will Visit Iran To Sign Energy Agreements

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he will visit Iran shortly to sign cooperation agreements in energy and other sectors after Iran sent five fuel tankers to the South American country .
`` I am obliged to go to personally thank the people , '' Maduro said on June 1 in an address broadcast on state television .
He did not provide a date for his visit to the Islamic Republic .
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said earlier that Tehran will continue to export fuel to Venezuela if the country requests more supplies .
Both Iran and Venezuela are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deter such shipments .
`` Iran practices its free trade rights with Venezuela and we are ready to send more ships if Caracas demands more supplies from Iran , '' Musavi told a weekly news conference on June 1 that was broadcast live on state television .
Venezuela , once South America 's top oil producer , is suffering from a gasoline shortage amid a deep economic crisis .
The United States has warned governments , seaports , shippers , and insurers that they could face measures if they aid the tankers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entered Venezuelan waters so far .
The Refinitiv Eikon analytical company said on May 31 that the first two tankers have started their return journey .
Tensions have been on the rise between longtime foes Tehran and Washington since 2018 , when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions that have battered the Iranian economy .

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--2020-06-03--Emergency Declared After Siberian Arctic Diesel Leak Threatens Ecological Disaster

Authorities in the Siberia city of Norilsk on June 2 declared a state of emergency after a diesel fuel leak seeped into a local river , threatening an ecological disaster in the fragile Arctic environment .
At least 20,000 liters of diesel fuel on May 29 leaked from a thermal power plant near the industrial city of Norilsk , located above the Arctic Circle .
The World Wildlife Fund ( WWF ) released satellite photos showing crimson red waters in the Daldykan and Ambarnaya rivers .
The environmental group warned the poisoned water could reach Pyasino lake north of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that oil booms installed by the Federal Marine Rescue Service appeared to be helping .
However , the containment doesn ’ t mean that toxic elements wo n't enter the lake , said Aleksey Knizhnikov of WWF-Russia .
“ Unfortunately the most poisonous elements of diesel fuel are aromatic compounds like benzol , toluene , ethyl benzene , xylene , which mix with the water and it is impossible to collect them using oil booms , ” he said .
Russia 's Rosrybolovstvo state fishing agency described the fuel leak as an ecological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said now that it will take decades for the restoration of the ecological balance of the affected Norilo-Pyasinsky water system , '' said Dmitry Klokov , a spokesman for the agency .
Russian mining conglomerate Norilsk Nickel , which owns the thermal power facility , said the leak was caused when pillars supporting a storage tank sank due to permafrost soil thawing .
Norilsk , an isolated city of 180,000 people built around Norilsk Nickel , the world 's leading nickel and palladium producer , is constructed on permafrost and its infrastructure is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change .
With reporting by AFP , Reuters , Interfax , and TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed a proposal to declare a state of emergency on a federal scale, days after a diesel fuel leak seeped into local rivers, threatening an ecological disaster in the fragile Arctic environment.
Authorities in the Siberian city of Norilsk already declared a state of emergency after at least 20,000 tons of diesel fuel spilled from a thermal power plant on May 29 near the industrial city of Norilsk, located above the Arctic Circle.
At a meeting with Putin on June 3, Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev called for the spill to be declared a federal emergency – a move that would allow the use of Russia’s federal capabilities to tackle the situation.
"I agree with your proposal to declare an emergency," the Russian president responded to Zinichev.
He also instructed the minister "to be quick organizing the work related to prevention of further negative effects on the environment."
During the televised videoconference, Putin lambasted the head of the company that runs the thermal power facility, NTEK, after officials said it failed to report the incident.
"Why did government agencies only find out about this two days after the fact? Are we going to learn about emergency situations from social media? Is there something wrong with you?" Putin asked NTEK chief Sergei Lipin.
Russian mining conglomerate Norilsk Nickel, which owns NTEK, said the company had reported what happened in a "timely and proper" way.
It also said the leak was caused when pillars supporting a storage tank sank due to permafrost soil thawing.
Russia's Investigative Committee announced it had launched three criminal investigations over environmental violations and detained an employee of the plant.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has released satellite photos showing crimson red waters in the Daldykan and Ambarnaya rivers near Norilsk.
The environmental group warned that the poisoned water could reach Lake Pyasino, north of the city, but said on June 2 that oil booms installed by the Federal Marine Rescue Service appeared to be helping.
However, the containment doesn’t mean that toxic elements won't enter the lake, said Aleksey Knizhnikov of WWF-Russia.
“Unfortunately the most poisonous elements of diesel fuel are aromatic compounds like benzol, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene, which mix with the water and it is impossible to collect them using oil booms,” he said.
'Ecological Catastrophe'
Russia's Rosrybolovstvo state fishing agency described the fuel leak as an ecological catastrophe.
"It can already be said now that it will take decades for the restoration of the ecological balance of the affected Norilo-Pyasinsky water system," said Dmitry Klokov, a spokesman for the agency.
Norilsk, an isolated city of 180,000 people built around Norilsk Nickel, the world's leading nickel and palladium producer, is located in the Krasnoyarsk region.
The city is constructed on permafrost and its infrastructure is threatened by melting ice caused by climate change.
Norilsk Nickel has historically been a major polluter. In 2018, it accounted for more than half of the emissions of sulfur dioxide emissions, a toxic gas tracked by NASA across Russia, the Barents Observer has reported.
The company is owned by Vladimir Potanin, who is Russia's richest man with a net worth of nearly $20 billion, according to Forbes.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, Interfax, TASS, and RIA Novosti


rferl--2020-06-02--Ukrainian And German Top Diplomats Talk NATO And Conflict In Eastern Ukraine

BERLIN – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has discussed ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine , Kyiv ’ s relationship with NATO , and the issue of Russia-annexed Crimea with German officials during a one-day visit to Berlin .
At a joint press conference after the talks on June 2 , Kuleba and his German counterpart Heiko Maas said they agreed to accelerate implementation of agreements reached in Paris in December during talks held in the so-called Normandy Format , a diplomatic process involving Ukraine , Russia , Germany , and France to end fighting in eastern Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to support Ukraine in the European Union and Kyiv 's ties with NATO .
Germany ’ s top diplomat stressed the importance of ending fighting in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk , known as the Donbas , some parts of which have been under Moscow-supported separatists since April 2014 .
More than 13,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the conflict , including some 50 Ukrainian soldiers killed this year .
Maas also pushed for more crossing points along the demarcation line in Donbas , pointing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 400-kilometer line of contact are not enough .
Maas also said that it was important to continue demining operations in the conflict zone and stated that `` all sides need compromises . ''
Kuleba said that Kyiv wants peace in Donbas , but such peace should not lead to `` crossing the red lines , '' which `` are national security , sovereignty , and territorial integrity of Ukraine . ''
Kuleba also addressed the importance of providing access to the International Committee of the Red Cross for Ukrainians illegally held in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Crimean Tatars held in Crimea and in Russia , saying Moscow is carrying out an `` intentional policy '' of persecution against the Muslim Turkic-speaking people of Crimea , the majority of whom opposed the peninsula 's annexation by Russia in 2014 .

BERLIN – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has discussed the ongoing conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv’s relationship with NATO, and the issue of Russia-annexed Crimea with German officials during a one-day visit to Berlin.
At a joint press conference after the talks on June 2, Kuleba and his German counterpart Heiko Maas said they had agreed to accelerate the implementation of agreements reached in Paris in December during talks held in the so-called Normandy Format, a diplomatic process involving Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France to end fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Maas also said that Germany will continue to support Ukraine in the European Union as well as Kyiv's ties with NATO.
Germany’s top diplomat stressed the importance of ending fighting in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, known as the Donbas, some parts of which have been controlled by Moscow-supported separatists since April 2014.
More than 13,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the conflict, including some 50 Ukrainian soldiers killed this year.
Maas also pushed for more crossing points along the demarcation line in the Donbas, pointing out that the current five such points along the 400-kilometer line of contact are not enough.
Maas also said that it was important to continue demining operations in the conflict zone and stated that "all sides need compromises."
Kuleba said that Kyiv wants peace in the Donbas, but such peace should not lead to "crossing the red lines," which "are national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Kuleba also addressed the importance of providing access to the International Committee of the Red Cross for Ukrainians illegally held in Russia-annexed Crimea.
Kuleba separately mentioned dozens of Crimean Tatars held in Crimea and in Russia, saying Moscow is carrying out an "intentional policy" of persecution against the Muslim Turkic-speaking people of Crimea, the majority of whom opposed the peninsula's annexation by Russia in 2014.


rferl--2020-06-02--Anti-Gay Political Ad Launched In Russia Ahead Of Vote On Constitutional Changes

A Russian media group linked to a close associate of President Vladimir Putin has produced an anti-gay political ad ahead of a vote on constitutional amendments that would open the door for the former KGB colonel to remain in power until 2036 .
The video , which was produced by Patriot Media Group and began airing this week on social media , shows a young boy ’ s disappointment upon learning that his new adopted mother is actually a makeup-wearing gay man , who immediately presents the child with a dress .
Upon observing the interaction between the boy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the orphanage spits on the ground in disgust .
“ Is this the Russia you will choose ?
Decide the future of the country .
Vote for the amendments to the constitution , ” a voiceover says at the end of the ad as the gay couple hugs .
Putin 's ally Yevgeny Prigozhin , who is commonly referred to as “ Putin ’ s chef ” because of his catering business , heads Patriot 's board of trustees .
He has been sanctioned by the United States for his role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The video , which has attracted nearly 30,000 views , has been criticized for its homophobic message .
Aleksei Navalny , a popular opposition figure , said in a tweet that Russian officials `` have gone completely crazy '' about the theme of homosexuality .
Nikolai Stolyarchuk , the head of Patriot , rejected the notion that the ad was attacking members of the lesbian , gay , bisexual , and transgender ( LGBT ) community .
“ The main idea is not a fight with the LGBT community , rather to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union of a man and woman , ” Stolyarchuk said .
Russians will go to the polls on July 1 to vote for a series of amendments to the constitution that would reset Putin ’ s previous presidential term count back to zero , allowing him to run again in 2024 and 2030 .
The amendments also include a passage defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman , thus enshrining the country 's ban on same-sex marriage in the constitution It also includes declaring the Russian language as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of history.
” The amendments can only be approved in whole or not at all .
Since returning to the presidency in 2012 , Putin has promoted a “ traditional values ” agenda , including by adopting a law criminalizing “ propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.
” The law has caused many LGBT people in Russia to leave the country .
Aleksandr Filimonenko , who played one of the gay men in the political ad , said he did not know how the video was going to be used .
Filimonenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two videos , one of which has yet to be aired .
The voiceover calling on citizens to vote for the constitutional amendments was added after the video was shot , he said , adding that he would vote against the proposed changes to the constitution .

A Russian media group linked to a close associate of President Vladimir Putin has produced an antigay political ad ahead of a vote on constitutional amendments that would open the door for the former KGB lieutenant colonel to remain in power until 2036.
The video, which was produced by Patriot Media Group and began airing this week on social media, shows a young boy’s disappointment upon learning that his new adopted mother is actually a makeup-wearing gay man, who immediately presents the child with a dress.
Upon observing the interaction between the boy and the man, an elderly woman working at the orphanage spits on the ground in disgust.
"Is this the Russia you will choose? Decide the future of the country. Vote for the amendments to the constitution," a voiceover says at the end of the ad as the gay couple hugs.
Putin's ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is commonly referred to as "Putin’s chef” because of his catering business, heads Patriot's board of trustees. He has been sanctioned by the United States for his role in interfering in the 2016 presidential election.
The video, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of views online, has been criticized for its homophobic message.
"There is nothing worse than an orphanage for a child. A gay or lesbian couple who can give care, warmth and love is heaven and earth compared with life in an orphanage," a popular Moscow-based blogger who goes by the name Ksenia Dukalis said in an Instagram post that received nearly 100,000 likes.
"If a government or organization which films such a thing really cared about children, they would know this," she said.
Aleksei Navalny, a popular opposition figure, said in a tweet that Russian officials "have gone completely crazy" about the theme of homosexuality.
Nikolai Stolyarchuk, the head of Patriot, rejected the notion that the ad was attacking members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
"The main idea is not a fight with the LGBT community, rather to protect the institution of the family as the union of a man and woman,” Stolyarchuk said.
Russians will go to the polls on July 1 to vote for a series of amendments to the constitution that would reset Putin’s previous presidential term count back to zero, allowing him to run again in 2024 and 2030.
The amendments also include a passage defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman, thus enshrining the country's ban on same-sex marriage in the constitution
It also includes declaring the Russian language as the state language and outlawing the "falsification of history.”
The amendments can only be approved altogether or not at all.
'Traditional Values'
Since returning to the presidency in 2012, Putin has promoted a “traditional values” agenda, including by adopting a law criminalizing “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors.”
The law has caused many LGBT people in Russia to leave the country.
Aleksandr Filimonenko, who played one of the gay men in the political ad, said he did not know how the video was going to be used.
Filimonenko said he simply accepted the role for two videos, one of which has yet to be aired.
The voiceover calling on citizens to vote for the constitutional amendments was added after the video was shot, he said, adding that he would vote against the proposed changes to the constitution.
With reporting by AFP


rferl--2020-06-02--UN Monitors: Taliban Maintains 'Close' Ties With Al-Qaeda Despite U.S. Peace Deal

The Taliban still maintains close ties with the Al-Qaeda terrorist network , despite signing a peace deal with the United States in which they committed to fight militant groups , a new United Nations report said .
The Taliban slammed the report , made public on June 1 , as `` baseless and bigoted . ''
Under the U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February , the militant group pledged to combat other extremists and deny them from using Afghan soil to launch attacks on the United States and its allies .
`` Relations between the Taliban , especially the Haqqani network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , based on friendship , a history of shared struggle , ideological sympathy and intermarriage , '' said the report sent by independent UN sanctions monitors to the UN Security Council .
The report added that the Taliban `` regularly consulted '' with Al-Qaeda during negotiations with the United States and `` offered guarantees that it would honor their historical ties . ''
`` The challenge will be to secure the counterterrorism gains to which the Taliban have committed '' under the U.S.-Taliban deal , the report said .
U.S. special envoy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying it largely covered a period before the February agreement .
`` There is progress , but we will continue to monitor those activities very closely , '' he said of Taliban ties with Al-Qaeda , adding that if the Taliban fails to keep its promises , Washington could reconsider its own .
Under the agreement , signed in Doha on February 29 , the United States will pull troops out of Afghanistan by mid-2021 , while the Taliban also committed to launching direct negotiations with the Afghan government over a permanent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. officials have said that American troops are already returning home and the withdrawal is ahead of schedule .
The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and toppled the Taliban regime , saying it had provided a safe haven to Al-Qaeda , which carried out the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks on the United States .
The UN report said the Islamic State ( IS ) extremist group remained “ capable of mounting attacks in various parts of Afghanistan , including Kabul.
” It added that some of those attacks “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tactical accommodation with the Haqqani Network , ” a key Taliban faction believed to have been behind some of the deadliest attacks on Afghan and international forces as well as Afghan civilians .
After suffering a series of setbacks , the UN report said the number of IS militants in Afghanistan was “ as low as 2,200.
” “ In addition to their handling of any threat posed by [ Al-Qaeda ] , the Taliban ’ s credibility as a counterterrorism partner for the international community will rest on their success in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s IS affiliate , said the report .
It said that there were thousands of foreign fighters active in Afghanistan , including 6,500 militants from neighboring Pakistan .
The Taliban insurgency has been a unifying cause for some 20 smaller foreign militant groups , mostly from Pakistan and Central Asia .
Experts say the Taliban has ties to some of these groups .


rferl--2020-06-02--U.S. Defense Secretary Esper Invited To Moscow Military Parade

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has invited U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper to a military parade in Moscow later this month , the Defense Ministry says .
The Russian ministry said Shoigu made the invitation during a telephone conversation on June 2 , without saying whether Esper had accepted it .
The June 24 parade on Moscow ’ s Red Square is to mark the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II .
Russia traditionally holds the parade on May 9 , but the grand celebration was postponed over the coronavirus pandemic that is still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Relations between Washington and Moscow remain strained over a range of issues including the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine .
During their phone conversation , Shoigu and Esper discussed arms control and cooperation to fight the coronavirus epidemic , according to the Russian Defense Ministry .
The ministry said the talks also touched upon measures to `` de-conflict and stabilize the situation in Syria , as well as to ensure the security of military contingents in Afghanistan and elsewhere .
On June 1 , U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to discuss “ the latest efforts to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and reopen global economies , ” according to the White House .
It said Trump `` reiterated the need for effective arms control . ''
The Kremlin said that the two leaders also talked about the need to intensify a U.S.-Russian dialogue on strategic stability and steps to enhance mutual trust in the military sphere .
Last month , Washington announced it would pull out of the 35-nation Open Skies accord , which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s violations .
The United States also cited Russian violations when it exited from of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia .
Moscow has denied the U.S. accusations .
With reporting by Reuters and TASS

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has invited U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper to a military parade in Moscow later this month, the Defense Ministry says.
The Russian ministry said Shoigu made the invitation during a telephone conversation on June 2, without saying whether Esper had accepted it.
The June 24 parade on Moscow’s Red Square is to mark the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Russia traditionally holds the parade on May 9, but the grand celebration was postponed over the coronavirus pandemic that is still triggering thousands of new infections each day.
Relations between Washington and Moscow remain strained over a range of issues including the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.
During their phone conversation, Shoigu and Esper discussed arms control and cooperation to fight the coronavirus epidemic, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
The ministry said the talks also touched upon measures to "de-conflict and stabilize the situation in Syria, as well as to ensure the security of military contingents in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
On June 1, U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to discuss “the latest efforts to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and reopen global economies,” according to the White House.
It said Trump "reiterated the need for effective arms control."
The Kremlin said that the two leaders also talked about the need to intensify a U.S.-Russian dialogue on strategic stability and steps to enhance mutual trust in the military sphere.
Last month, Washington announced it would pull out of the 35-nation Open Skies accord, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, due to what U.S. officials said were Russia’s violations.
The United States also cited Russian violations when it exited from of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia.
Moscow has denied the U.S. accusations.
With reporting by Reuters and TASS


rferl--2020-06-02--U.S. Deports Iranian Scientist Acquitted Of Stealing Research

An Iranian scientist detained in the United States has left the country and is on his way back to his homeland , Iranian officials say , although they deny it is part of a prisoner swap .
Sirous Asgari , a materials-science professor at Sharif University of Technology , was charged in 2016 with trying to steal trade secrets from a research project being carried out by Case Western Reserve University in Ohio .
The 59-year-old Asgari , who denied the charge , was acquitted in November 2019 after a U.S. judge tossed out the case .
In a post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif welcomed what he described as the `` good news '' of Asgari 's return on a flight to Iran , and accused the United States of holding `` hostage '' several other Iranian scientists .
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said the scientist was scheduled to arrive in Iran on June 3 .
`` Mr. Asgari was stranded in America for a while because of [ being infected with ] the coronavirus and the situation with flights , '' Musavi said .
His return to Iran led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another prisoner swap .
But Musavi said that talk of a prisoner exchange was `` groundless '' because Asgari was `` released on the basis of being acquitted . ''
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus later said that `` Asgari is not and has never been a participant in any prisoner swap with Iran . ''
The United States and Iran conducted a swap in December , when Chinese-American researcher Xiyue Wang and Iranian scientist Massud Soleimani were freed .
Several other U.S. citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran or out on bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was temporarily released from prison in March on medical grounds amid the coronavirus pandemic .
White was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly insulting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and posting private information online .
In response to Zarif 's Instagram post , acting U.S. Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli tweeted that Asgari and White 's cases had `` never been related . ''
`` We have been trying to deport Asghari since last year , being stalled every step of the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
`` We wish Iran was so enthusiastic to get its illegal nationals back as they would have us all believe , '' he said , adding that there were 10 other Iranians currently in the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency ( ICE ) .
Earlier this year , Asgari told The Guardian that the ICE was holding him at a Louisiana detention center without basic sanitation and refusing to let him return to Iran despite his exoneration .
It was later reported that the scientist had contracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran have become increasingly hostile since 2018 , when President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal with world powers .
With reporting by AFP , the BBC , and AP


rferl--2020-06-02--Siberian Shaman Who Sought To Drive Out Putin Sent To Psychiatric Clinic

YAKUTSK , Russia -- A court in Russia has ruled that Aleksandr Gabyshev , a shaman in the Siberian region of Yakutia who gained notoriety in 2019 after declaring that he wanted to drive President Vladimir Putin from power , must be forcibly placed in a psychiatric clinic .
Aleksei Pryanishnikov , a legal coordinator for the opposition group Open Russia , told RFE/RL that a court in the city of Yakutsk announced the decision on June 2 .
According to Pryanishnikov , the court 's decision was based on the medical conclusion of the central psychiatric clinic in Yakutsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` overestimation of his personality '' because he expressed his intention to drive Putin out of the Kremlin .
Pryanishnikov rejected the decision , saying that such a medical conclusion did not prove that Gabyshev is mentally ill , and complained that the ruling did not say how long Gabyshev must stay in the clinic .
Amnesty International said Gabyshev `` has been made an enemy of the state solely for voicing his dislike of Putin . ''
`` By co-opting first the police and now the psychiatric system to do their bidding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astonishing lengths they will go to repress critics , '' the London-based watchdog said .
Gabyshev was placed in a psychiatric clinic against his will after 20 officers from a special police unit of Russia 's National Guard stormed into his home in Yakutsk on May 12 and detained him .
Gabyshev 's lawyers said on May 26 that they filed a complaint with the European Court for Human Rights , challenging their client 's being held in a psychiatric clinic against his will and without a court ruling , which they said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 29 , a day after his lawyer , Olga Timofeyeva , filed a complaint with the Yakutsk city court questioning the legality of his forced placement in the clinic .
Pryanishnikov told RFE/RL that the June 2 ruling was illegal because police detained three defense witnesses , who `` most likely '' will be charged with violating coronavirus restrictions , just prior to the hearing .
In early May , Gabyshev posted a video on YouTube that showed him performing a traditional Yakut shaman 's dance while declaring , `` Very soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Gabyshev made headlines in 2019 when he called Putin `` evil '' and announced that he would march to Moscow in an attempt to drive the Russian president out of the Kremlin .
Starting the journey in March 2019 , Gabyshev walked more than 2,000 kilometers -- speaking with hundreds of Russians along the way .
As his notoriety rose , videos of his conversations with people were posted on social media and attracted millions of views .
In July , when Gabyshev reached the city of Chita , he gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the slogan `` Russia without Putin ! ''
At the time , Gabyshev said , `` God told me Putin is not a human , but instead a demon , and has ordered me to drive him out . ''
His march was halted when he was detained in the region of Buryatia in September .
He was transferred to Yakutia , where he was confined to a psychiatric clinic and then released .
In October , psychiatrists in Yakutsk said Gabyshev was mentally unstable .
But independent experts hired by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mentally sound , does not need treatment in a psychiatric clinic , and is not a danger to society .
In December , Gabyshev and two supporters attempted to resume the march to Moscow , ignoring Yakutia 's sub-zero temperatures .
But they were stopped again by police and forced to return home .
Shamans have served as healers and diviners in Siberia for centuries .
During the Soviet era , the mystics were harshly repressed .
But in isolated parts of Siberia , they are now regaining importance .

YAKUTSK, Russia -- A court in Russia has ruled that Aleksandr Gabyshev, a shaman in the Siberian region of Yakutia who gained notoriety in 2019 after declaring that he wanted to drive President Vladimir Putin from power, must be forcibly placed in a psychiatric clinic.
Aleksei Pryanishnikov, a legal coordinator for the opposition group Open Russia, told RFE/RL that a court in the city of Yakutsk announced the decision on June 2.
According to Pryanishnikov, the court's decision was based on the medical conclusion of the central psychiatric clinic in Yakutsk, which said Gabyshev suffers from an "overestimation of his personality" because he expressed his intention to drive Putin out of the Kremlin.
Pryanishnikov rejected the decision, saying that such a medical conclusion did not prove that Gabyshev is mentally ill, and complained that the ruling did not say how long Gabyshev must stay in the clinic.
Amnesty International said Gabyshev "has been made an enemy of the state solely for voicing his dislike of Putin."
"By co-opting first the police and now the psychiatric system to do their bidding, the Russian authorities have revealed the astonishing lengths they will go to repress critics," the London-based watchdog said.
Gabyshev was placed in a psychiatric clinic against his will after 20 officers from a special police unit of Russia's National Guard stormed into his home in Yakutsk on May 12 and detained him.
Gabyshev's lawyers said on May 26 that they filed a complaint with the European Court for Human Rights, challenging their client's being held in a psychiatric clinic against his will and without a court ruling, which they said was illegal.
Gabyshev was released on May 29, a day after his lawyer, Olga Timofeyeva, filed a complaint with the Yakutsk city court questioning the legality of his forced placement in the clinic.
Pryanishnikov told RFE/RL that the June 2 ruling was illegal because police detained three defense witnesses, who "most likely" will be charged with violating coronavirus restrictions, just prior to the hearing.
In early May, Gabyshev posted a video on YouTube that showed him performing a traditional Yakut shaman's dance while declaring, "Very soon you all will break out to freedom."
Gabyshev made headlines in 2019 when he called Putin "evil" and announced that he would march to Moscow in an attempt to drive the Russian president out of the Kremlin.
Starting the journey in March 2019, Gabyshev walked more than 2,000 kilometers -- speaking with hundreds of Russians along the way.
As his notoriety rose, videos of his conversations with people were posted on social media and attracted millions of views.
In July, when Gabyshev reached the city of Chita, he gathered about 700 people together for a rally under the slogan "Russia without Putin!"
At the time, Gabyshev said, "God told me Putin is not a human, but instead a demon, and has ordered me to drive him out."
His march was halted when he was detained in the region of Buryatia in September. He was transferred to Yakutia, where he was confined to a psychiatric clinic and then released.
In October, psychiatrists in Yakutsk said Gabyshev was mentally unstable. But independent experts hired by the shaman's lawyers concluded that Gabyshev is mentally sound, does not need treatment in a psychiatric clinic, and is not a danger to society.
In December, Gabyshev and two supporters attempted to resume the march to Moscow, ignoring Yakutia's sub-zero temperatures.
But they were stopped again by police and forced to return home.
Shamans have served as healers and diviners in Siberia for centuries. During the Soviet era, the mystics were harshly repressed. But in isolated parts of Siberia, they are now regaining importance.


rferl--2020-06-02--Taliban Officials Deny Report That Top Leader Died From Coronavirus

Taliban officials have denied a report that its leader , Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada , died after contracting the coronavirus .
Foreign Policy magazine , citing unnamed Taliban officials , reported on June 1 that Mullah Akhundzada contracted COVID-19 and possibly died while receiving treatment abroad .
Foreign Policy quoted Mawlawi Mohammad Ali Jan Ahmad , a senior Taliban military official , as saying that Mullah Akhundzada was `` sick '' after contracting the virus but was `` recovering . ''
But three other Taliban figures in the Pakistani city of Quetta , where the Taliban leadership is believed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anonymity that they believed Akhunzada had died of the illness .
Foreign Policy said the coronavirus has stricken a number of senior Taliban leaders in Quetta and in Qatar , where the militant group has a political office .
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid on June 2 denied that Mullah Akhundzada or any other senior leaders had contracted the disease or died .
In a tweet , Mujahid accused Foreign Policy of spreading `` propaganda '' and said Mullah Akhundzada was well and `` busy with his daily activities . ''
Sayed Mohammad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commander who lives in the Afghan capital , Kabul , told RFE/RL that the report of Mullah Akhundzada 's death was `` untrue . ''
But a Taliban official in Quetta told RFE/RL that he could neither confirm nor deny the leader 's death .
Mullah Akhundzada took over leadership of the Taliban after his predecessor , Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur , was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan in May 2016 .
The reclusive leader is a former Taliban chief justice and heads the militant group 's religious council .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have strong religious credentials , and has been responsible for issuing fatwas , or Islamic decrees , to justify military and terrorist operations .
Taliban officials told Foreign Policy that Mullah Akhundzada had not been seen for the past three months and had not made any voice recordings .
Some Taliban sources in Quetta told Foreign Policy that Mullah Akhunzada went to Russia for treatment .
Foreign Policy reported that many of the Taliban 's senior leaders in Quetta had caught COVID-19 , including Mullah Akhunzada 's deputy , Sirajuddin Haqqani , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The network , a Taliban faction , is believed to have been behind some of the deadliest attacks on Afghan and international forces and civilians in Afghanistan .
With the top two leaders out of action , Foreign Policy reported that the Taliban was now being run by Mullah Mohammad Yuqub , the eldest son of the Taliban 's founder and spiritual leader , Mullah Mohammad Omar .
Mullah Omar 's death was revealed in 2015 , more than two years after he had died in Pakistan .
Mullah Yuqub is a graduate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Karachi .
Believed to be in his early 30s , he is said to have the backing of a considerable number of field commanders and the Taliban 's rank-and-file .
Experts say that Mullah Yuqub supports the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February that is aimed at negotiating an end to the 18-year Taliban insurgency .
It is unclear how a possible change in the Taliban leadership would affect that deal , which calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cease-fire and a power-sharing arrangement with the Kabul government .


rferl--2020-06-02--Detention Extended Of Moscow Ex-Police Suspected Of Journalist's Illegal Arrest

The pretrial detention of four former Moscow police officers suspected of the illegal arrest of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov last year have been extended .
Moscow 's Basmanny district court ruled on June 2 that Akbar Sergaliyev , Roman Feofanov , Maksim Utembayev , and Igor Lyakhovets must remain in a pretrial detention center until September 7 .
The day before , the same court extended the house arrest of the fifth suspect in the case , former police officer Denis Konovalov , who has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with investigators .
The five men were detained on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , which sparked a public outcry in June 2019 .
A day later , they were charged with abuse of service duties , falsification of evidence , and the illegal handling of drugs .
Konovalov , who is charged with forging documents related to the probe , was transferred to house arrest from a detention center in February after he reached a deal with investigators and testified in court that his former boss , Lyakhovets , had ordered him to plant drugs on the reporter .
The 37-year-old Golunov , who works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested in June in Moscow for allegedly attempting to sell illegal drugs .
He was released several days later after the charges were dropped following a public outcry .
The case sparked an investigation into his detainment and also into why Golunov suffered bruises , cuts , a concussion , and a broken rib during the ordeal .
In mid-July , the police officers who detained Golunov were fired along with their supervisor for violating the journalist 's rights .
After Golunov ’ s release , Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Major General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow police 's counternarcotics department , and Major General Andrei Puchkov , the police chief in Moscow 's western administrative region , over the case .
The authorities announced in November that the case had been classified , a decision strongly criticized by Golunov 's lawyers , who called the move an attempt to cover up the `` wrongful arrest '' of their client .
In a very rare move , the prosecutor 's office of Moscow 's western district apologized to Golunov in February for his illegal prosecution .
With reporting by @ @ @

The pretrial detention of four former Moscow police officers suspected of the illegal arrest of investigative journalist Ivan Golunov last year have been extended.
Moscow's Basmanny district court ruled on June 2 that Akbar Sergaliyev, Roman Feofanov, Maksim Utembayev, and Igor Lyakhovets must remain in a pretrial detention center until September 7.
The day before, the same court extended the house arrest of the fifth suspect in the case, former police officer Denis Konovalov, who has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with investigators.
The five men were detained on January 29 as suspects in the high-profile case, which sparked a public outcry in June 2019.
A day later, they were charged with abuse of service duties, falsification of evidence, and the illegal handling of drugs.
Konovalov, who is charged with forging documents related to the probe, was transferred to house arrest from a detention center in February after he reached a deal with investigators and testified in court that his former boss, Lyakhovets, had ordered him to plant drugs on the reporter.
The 37-year-old Golunov, who works for Latvia-based information outlet Meduza, was arrested in June in Moscow for allegedly attempting to sell illegal drugs.
He was released several days later after the charges were dropped following a public outcry. The case sparked an investigation into his detainment and also into why Golunov suffered bruises, cuts, a concussion, and a broken rib during the ordeal.
In mid-July, the police officers who detained Golunov were fired along with their supervisor for violating the journalist's rights.
After Golunov’s release, Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Major General Yury Devyatkin, the head of the Moscow police's counternarcotics department, and Major General Andrei Puchkov, the police chief in Moscow's western administrative region, over the case.
The authorities announced in November that the case had been classified, a decision strongly criticized by Golunov's lawyers, who called the move an attempt to cover up the "wrongful arrest" of their client.
In a very rare move, the prosecutor's office of Moscow's western district apologized to Golunov in February for his illegal prosecution.
With reporting by TASS and Mediazona


rferl--2020-06-02--Uzbek President To Visit Eastern Region Following Ethnic Clashes

RAVON , Uzbekistan -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev will visit the eastern region of Ferghana following ethnic clashes near the country 's Sokh exclave within Kyrgyzstan 's Batken region , Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov says .
Aripov made the announcement during a meeting on June 1 with residents of the volatile exclave , which is officially a part of the country 's Ferghana region .
He said Mirziyoev will visit the region by the end of the week .
Aripov visited the region to discuss the situation with Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov .
Clashes between Kyrgyz villagers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 over a dispute about the ownership of a spring located in the area .
Aripov told Sokh residents that Uzbekistan had proposed to open a recreation park around the disputed spring that could be equally used by Kyrgyz and Uzbek citizens .
He also said that Uzbekistan will build new roads that would serve as a corridor connecting the exclave with the Ferghana region 's Rishton district .
Aripov also visited a local hospital , where he met with people injured in the clashes .
The Sokh district administration said 187 local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 of whom had been transferred by helicopters to the Ferghana regional hospital , while others are being treated in the local Sokh hospital .
Kyrgyzstan said earlier that 25 Kyrgyz citizens were injured in the clashes .
The Sokh district officials said on June 1 that three houses on the Uzbek side were set on fire during the clashes .
Aripov promised to rebuild or repair the damaged houses `` as soon as possible . ''
Mirziyoev and his Kyrgyz counterpart , Sooronbai Jeenbekov , discussed the situation and ways to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 1 , the Uzbek presidential website announced .
Many border areas in Central Asia have not been delimited since the Soviet Union 's collapse in 1991 .
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley , where the borders of Uzbekistan , Kyrgyzstan , and Tajikistan meet .
Sokh is an ethnic Tajik-populated Uzbek territory within Kyrgyzstan 's Batken region , where clashes have been common for years .
Tensions have been very high in the area close to a Tajik exclave called Vorukh in Kyrgyzstan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kyrgyz-Tajik border in recent weeks as well .

RAVON, Uzbekistan -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev will visit the eastern region of Ferghana following ethnic clashes near the country's Sokh exclave within Kyrgyzstan's Batken region, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov says.
Aripov made the announcement during a meeting on June 1 with residents of the volatile exclave, which is officially a part of the country's Ferghana region. He said Mirziyoev will visit the region by the end of the week.
Aripov visited the region to discuss the situation with Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov.
Clashes between Kyrgyz villagers and residents of the exclave erupted on May 31 over a dispute about the ownership of a spring located in the area.
Aripov told Sokh residents that Uzbekistan had proposed to open a recreation park around the disputed spring that could be equally used by Kyrgyz and Uzbek citizens.
He also said that Uzbekistan will build new roads that would serve as a corridor connecting the exclave with the Ferghana region's Rishton district.
Aripov also visited a local hospital, where he met with people injured in the clashes.
The Sokh district administration said 187 local residents were injured in the clashes, 15 of whom had been transferred by helicopters to the Ferghana regional hospital, while others are being treated in the local Sokh hospital.
Kyrgyzstan said earlier that 25 Kyrgyz citizens were injured in the clashes.
The Sokh district officials said on June 1 that three houses on the Uzbek side were set on fire during the clashes. Aripov promised to rebuild or repair the damaged houses "as soon as possible."
Mirziyoev and his Kyrgyz counterpart, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, discussed the situation and ways to prevent tensions in the area by phone on June 1, the Uzbek presidential website announced.
Many border areas in Central Asia have not been delimited since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.
The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan meet.
Sokh is an ethnic Tajik-populated Uzbek territory within Kyrgyzstan's Batken region, where clashes have been common for years.
Tensions have been very high in the area close to a Tajik exclave called Vorukh in Kyrgyzstan's Batken region and nearby disputed segments of Kyrgyz-Tajik border in recent weeks as well.


rferl--2020-06-02--Kyrgyz Investigators Air Claims That Murdered Source Paid RFE/RL Reporters In Money-Laundering Expos

Kyrgyz Investigators Air Claims That Murdered Source Paid RFE/RL Reporters In Money-Laundering Expose

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan 's state security service has made unsubstantiated claims that reporters with RFE/RL 's Kyrgyz Service received $ 100,000 from a self-proclaimed money launderer who served as the journalists ' source in a major investigation into corruption in the Central Asian state .
The claim was made by investigators on June 2 at a parliamentary hearing into the murder of Aierken Saimaiti , a Chinese-born Uyghur businessman who funneled hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan over the course of several years .
RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said the allegations appeared to be `` retaliation '' against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect their wealth and power . ''
Prior to his killing in Istanbul in November , Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved the money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers .
Following Saimaiti 's death , RFE/RL ’ s Kyrgyz Service , OCCRP , and the Kyrgyz new site Kloop published an award-winning investigation based on these records and their own independent reporting , titled Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia .
The investigation , which also implicated former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matraimov in widespread corruption linked to the money Saimaiti moved out of the country , triggered street protests in Kyrgyzstan following its publication in November .
Matraimov , an influential political power broker , and his family have denied any links to Saimaiti or corruption in the Kyrgyz customs service .
He and his family have filed a libel suit over the investigation .
Samidin-uulu Sagynbek , head of the security service ’ s investigative team , told the parliamentary commission that investigators obtained testimony from two witnesses who said Saimaiti had paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyrgyz Service , known locally as Radio Azattyk .
Asked by an Azattyk journalist whether investigators had other evidence of the purported payment , Sagynbek said they did not .
The lead reporter in the investigation , Ali Toktakunov of Radio Azattyk , has received credible death threats in connection with the publication and has been named along with Azattyk by Matraimov and his family as a defendant in the libel lawsuit .
RFE/RL 's Fly said the allegations `` appear to be the latest attempt in a longstanding campaign of retaliation against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their wealth and power . ''
`` Indeed , Mr. Matraimov is currently suing Ali and our Kyrgyz Service , and earlier this year sought to freeze our Kyrgyz Service ’ s bank account , '' Fly said .
`` We condemn such efforts to distort the truth , and once again call on Kyrgyz authorities to ensure that those responsible for threatening and attempting to intimidate the journalists related to this story are held accountable for their actions , '' he added .
Investigators said that prior to his death , Saimaiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Khabibula Abdukadyr , a secretive Uyghur businessman with a Kazakh passport who has built a murky cargo-and-real-estate empire in Central Asia , Europe , the United Arab Emirates , and the United States .
Saimaiti moved hundreds of millions of dollars throughout the world for Abdukadyr , who was virtually unknown to the broader public until the investigation by RFE/RL , OCCRP , and Kloop was published in November .
Citing testimony from the alleged witnesses , Sagynbek of the Kyrgyz security service alleged that Saimaiti had hired journalists to pressure Abdukadyr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the witnesses whose video testimony was shown to the hearing is Erkin Sopokov , Kyrgyzstan 's former consul-general in Istanbul .
Sopokov 's car was found parked near the Istanbul cafe where Saimaiti was slain on the night of the killing , and the diplomat was subsequently fired .
Following his firing and return to Kyrgyzstan , Sopokov was detained on suspicion of abuse of office for allowing Saimaiti and others to use the car .
He was also accused of illegal enrichment .
Investigators provided no documentary or other evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included allegations that Saimaiti fabricated documents he provided to reporters .
OCCRP said in a statement that the Kyrgyz security service had `` focused squarely on investigating a murder victim -- one of the sources for the story -- and on the journalism itself . ''
`` The agency relied on two witnesses , one who alleged that reporters had used fabricated documents and one who alleged improper behavior on the part of an RFE/RL reporter .
Neither claim was backed by documentary evidence and both relied on hearsay , '' the OCCRP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , OCCRP , and Kloop in April was awarded the prestigious 2019 Tom Renner Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors , which recognizes outstanding reporting on organized crime .

BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's state security service has made unsubstantiated claims that reporters with RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service received $100,000 from a self-proclaimed money launderer who served as the journalists' source in a major investigation into corruption in the Central Asian state.
The claim was made by investigators on June 2 at a parliamentary hearing into the murder of Aierken Saimaiti, a Chinese-born Uyghur businessman who funneled hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan over the course of several years.
RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said the allegations appeared to be "retaliation" against journalists "by corrupt individuals seeking to protect their wealth and power."
Prior to his killing in Istanbul in November, Saimaiti provided a trove of financial records to reporters showing how he moved the money out of Kyrgyzstan via murky wire transfers and cash couriers.
Following Saimaiti's death, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service, OCCRP, and the Kyrgyz new site Kloop published an award-winning investigation based on these records and their own independent reporting, titled Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia.
The investigation, which also implicated former Kyrgyz State Customs Agency Deputy Chairman Raimbek Matraimov in widespread corruption linked to the money Saimaiti moved out of the country, triggered street protests in Kyrgyzstan following its publication in November.
Matraimov, an influential political power broker, and his family have denied any links to Saimaiti or corruption in the Kyrgyz customs service. He and his family have filed a libel suit over the investigation.
Sagynbek Samidin-uulu, head of the State Committee for National Security's (UKMK) investigative team, told the parliamentary commission that investigators obtained testimony from two witnesses who said Saimaiti had paid $100,000 to journalists from RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk.
Asked by an Azattyk journalist whether investigators had other evidence of the purported payment, Samidin-uulu said they did not.
The lead reporter in the investigation, Ali Toktakunov of Radio Azattyk, has received credible death threats in connection with the publication and has been named along with Azattyk by Matraimov and his family as a defendant in the libel lawsuit.
RFE/RL's Fly said the allegations "appear to be the latest attempt in a longstanding campaign of retaliation against journalists by corrupt individuals seeking to protect their wealth and power."
"Indeed, Mr. Matraimov is currently suing Ali and our Kyrgyz Service, and earlier this year sought to freeze our Kyrgyz Service’s bank account," Fly said.
"We condemn such efforts to distort the truth, and once again call on Kyrgyz authorities to ensure that those responsible for threatening and attempting to intimidate the journalists related to this story are held accountable for their actions," he added.
Investigators said that prior to his death, Saimaiti was entangled in a conflict over money with Khabibula Abdukadyr, a secretive Uyghur businessman with a Kazakh passport who has built a murky cargo-and-real-estate empire in Central Asia, Europe, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
Saimaiti moved hundreds of millions of dollars throughout the world for Abdukadyr, who was virtually unknown to the broader public until the investigation by RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop was published in November.
Citing testimony from the alleged witnesses, Samidin-uulu of the UKMK alleged that Saimaiti had hired journalists to pressure Abdukadyr to resolve their purported financial conflict.
One of the witnesses whose video testimony was shown to the hearing is Erkin Sopokov, Kyrgyzstan's former consul-general in Istanbul.
Sopokov's car was found parked near the Istanbul cafe where Saimaiti was slain on the night of the killing, and the diplomat was subsequently fired.
Following his dismissal and return to Kyrgyzstan, Sopokov was detained on suspicion of abuse of office for allowing Saimaiti and others to use the car. He was also accused of illegal enrichment.
Investigators provided no documentary or other evidence supporting the witnesses' claims, which included allegations that Saimaiti fabricated documents he provided to reporters.
OCCRP said in a statement that the UKMK had "focused squarely on investigating a murder victim -- one of the sources for the story -- and on the journalism itself."
"The agency relied on two witnesses, one who alleged that reporters had used fabricated documents and one who alleged improper behavior on the part of an RFE/RL reporter. Neither claim was backed by documentary evidence and both relied on hearsay," the OCCRP statement said.
The investigation by RFE/RL, OCCRP, and Kloop in April was awarded the prestigious 2019 Tom Renner Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors, which recognizes outstanding reporting on organized crime.