themoscowtimes--2020-08-23--Russia'a Coronavirus Cases Surpass 955K

Russia'a Coronavirus Cases Surpass 955K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg .
Russia 's fatality rate has remained low @ @ @ @ @ , raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures .
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus @ @ @ @ @ a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Both events were initially postponed due @ @ @ @ @ cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 .
In the capital , masks are mandatory in @ @ @ @ @ but not in the streets .
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Ministry has said it developed a `` safe '' vaccine following clinical trials on a @ @ @ @ @ trials are ongoing , and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed @ @ @ @ @

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures.
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.
Both events were initially postponed due the epidemic.
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1. In the capital, masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets.
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus vaccine.
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a "safe" vaccine following clinical trials on a group of volunteers.
The trials are ongoing, and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed in the coming weeks.
AFP contributed reporting to this article.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-23--Tens of Thousands in Lithuania Form Human Chain for Belarus

Tens of thousands of Lithuanians linked arms on Sunday in solidarity with the people of neighboring Belarus who have been holding mass protests against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko since a disputed presidential election two weeks ago .
The participants formed a human chain stretching 30 kilometers ( 19 miles ) from the Baltic EU state 's capital Vilnius to the border with Belarus , with many holding the Belarus opposition 's red-and-white flag as well as the Lithuanian national tricolor .
Solidarity rallies were also held in other European countries , inspired by the historic Baltic Way demonstration on Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million Lithuanians , Latvians and Estonians linked hands to reject Soviet rule .
`` We are with you , free Belarus , and we extend our hand to you , '' Lithuania 's President Gitanas Nauseda said after linking hands at the border checkpoint .
`` The nations who had lost their freedom cherish it the most .
That is why Lithuania did not hesitate to declare its full support to the Belarusian people who seek to shed the shackles of captivity , '' he added .
Organizers estimated that up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with most demonstrators dressed in white and wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
A hot-air balloon lifted a huge Belarusian flag above Cathedral Square in Vilnius .
Planes also flew over , with flowers tossed down into the crowd .
`` Thirty years ago , Lithuania was fighting and seeking support .
Now we are the ones who are providing support , '' 24-year-old art student Adele Sumkauskaite told AFP .
`` We need solidarity among us .
Hard to tell what good it will do but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50-year-old librarian Zina Koncaitiene said .
Lithuania 's influential Catholic church also weighed in , offering Sunday prayers for the Belarusian `` march to freedom . ''
'We must help them ' In Latvia , hundreds of campaigners marched along the border with Belarus and then formed a human chain in the village of Piedruja as Belarusian border guards looked on from the other side of the Daugava river .
`` This is our Baltic way to express solidarity with all the people in Belarus , who are demanding pro-democratic change , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidarity march along the Latvian-Belarus border .
Human chains were also scheduled to take place in the Estonian capital Tallinn and along the iconic Charles Bridge in Prague .
`` These are people just like us , we must help them , '' said Czech rally participant Monika MacDonagh-Pajerova .
The 54-year-old was a leading figure of the 1989 Velvet Revolution , a peaceful coup that toppled totalitarian Communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia .
`` I remember the Soviet invasion in 1968 as a child .
These were some of the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember the euphoria of the Velvet Revolution , '' she told AFP .
`` I hope the events in Belarus will be more velvet than bloody . ''
The 1989 Baltic Way human chain was 600 kilometers long and sent the strongest signal to date that the Soviet-occupied Baltic states were on the road towards restored independence , which they all won two years later .
The original Aug. 23 demonstration took place on the 50th anniversary of the infamous Nazi-Soviet pact that carved up eastern Europe and led to the Baltic states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The recreation reflects Lithuanian efforts to consolidate international support for protests in its eastern neighbor , notably after Vilnius gave shelter to Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
The 37-year-old , who challenged Lukashenko at the disputed Aug. 9 presidential election , thanked Lithuania in her video address .
`` You like nobody else can understand Belarusians because you felt it recently yourself , '' she said .
`` I hope that very soon we will stand together not in a solidarity chain but in a chain of friendship with a free Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus have close historic ties , dating back to the 14th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania , but have followed very different paths since the breakup of the U.S.S.R. Lithuania , Latvia and Estonia are firmly anchored in the West , having joined the European Union and NATO in 2004 , but Belarus has turned into one of the world 's most isolated states under Lukashenko 's 26-year rule .

The participants formed a human chain stretching 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Baltic EU state's capital Vilnius to the border with Belarus, with many holding the Belarus opposition's red-and-white flag as well as the Lithuanian national tricolor.
Tens of thousands of Lithuanians linked arms on Sunday in solidarity with the people of neighboring Belarus who have been holding mass protests against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko since a disputed presidential election two weeks ago.
A hot-air balloon lifted a huge Belarusian flag above Cathedral Square in Vilnius. Planes also flew over, with flowers tossed down into the crowd.
Organizers estimated that up to 50,000 people attended the rally in Lithuania, with most demonstrators dressed in white and wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"The nations who had lost their freedom cherish it the most. That is why Lithuania did not hesitate to declare its full support to the Belarusian people who seek to shed the shackles of captivity," he added.
"We are with you, free Belarus, and we extend our hand to you," Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda said after linking hands at the border checkpoint.
Solidarity rallies were also held in other European countries, inspired by the historic Baltic Way demonstration on Aug. 23, 1989, when more than 1 million Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians linked hands to reject Soviet rule.
"Thirty years ago, Lithuania was fighting and seeking support. Now we are the ones who are providing support," 24-year-old art student Adele Sumkauskaite told AFP.
"We need solidarity among us. Hard to tell what good it will do but moral support is very important," 50-year-old librarian Zina Koncaitiene said.
Lithuania's influential Catholic church also weighed in, offering Sunday prayers for the Belarusian "march to freedom."
'We must help them'
In Latvia, hundreds of campaigners marched along the border with Belarus and then formed a human chain in the village of Piedruja as Belarusian border guards looked on from the other side of the Daugava river.
"This is our Baltic way to express solidarity with all the people in Belarus, who are demanding pro-democratic change,” said Latvian activist Inese Vaivare after the solidarity march along the Latvian-Belarus border.
Human chains were also scheduled to take place in the Estonian capital Tallinn and along the iconic Charles Bridge in Prague.
"These are people just like us, we must help them," said Czech rally participant Monika MacDonagh-Pajerova.
The 54-year-old was a leading figure of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, a peaceful coup that toppled totalitarian Communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.
"I remember the Soviet invasion in 1968 as a child. These were some of the worst moments of my life. I also remember the euphoria of the Velvet Revolution," she told AFP.
"I hope the events in Belarus will be more velvet than bloody."
Refuge for dissidents
The 1989 Baltic Way human chain was 600 kilometers long and sent the strongest signal to date that the Soviet-occupied Baltic states were on the road towards restored independence, which they all won two years later.
The original Aug. 23 demonstration took place on the 50th anniversary of the infamous Nazi-Soviet pact that carved up eastern Europe and led to the Baltic states's annexation by the Soviet Union.
The recreation reflects Lithuanian efforts to consolidate international support for protests in its eastern neighbor, notably after Vilnius gave shelter to Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
The 37-year-old, who challenged Lukashenko at the disputed Aug. 9 presidential election, thanked Lithuania in her video address.
"You like nobody else can understand Belarusians because you felt it recently yourself," she said.
"I hope that very soon we will stand together not in a solidarity chain but in a chain of friendship with a free Belarus," Tsikhanovskaya added.
Lithuania and Belarus have close historic ties, dating back to the 14th-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but have followed very different paths since the breakup of the U.S.S.R.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are firmly anchored in the West, having joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, but Belarus has turned into one of the world's most isolated states under Lukashenko's 26-year rule.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-23--Mass Belarus Protests to Demand Lukashenko's Resignation

Tens of thousands of demonstrators massed in central Minsk on Sunday to demand the resignation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , who flew over the scene of the banned protest in a helicopter and called the marchers `` rats . ''
The authoritarian leader , shown later clutching an automatic rifle upon landing at his central Minsk residence , has ordered the military into full combat readiness in the face of the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule of the ex-Soviet state .
`` They fled like rats , '' Lukashenko said in a presidential video taken during the evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the protest had largely broken up .
He has previously dispatched his notorious riot police to disperse rallies that erupted after he claimed a sixth term with 80 % of the vote in an election two weeks ago that the opposition says was rigged .
But with rain on Sunday evening , the protesters appeared to break up voluntarily without any clashes with the riot police , the latest of many peaceful showdowns .
Crowds of protesters carrying the red-and-white flag of the opposition earlier flooded Independence Square and marched through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will not forget , we will not forgive '' as passing cars honked in support .
`` We have just two demands : fair elections and stop the violence , '' 32-year-old Igor told AFP .
Officials had warned Belarusians against participating in `` illegal demonstrations '' and local news outlets published footage showing water cannon and riot police with shields moving towards Independence Square .
The defense ministry said it would intervene to protect `` sacred '' World War II memorials and several metro stations in Minsk were closed .
Opposition-leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convened in the capital for the second Sunday in a row and smaller demonstrations were also reported in provincial cities .
In solidarity , demonstrators in neighboring Lithuania were forming a human chain from Vilnius to the Belarus border , three decades after residents of the Baltic states joined hands and linked their capital cities to protest Soviet rule .
The European Union has rejected the election results and vowed to sanction Belarusians responsible for ballot fraud and a police crackdown that has seen nearly 7,000 people arrested , with allegations of gruesome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell warned that Belarus should not be allowed to become a `` second Ukraine '' and said it was necessary to deal with the 65-year-old Lukashenko , Europe 's longest serving leader .
Outgoing OSCE chairman Edi Rama also offered to mediate a resolution to the crisis , in a letter obtained by AFP to his successor Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde .
The man branded `` Europe 's last dictator '' has brushed aside the calls to go , dismissed the possibility of holding a new vote and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and secure the borders .
A video released by the presidency showed Lukashenko holding an automatic rifle and wearing body armor when the touring helicopter brought him back to his official residence .
AFP photographs showed a number of demonstrators gathered in the evening opposite law enforcement officers guarding his residence known as Independence Palace , but correspondents said they massed there only briefly .
Lukashenko 's judiciary opened a criminal investigation into the opposition 's Coordination Council that is seeking new elections and the peaceful transition of power , after he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The former collective farm boss ordered the military into full combat readiness during an army inspection near the border with the EU on Saturday and warned about NATO troop `` stirrings '' in neighboring countries .
`` The fatherland is now in danger .
We can not joke , '' Lukashenko said .
Lithuania 's President Gitanas Nauseda said Lukashenko was trying to `` divert attention '' from the unrest at home , while NATO dismissed the claims as baseless .
The unlikely leader of Belarus 's opposition , 37-year-old Svetlana Tikhanovskaya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mounting the greatest challenge to Lukashenko and claiming election victory .
In an interview with AFP ahead of Saturday 's demonstrations , she urged protesters to continue to exert pressure , saying it was `` important to continue to be united in the struggle for the rights . ''
The authorities have to understand `` we are not a protest movement ... we are a majority and we will not step away .
We are not afraid of them any more . ''
Lukashenko 's opponents have organized strikes and the largest protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but fewer workers at state-run factories — usually a bastion of support for Lukashenko — have continued to strike .
Activists have cited pressure from the authorities , and Lukashenko has threatened from Monday to shut down production lines where workers have put down their tools .
Staff at state-run media outlets have also staged walkouts and Lukashenko admitted this week that journalists from Russia had been flown in to replace them .
Russia , his powerful ally , has warned European leaders against interfering in Belarus and the Kremlin has said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit Lithuania as part of a trip next week that will also include a stop in Russia for talks on the election fallout .
Lukashenko 's army inspection Saturday came ahead of large-scale military exercises planned on the border with the European Union between Aug. 28 and 31 .

Tens of thousands of demonstrators massed in central Minsk on Sunday to demand the resignation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who flew over the scene of the banned protest in a helicopter and called the marchers "rats."
The authoritarian leader, shown later clutching an automatic rifle upon landing at his central Minsk residence, has ordered the military into full combat readiness in the face of the biggest challenge to his 26-year rule of the ex-Soviet state.
"They fled like rats," Lukashenko said in a presidential video taken during the evening helicopter flight with his 15-year-old son Nikolai after the protest had largely broken up.
He has previously dispatched his notorious riot police to disperse rallies that erupted after he claimed a sixth term with 80% of the vote in an election two weeks ago that the opposition says was rigged.
But with rain on Sunday evening, the protesters appeared to break up voluntarily without any clashes with the riot police, the latest of many peaceful showdowns.
Crowds of protesters carrying the red-and-white flag of the opposition earlier flooded Independence Square and marched through the capital chanting "freedom" and "we will not forget, we will not forgive" as passing cars honked in support.
"We have just two demands: fair elections and stop the violence," 32-year-old Igor told AFP.
Officials had warned Belarusians against participating in "illegal demonstrations" and local news outlets published footage showing water cannon and riot police with shields moving towards Independence Square.
The defense ministry said it would intervene to protect "sacred" World War II memorials and several metro stations in Minsk were closed.
Human chain
Opposition-leaning media said more than 100,000 protesters had convened in the capital for the second Sunday in a row and smaller demonstrations were also reported in provincial cities.
In solidarity, demonstrators in neighboring Lithuania were forming a human chain from Vilnius to the Belarus border, three decades after residents of the Baltic states joined hands and linked their capital cities to protest Soviet rule.
The European Union has rejected the election results and vowed to sanction Belarusians responsible for ballot fraud and a police crackdown that has seen nearly 7,000 people arrested, with allegations of gruesome torture and abuse in police custody.
Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell warned that Belarus should not be allowed to become a "second Ukraine" and said it was necessary to deal with the 65-year-old Lukashenko, Europe's longest serving leader.
Outgoing OSCE chairman Edi Rama also offered to mediate a resolution to the crisis, in a letter obtained by AFP to his successor Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
The man branded "Europe's last dictator" has brushed aside the calls to go, dismissed the possibility of holding a new vote and instructed his security services to quell unrest and secure the borders.
A video released by the presidency showed Lukashenko holding an automatic rifle and wearing body armor when the touring helicopter brought him back to his official residence.
AFP photographs showed a number of demonstrators gathered in the evening opposite law enforcement officers guarding his residence known as Independence Palace, but correspondents said they massed there only briefly.
Lukashenko's judiciary opened a criminal investigation into the opposition's Coordination Council that is seeking new elections and the peaceful transition of power, after he said opponents wanted to "seize power."
'Fatherland in danger'
The former collective farm boss ordered the military into full combat readiness during an army inspection near the border with the EU on Saturday and warned about NATO troop "stirrings" in neighboring countries.
"The fatherland is now in danger. We cannot joke," Lukashenko said.
Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda said Lukashenko was trying to "divert attention" from the unrest at home, while NATO dismissed the claims as baseless.
The unlikely leader of Belarus's opposition, 37-year-old Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, fled to Vilnius fearing reprisals for mounting the greatest challenge to Lukashenko and claiming election victory.
In an interview with AFP ahead of Saturday's demonstrations, she urged protesters to continue to exert pressure, saying it was "important to continue to be united in the struggle for the rights."
The authorities have to understand "we are not a protest movement... we are a majority and we will not step away. We are not afraid of them any more."
Lukashenko's opponents have organized strikes and the largest protests in the country's recent history, but fewer workers at state-run factories — usually a bastion of support for Lukashenko — have continued to strike.
Activists have cited pressure from the authorities, and Lukashenko has threatened from Monday to shut down production lines where workers have put down their tools.
Staff at state-run media outlets have also staged walkouts and Lukashenko admitted this week that journalists from Russia had been flown in to replace them.
Russia, his powerful ally, has warned European leaders against interfering in Belarus and the Kremlin has said it would intervene if necessary.
US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit Lithuania as part of a trip next week that will also include a stop in Russia for talks on the election fallout.
Lukashenko's army inspection Saturday came ahead of large-scale military exercises planned on the border with the European Union between Aug. 28 and 31.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-24--Germany Says Navalny ‘Likely’ Poisoned

Germany Says Navalny ‘Likely’ Poisoned

The German government believes that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was likely poisoned , Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s spokesman said Monday .
Steffen Seibert ’ s comments during a press briefing align with claims from Navalny ’ s aides , who say he was poisoned with a cup of tea at an airport cafe .
Navalny , 44 , has been in a coma since Thursday , when the de facto Russian opposition leader fell suddenly ill on a flight to Moscow , forcing an emergency landing in Siberia .
“ We ’ re dealing with a patient who fairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters .
The Siberian doctors who initially treated Navalny said tests showed no traces of poison , an assertion they reiterated at a press briefing Monday .
Navalny was airlifted from the Siberian city of Omsk to the Charité hospital in Berlin on Saturday following a standoff over his evacuation between his aides and Russian doctors .
Doctors eventually allowed Navalny ’ s transfer on a German air ambulance after family and staff demanded authorization to take him out of Russia .
On Monday , the Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s evacuation .
Navalny is a fierce critic of Putin ’ s rule and has published several video investigations alleging corruption and malfeasance in Putin ’ s circle .
A Charité hospital spokeswoman previously told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that Navalny ’ s treating doctors could provide an update on his condition Monday .
Seibert called for a “ full and transparent ” investigation into the circumstances of Navalny ’ s hospitalization , according to the state-run TASS news agency .
Following news of Navalny 's suspected poisoning last week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered him medical treatment in their countries .

Steffen Seibert’s comments during a press briefing align with claims from Navalny’s aides, who say he was poisoned with a cup of tea at an airport cafe. Navalny, 44, has been in a coma since Thursday, when the de facto Russian opposition leader fell suddenly ill on a flight to Moscow, forcing an emergency landing in Siberia.
The German government believes Russian opposition politician Alexey @navalny was likely the target of a poison attack. Angela Merkel's spokesman ( @RegSprecher ) says Navalny needs protection. 👇 #Navalny #Навальный pic.twitter.com/M37lgyewuJ
Navalny was airlifted from the Siberian city of Omsk to the Charité hospital in Berlin on Saturday following a standoff over his evacuation between his aides and Russian doctors. Doctors eventually allowed Navalny’s transfer on a German air ambulance after family and staff demanded authorization to take him out of Russia.
The Siberian doctors who initially treated Navalny said tests showed no traces of poison, an assertion they reiterated at a press briefing Monday.
On Monday, the Kremlin said that President Vladimir Putin was not involved in talks on Navalny’s evacuation. Navalny is a fierce critic of Putin’s rule and has published several video investigations alleging corruption and malfeasance in Putin’s circle.
Later on Monday, the Charité hospital issued a statement saying that its doctors' tests indicate that Navalny was likely poisoned with a substance from the "cholinesterase inhibitor" group. The hospital added that he remains in a coma but that there is "no acute danger to his life."
Cholinesterase inhibitors can be found in drugs used to treat Alzheimer's and other conditions, but are also present in pesticides and nerve agents. The hospital said Navalny is being treated with atropine, the same substance used to treat former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia after they were attacked with the toxic nerve agent Novichok in Britain in 2018.
"The outcome of the disease remains uncertain and long-term effects, especially in the area of the nervous system, cannot be ruled out at this point in time," the Charité hospital said.
Seibert called for a “full and transparent” investigation into the circumstances of Navalny’s hospitalization, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
Following news of Navalny's suspected poisoning last week, both Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron offered him medical treatment in their countries.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-24--We Saved Navalny’s Life, Russian Doctors Say

The 44-year-old opposition politician went into a coma after falling suddenly ill Thursday on a flight to Moscow , forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk .
He was transported to Omsk Emergency Hospital No .
1 , where he remained in a coma and on a ventilator before being evacuated to Germany early Saturday morning .
Doctors in Siberia who treated Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for a suspected poisoning before he was airlifted to a hospital in Germany said Monday that their efforts had saved his life .
“ The Omsk Emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to save Alexei Navalny ’ s life , there can be no doubt about it , ” its chief doctor Alexander Murakhovsky said at a press conference .
Navalny ’ s aides believe he was poisoned by a toxic substance mixed in a cup of tea he drank at an airport cafe in the Siberian city of Tomsk before his flight to Moscow .
They pushed for Navalny to be flown to a leading German toxicology center , citing a lack of vital equipment at the Omsk hospital and a worry that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There was no and could be no [ political ] influence on the patient ’ s treatment , ” Murakhovsky said , according to BBC Russia .
The Omsk doctors initially refused to let Navalny leave when the German air ambulance arrived , but reversed course after his family and staff demanded he be allowed to travel to Germany .
While they have said tests showed no trace of any poison in Navalny 's system , the German government on Monday said it was `` fairly likely '' that Navalny was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographs shared on Friday by Navalny ’ s spokeswoman that show three unidentified men in plain clothes sitting in his office .
“ I can ’ t say who that was .
I can ’ t say that they were doing something , ” he said .

The 44-year-old opposition politician went into a coma after falling suddenly ill Thursday on a flight to Moscow, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk. He was transported to Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1, where he remained in a coma and on a ventilator before being evacuated to Germany early Saturday morning.
Doctors in Siberia who treated Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for a suspected poisoning before he was airlifted to a hospital in Germany said Monday that their efforts had saved his life.
“The Omsk Emergency Hospital No. 1 made quite an effort to save Alexei Navalny’s life, there can be no doubt about it,” its chief doctor Alexander Murakhovsky said at a press conference.
Navalny’s aides believe he was poisoned by a toxic substance mixed in a cup of tea he drank at an airport cafe in the Siberian city of Tomsk before his flight to Moscow.
They pushed for Navalny to be flown to a leading German toxicology center, citing a lack of vital equipment at the Omsk hospital and a worry that doctors there faced pressure from the authorities.
“There was no and could be no [political] influence on the patient’s treatment,” Murakhovsky said, according to BBC Russia.
The Omsk doctors initially refused to let Navalny leave when the German air ambulance arrived, but reversed course after his family and staff demanded he be allowed to travel to Germany.
While they have said tests showed no trace of any poison in Navalny's system, the German government on Monday said it was "fairly likely" that Navalny was poisoned.
Murakhovsky sidestepped a question on photographs shared on Friday by Navalny’s spokeswoman that show three unidentified men in plain clothes sitting in his office.
“I can’t say who that was. I can’t say that they were doing something,” he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-24--Austria Expels Russian Diplomat Suspected of Industrial Espionage

The unnamed diplomat has until Sept. 1 to leave the country , the tabloid Kronen Zeitung reported Monday .
Austria has for the first time in its relations with Russia declared a Russian diplomat persona non-grata on suspicion of industrial espionage .
“ The Russian diplomat had carried out economic espionage in a high-tech company for years with the support of an Austrian citizen , ” Kronen Zeitung wrote without citing sources .
The Russian diplomat reportedly invoked his diplomatic immunity and refused to testify after the Austrian citizen named him as his senior officer during an investigation .
Austria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expulsion , telling the state-run TASS news agency that “ the diplomat ’ s behavior contradicts the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations ” without providing further details .
Russian lawmakers were quick to condemn the move and the Russian Embassy in Vienna said it expects Moscow to expel an Austrian diplomat in retaliation .
“ We ’ re outraged by the groundless decision of the Austrian authorities , ” a spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS .
“ We ’ re sure that an identical reaction from Moscow won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least the third European country , after Norway and Slovakia , to expel Russian diplomats this month for spying or other crimes .
This summer , Austria jailed a retired army colonel for spying for Russia and a Chechen dissident described as Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov ’ s “ personal foe ” was murdered in Vienna .
Under conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz , Austria has positioned itself as one of Russia ’ s closest allies in the European Union .

The unnamed diplomat has until Sept. 1 to leave the country, the tabloid Kronen Zeitung reported Monday.
Austria has for the first time in its relations with Russia declared a Russian diplomat persona non-grata on suspicion of industrial espionage.
“The Russian diplomat had carried out economic espionage in a high-tech company for years with the support of an Austrian citizen,” Kronen Zeitung wrote without citing sources.
The Russian diplomat reportedly invoked his diplomatic immunity and refused to testify after the Austrian citizen named him as his senior officer during an investigation.
Austria’s foreign ministry later confirmed the expulsion, telling the state-run TASS news agency that “the diplomat’s behavior contradicts the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations” without providing further details.
Russian lawmakers were quick to condemn the move and the Russian Embassy in Vienna said it expects Moscow to expel an Austrian diplomat in retaliation.
“We’re outraged by the groundless decision of the Austrian authorities,” a spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in Vienna told TASS. “We’re sure that an identical reaction from Moscow won’t take long.”
Austria is at least the third European country, after Norway and Slovakia, to expel Russian diplomats this month for spying or other crimes. This summer, Austria jailed a retired army colonel for spying for Russia and a Chechen dissident described as Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov’s “personal foe” was murdered in Vienna.
Under conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Austria has positioned itself as one of Russia’s closest allies in the European Union.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-24--Navalny Will Survive Suspected Poisoning, But Be ‘Politically Incapacitated’ for Months — Evacuation

Navalny Will Survive Suspected Poisoning, But Be ‘Politically Incapacitated’ for Months — Evacuation Organizer

Jaka Bizilj ’ s comments came as Navalny ’ s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said the opposition figure ’ s family has not authorized anyone other than his doctors or herself to make announcements regarding his health .
Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny will survive his apparent poisoning but wo n't return to politics for several months , the organizer of his medical evacuation to Germany told the German tabloid Bild .
Navalny was hospitalized in a coma in the Siberian city of Omsk on Thursday after falling ill on his flight to Moscow , with aides saying they believe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The 44-year-old was flown to Berlin early Saturday following a standoff over his evacuation from Russia for emergency medical treatment .
“ Navalny will survive poison attack , but be incapacitated for months as a politician , ” Bizilj , the head of the Cinema for Peace foundation that brought Navalny to Berlin ’ s Charité hospital in a chartered air ambulance , said Sunday , according to Reuters .
A Charité hospital spokeswoman told the Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency that Navalny ’ s treating doctors could provide an update @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who treated him in Omsk said Monday “ there can be no doubt ” that they had saved Navalny ’ s life .
They have previously said tests showed no trace of any poison .
Omsk doctors had initially refused to let Navalny leave when the German air ambulance arrived , but reversed course after his family and staff demanded he be allowed to travel to Germany .
Cinema for Peace said it financed his medical transport with private money .
A top Navalny aide said Saturday that businessman and philanthropist Boris Zimin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the flight .
Navalny is the latest in a long line of Kremlin critics who have fallen seriously ill or died in apparent poisonings .

Jaka Bizilj’s comments came as Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said the opposition figure’s family has not authorized anyone other than his doctors or herself to make announcements regarding his health.
Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny will survive his apparent poisoning but won't return to politics for several months, the organizer of his medical evacuation to Germany told the German tabloid Bild.
Navalny was hospitalized in a coma in the Siberian city of Omsk on Thursday after falling ill on his flight to Moscow, with aides saying they believe he was poisoned via a cup of tea. The 44-year-old was flown to Berlin early Saturday following a standoff over his evacuation from Russia for emergency medical treatment.
“Navalny will survive poison attack, but be incapacitated for months as a politician,” Bizilj, the head of the Cinema for Peace foundation that brought Navalny to Berlin’s Charité hospital in a chartered air ambulance, said Sunday, according to Reuters.
A Charité hospital spokeswoman told the Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency that Navalny’s treating doctors could provide an update on his condition Monday.
The doctors who treated him in Omsk said Monday “there can be no doubt” that they had saved Navalny’s life. They have previously said tests showed no trace of any poison.
Omsk doctors had initially refused to let Navalny leave when the German air ambulance arrived, but reversed course after his family and staff demanded he be allowed to travel to Germany.
Cinema for Peace said it financed his medical transport with private money. A top Navalny aide said Saturday that businessman and philanthropist Boris Zimin and his family’s fund paid for the flight.
Navalny is the latest in a long line of Kremlin critics who have fallen seriously ill or died in apparent poisonings.