themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--Putin Vaunts Russian Coronavirus Vaccine at UN

Putin in a video address to the General Assembly said that Russia was open to partnership with other countries over `` the first vaccine in the world , Sputnik V. '' President Vladimir Putin in a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday boasted of Russia 's creation of the world 's first coronavirus vaccine , though it has not completed large-scale clinical trials .
`` I repeat again that we are absolutely open and disposed for partnership , '' Putin said .
The Sputnik V vaccine was developed by Moscow 's Gamaleya research center , and Russia announced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first registered vaccine .
While the vaccine has shown promising results in early trials , Russia has not yet completed the final phase of clinical testing , in which large numbers of people receive either the vaccine or a placebo .
Nevertheless Russia has already vaccinated high-profile officials including the Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin .
Putin has said that one of his daughters was vaccinated , suffering only a mild reaction .
The Russian Direct Investment Fund that has supported the vaccine 's development said last month that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged an online conference to be held in the near future with other countries `` interested in cooperating on creating a vaccine against coronavirus . ''
`` We are ready to share our experience , '' Putin said , offering to supply other countries with `` a Russian vaccine that has shown its reliability , safety and effectiveness . ''

Putin in a video address to the General Assembly said that Russia was open to partnership with other countries over "the first vaccine in the world, Sputnik V."
President Vladimir Putin in a speech at the United Nations on Tuesday boasted of Russia's creation of the world's first coronavirus vaccine, though it has not completed large-scale clinical trials.
"I repeat again that we are absolutely open and disposed for partnership," Putin said.
The Sputnik V vaccine was developed by Moscow's Gamaleya research center, and Russia announced in August that it was the world's first registered vaccine.
While the vaccine has shown promising results in early trials, Russia has not yet completed the final phase of clinical testing, in which large numbers of people receive either the vaccine or a placebo.
Nevertheless Russia has already vaccinated high-profile officials including the Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Putin has said that one of his daughters was vaccinated, suffering only a mild reaction.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund that has supported the vaccine's development said last month that 20 countries had pre-ordered supplies.
Putin urged an online conference to be held in the near future with other countries "interested in cooperating on creating a vaccine against coronavirus."
"We are ready to share our experience," Putin said, offering to supply other countries with "a Russian vaccine that has shown its reliability, safety and effectiveness."


themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--Navalny May Have Poisoned Himself, Putin Reportedly Tells Macron

Navalny , 44 , who came out of a coma two weeks ago after falling violently ill on a flight in Siberia , mocked Putin ’ s reported claims as illogical .
Germany says it has evidence backed by French and Swedish scientists that Putin ’ s fierce critic was poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent .
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny may have poisoned himself with Novichok , Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron in a recent phone call .
The French daily Le Monde reported , citing unnamed sources , that Putin suggested to Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Novichok for an unspecified reason .
In the two leaders ' Sept. 14 phone call , Putin reportedly referred to his foe as an “ internet troublemaker who has simulated illnesses in the past.
” Russia maintains that Navalny was not poisoned .
When urged to investigate the Aug. 20 incident , Russian officials complained that Germany had n't shared its findings and that Navalny ’ s aides took potential evidence out of the country .
Navalny reacted ironically to the Le Monde report , writing on Instagram that his “ cunning plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kitchen , sip it quietly on a plane … die in an Omsk hospital and end up in an Omsk morgue , where my cause of death would be established as ‘ he lived enough .
’ ”

Navalny, 44, who came out of a coma two weeks ago after falling violently ill on a flight in Siberia, mocked Putin’s reported claims as illogical. Germany says it has evidence backed by French and Swedish scientists that Putin’s fierce critic was poisoned by a Novichok nerve agent.
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny may have poisoned himself with Novichok, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron in a recent phone call.
The French daily Le Monde reported, citing unnamed sources, that Putin suggested to Macron that Navalny may have poisoned himself with Novichok for an unspecified reason.
In the two leaders' Sept. 14 phone call, Putin reportedly referred to his foe as an “internet troublemaker who has simulated illnesses in the past.”
Russia maintains that Navalny was not poisoned. When urged to investigate the Aug. 20 incident, Russian officials complained that Germany hadn't shared its findings and that Navalny’s aides took potential evidence out of the country.
Navalny reacted ironically to the Le Monde report, writing on Instagram that his “cunning plan” was to “cook Novichok in the kitchen, sip it quietly on a plane … die in an Omsk hospital and end up in an Omsk morgue, where my cause of death would be established as ‘he lived enough.’”


themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--Secret Lukashenko Inauguration Triggers Fresh Belarus Clashes

Clashes between masked riot police and protesters broke out in Minsk , with the Viasna rights group saying that more than 150 people had been arrested in the capital , as well as the southwestern city of Brest and other places .
Several thousand protesters , many carrying the red-and white opposition flag , took to the streets of the capital Minsk and other cities following a surprise announcement that Lukashenko had been sworn into a sixth term in office following disputed elections in August .
Belarus police fired tear gas and arrested more than 150 protesters on Wednesday after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triggered new demonstrations and fresh condemnation in the West .
Several European countries including Germany and the United States responded to Lukashenko 's inauguration by refusing to recognize him as the president of the ex-Soviet state .
`` The announced results were fraudulent and did not convey legitimacy , '' a State Department spokesperson said in Washington .
`` The United States can not consider Alexander Lukashenko the legitimately elected leader of Belarus . ''
The state-run Belta news agency broke the news that Lukashenko had `` taken office as President of Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Independence on Wednesday .
It was not shown live on television unlike previous ceremonies , but Belta published photographs of the mustachioed leader swearing the oath of allegiance at a podium in a blue suit with his hand on a copy of the Constitution .
`` I ca n't , I do n't have the right to abandon Belarusians , '' Lukashenko said in his inaugural address according to a transcript of his remarks later released by his office .
He blamed the mass protests since August , which have seen tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on `` disorientation of society '' and thanked law enforcement for showing `` firmness . ''
Lukashenko said he and his allies had `` prevented a catastrophe , '' though the ceremony in front of 700 guests drew mockery from critics .
`` If the inauguration had been announced in advance , 200,000 demonstrators would have gathered outside his palace , '' said Ales Belyatsky , head of the Viasna rights group .
`` Where are the rejoicing citizens ?
Where is the diplomatic corps ? ''
questioned opposition activist and former minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday evening , several thousand protesters took to the streets , with some chanting `` Long live Belarus '' and others wearing cardboard crowns .
Many derided the 66-year-old , who has been in power since 1994 .
`` I had my cat sworn in today , '' read one placard .
Video and pictures released by Tut.by , an independent Belarusian outlet , showed riot police violently dispersing protesters who yelled `` fascists '' while some demonstrators including women had bloodied faces .
Tear gas was used during scuffles between police and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya reiterated her claim to be the true winner of the elections , saying the `` so-called inauguration is of course a farce . ''

Belarus police fired tear gas and arrested more than 150 protesters on Wednesday after the secret inauguration of President Alexander Lukashenko triggered new demonstrations and fresh condemnation in the West. Several thousand protesters, many carrying the red-and white opposition flag, took to the streets of the capital Minsk and other cities following a surprise announcement that Lukashenko had been sworn into a sixth term in office following disputed elections in August. Clashes between masked riot police and protesters broke out in Minsk, with the Viasna rights group saying that more than 150 people had been arrested in the capital, as well as the southwestern city of Brest and other places.
Так выглядел разгон возле стелы сегодня. Против людей использовали водомет с цветной водой. pic.twitter.com/f9pASep1cc — TUT.BY (@tutby) September 23, 2020
Several European countries including Germany and the United States responded to Lukashenko's inauguration by refusing to recognize him as the president of the ex-Soviet state. "The announced results were fraudulent and did not convey legitimacy," a State Department spokesperson said in Washington. "The United States cannot consider Alexander Lukashenko the legitimately elected leader of Belarus." The state-run Belta news agency broke the news that Lukashenko had "taken office as President of Belarus" during a ceremony in the Palace of Independence on Wednesday. It was not shown live on television unlike previous ceremonies, but Belta published photographs of the mustachioed leader swearing the oath of allegiance at a podium in a blue suit with his hand on a copy of the Constitution. "I can't, I don't have the right to abandon Belarusians," Lukashenko said in his inaugural address according to a transcript of his remarks later released by his office. He blamed the mass protests since August, which have seen tens of thousands take to the streets, on "disorientation of society" and thanked law enforcement for showing "firmness." Lukashenko said he and his allies had "prevented a catastrophe," though the ceremony in front of 700 guests drew mockery from critics.
Pretty amazing video of a protester running away from riot police in Minsk this evening, with getaway support from a taxi driver who deserves a big tip! pic.twitter.com/PltP3DcGrw — Evan Gershkovich (@evangershkovich) September 23, 2020
"If the inauguration had been announced in advance, 200,000 demonstrators would have gathered outside his palace," said Ales Belyatsky, head of the Viasna rights group. "Where are the rejoicing citizens? Where is the diplomatic corps?" questioned opposition activist and former minister Pavel Latushko on social media. 'Such a farce' On Wednesday evening, several thousand protesters took to the streets, with some chanting "Long live Belarus" and others wearing cardboard crowns. Many derided the 66-year-old, who has been in power since 1994. "I had my cat sworn in today," read one placard. Video and pictures released by Tut.by, an independent Belarusian outlet, showed riot police violently dispersing protesters who yelled "fascists" while some demonstrators including women had bloodied faces. Tear gas was used during scuffles between police and protesters. Earlier in the day Lukashenko's opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya reiterated her claim to be the true winner of the elections, saying the "so-called inauguration is of course a farce."
Фотография с инаугурации Лукашенко, которая началась без анонса и телетрансляции.
Фото: Пул Первого pic.twitter.com/iKQKT5F9UL — TUT.BY (@tutby) September 23, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--Bulgaria Expels Two Russian Diplomats for Spying

Bulgaria has expelled two Russian diplomats accused of spying on the military , the foreign ministry said on Wednesday .
The pair were given 72 hours to leave the EU country , a former Russian ally during Soviet times , after the Bulgarian public prosecutor alleged they had been seeking out classified information on military modernization plans since 2016 .
The spying rap is likely to worsen traditionally warm but now fraying relations between the two countries after last year saw the ejection of three other Russian diplomats over allegations of obtaining classified information .
Sofia 's state prosecutor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not revealed -- had solicited information constituting state secrets to pass on to Russian military intelligence .
The two allegedly received help from two Bulgarian nationals enjoying access to the military .
Sofia 's relations with Moscow had soured even ahead of the spying spats after three Russian nationals were charged in absentia over the attempted poisoning in 2015 of a Bulgarian arms manufacturer , Emilian Gebrev , his son and another associate .
A former Warsaw Pact ally of Moscow , Bulgaria 's military retains military hardware dating from that era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NATO guidelines after joining the western alliance in 2004 .
Bulgaria 's airforce largely still relies on the Russian MiG-29 but is expected to take delivery by 2024 of eight US-made F-16 jets bought last July .

Bulgaria has expelled two Russian diplomats accused of spying on the military, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
The pair were given 72 hours to leave the EU country, a former Russian ally during Soviet times, after the Bulgarian public prosecutor alleged they had been seeking out classified information on military modernization plans since 2016.
The spying rap is likely to worsen traditionally warm but now fraying relations between the two countries after last year saw the ejection of three other Russian diplomats over allegations of obtaining classified information.
Sofia's state prosecutor said the two latest diplomats -- whose status was not revealed -- had solicited information constituting state secrets to pass on to Russian military intelligence.
The two allegedly received help from two Bulgarian nationals enjoying access to the military.
Sofia's relations with Moscow had soured even ahead of the spying spats after three Russian nationals were charged in absentia over the attempted poisoning in 2015 of a Bulgarian arms manufacturer, Emilian Gebrev, his son and another associate.
A former Warsaw Pact ally of Moscow, Bulgaria's military retains military hardware dating from that era and is now modernizing to conform with NATO guidelines after joining the western alliance in 2004.
Bulgaria's airforce largely still relies on the Russian MiG-29 but is expected to take delivery by 2024 of eight US-made F-16 jets bought last July.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--U.S. Sanctions Russian Tycoon's Central Africa Business

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned associates and businesses connected with a wealthy financier close to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Moscow 's security service .
Eight people and seven entities related to Yevgeniy Prigozhin and the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) were targeted in the sanctions , which Treasury said in a statement were aimed at checking both Prigozhin 's activities in the Central African Republic and the FSB , which has been accused of interfering in the US elections .
Prigozhin has been a particular target of Washington , which sanctioned him in 2018 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group mercenary outfit , which has been accused of intervening in Libya 's civil war and supporting Sudan 's ousted dictator .
Prigozhin is also alleged to fund the Internet Research Agency , a mysterious `` troll farm '' in St. Petersburg said to run online manipulation to back then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. election .
`` Yevgeniy Prigozhin has an international network of supporters to spread his malign political and economic influence around the globe , '' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement .
`` The United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prigozhin to conduct operations globally . ''
The latest sanctions target two mining businesses and three employees tied to Prigozhin in the Central African Republic , which has struggled with instability and armed conflict since President Francois Bozize was ousted in a coup in 2012 .
Washington has also sanctioned the FSB , and on Wednesday it designated a Russian underwater technology company along with three of its employees for cooperating with the security service .
Also targeted were a Finland-based freight forwarding company and its owner along with three other businesses for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
US sought `` accountability for the Russian government 's use of proxy actors and intelligence organizations , including the FSB , for perpetrating an array of destabilizing activities , such as conducting malicious cyber activities and interfering in elections , '' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said .

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned associates and businesses connected with a wealthy financier close to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Moscow's security service.
Eight people and seven entities related to Yevgeniy Prigozhin and the Federal Security Service (FSB) were targeted in the sanctions, which Treasury said in a statement were aimed at checking both Prigozhin's activities in the Central African Republic and the FSB, which has been accused of interfering in the US elections.
Prigozhin has been a particular target of Washington, which sanctioned him in 2018 and 2019 on claims he supported the Wagner Group mercenary outfit, which has been accused of intervening in Libya's civil war and supporting Sudan's ousted dictator.
Prigozhin is also alleged to fund the Internet Research Agency, a mysterious "troll farm" in St. Petersburg said to run online manipulation to back then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 U.S. election.
"Yevgeniy Prigozhin has an international network of supporters to spread his malign political and economic influence around the globe," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.
"The United States will continue to target the ability of Prigozhin to conduct operations globally."
The latest sanctions target two mining businesses and three employees tied to Prigozhin in the Central African Republic, which has struggled with instability and armed conflict since President Francois Bozize was ousted in a coup in 2012.
Washington has also sanctioned the FSB, and on Wednesday it designated a Russian underwater technology company along with three of its employees for cooperating with the security service.
Also targeted were a Finland-based freight forwarding company and its owner along with three other businesses for aiding the FSB in evading U.S. sanctions.
US sought "accountability for the Russian government's use of proxy actors and intelligence organizations, including the FSB, for perpetrating an array of destabilizing activities, such as conducting malicious cyber activities and interfering in elections," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--Moscow Expands List of European Officials Banned From Russia

A Foreign Ministry statement did not specify what the sanctions were a response to , but referred to `` hostile steps '' against Russia and its citizens .
Moscow said Wednesday it was expanding a list of European officials who are banned from entering Russia as a response to what it said were aggressive EU actions .
Russia 's ties with European countries have worsened since Germany and France said this month that opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent .
The statement said Russia was expanding `` a reciprocal list of representatives of EU countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian territory . ''
It added that the number of EU officials barred entry to Russia was now equal to the number of its officials on an EU list .
`` The EU is continuing to expand its sanctions tools and apply them on the basis of groundless and sometimes absurd pretexts , '' it said .
`` We have repeatedly warned the EU about the malignancy of such an approach . ''
If Brussels continues its `` confrontational '' policies Moscow reserves the right to act further , the Foreign Ministry said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow since Germany said toxicology tests showed Navalny , who is President Vladimir Putin 's most vocal critic , was poisoned with Novichok , a Soviet-designed chemical weapon .
But the Kremlin has brushed off allegations it was behind the 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner 's poisoning .
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday accused Western countries of `` unleashing a massive disinformation campaign '' over Navalny 's hospitalisation .
`` We believe this rhetoric is simply unacceptable , '' she said , reiterating there was no evidence that Moscow was behind the @ @

A Foreign Ministry statement did not specify what the sanctions were a response to, but referred to "hostile steps" against Russia and its citizens.
Moscow said Wednesday it was expanding a list of European officials who are banned from entering Russia as a response to what it said were aggressive EU actions.
Russia's ties with European countries have worsened since Germany and France said this month that opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent.
The statement said Russia was expanding "a reciprocal list of representatives of EU countries and institutions who are banned from entering Russian territory."
It added that the number of EU officials barred entry to Russia was now equal to the number of its officials on an EU list.
"The EU is continuing to expand its sanctions tools and apply them on the basis of groundless and sometimes absurd pretexts," it said.
"We have repeatedly warned the EU about the malignancy of such an approach."
If Brussels continues its "confrontational" policies Moscow reserves the right to act further, the Foreign Ministry said.
European leaders have demanded explanations from Moscow since Germany said toxicology tests showed Navalny, who is President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critic, was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-designed chemical weapon.
But the Kremlin has brushed off allegations it was behind the 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner's poisoning.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Wednesday accused Western countries of "unleashing a massive disinformation campaign" over Navalny's hospitalisation.
"We believe this rhetoric is simply unacceptable," she said, reiterating there was no evidence that Moscow was behind the poisoning.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-23--RT Trolls Trump With Post-Election Job Offer

RT used deepfake technology to transport Trump 44 days into the future , where he takes up Russian President Vladimir Putin ’ s offer to become RT ’ s “ special host ” after losing the vote on Nov. 3 .
The tongue-in-cheek spot superimposes Trump ’ s face and voice onto an actor ’ s body to show him adapting to his new job in Moscow .
The Kremlin-funded RT broadcaster leaned into its reputation as a U.S. election bogeyman with an ad offering President Donald Trump a job as “ special host ” if he loses the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deepfake Trump struggles to read a teleprompter that ’ s going too fast , mangles his co-host ’ s name and tells the RT cafeteria 's cashier that “ Mexico will pay for ” his food .
At one point , the deepfake Trump admires the “ great , great ” Kremlin wall .
“ Mr .
Trump , if you won ’ t make it , consider this a formal offer , ” RT ’ s two-minute spot says in the end credits .
“ Note : this is parody , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there , Donald ) , ” RT tweeted in a promotion of the ad and its coverage of the U.S. election .
The ad ’ s Russian-language version on YouTube makes no mention of the deepfake technology .
Additionally , the closing shots feature deepfake Trump attempting to sing Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi ’ s protest anthem “ I Want Changes ” while strumming a guitar next to his mural .
RT registered as a foreign agent in the U.S. following the country ’ s 2016 presidential election .
A U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news agency as arms of “ Russia ’ s state-run propaganda machine ” involved in election interference , including hacking and a social media influence campaign .
Ahead of the 2016 election , news reports had suggested that Trump would leverage his media savvy to launch his own media empire if he lost to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton .
The Russian government ’ s “ socially oriented ” draft budget approved last week reduces spending in key sectors but keeps support for state media steady at 102.8 billion rubles ( $ 1.3 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive more than one-quarter , or $ 355.5 million , of this funding .

RT used deepfake technology to transport Trump 44 days into the future, where he takes up Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to become RT’s “special host” after losing the vote on Nov. 3. The tongue-in-cheek spot superimposes Trump’s face and voice onto an actor’s body to show him adapting to his new job in Moscow.
The Kremlin-funded RT broadcaster leaned into its reputation as a U.S. election bogeyman with an ad offering President Donald Trump a job as “special host” if he loses the 2020 race.
In the ad, the deepfake Trump struggles to read a teleprompter that’s going too fast, mangles his co-host’s name and tells the RT cafeteria's cashier that “Mexico will pay for” his food. At one point, the deepfake Trump admires the “great, great” Kremlin wall.
“Mr. Trump, if you won’t make it, consider this a formal offer,” RT’s two-minute spot says in the end credits.
“Note: this is parody, using #deepfake technology (but the job is there, Donald),” RT tweeted in a promotion of the ad and its coverage of the U.S. election.
The ad’s Russian-language version on YouTube makes no mention of the deepfake technology. Additionally, the closing shots feature deepfake Trump attempting to sing Soviet rock legend Viktor Tsoi’s protest anthem “I Want Changes” while strumming a guitar next to his mural.
RT registered as a foreign agent in the U.S. following the country’s 2016 presidential election. A U.S. intelligence report described RT and the Sputnik news agency as arms of “Russia’s state-run propaganda machine” involved in election interference, including hacking and a social media influence campaign.
Ahead of the 2016 election, news reports had suggested that Trump would leverage his media savvy to launch his own media empire if he lost to Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
The Russian government’s “socially oriented” draft budget approved last week reduces spending in key sectors but keeps support for state media steady at 102.8 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) next year. RT is projected to receive more than one-quarter, or $355.5 million, of this funding.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--Russia Seizes Kremlin Critic Navalny’s Apartment

Russian authorities have seized Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ’ s apartment days after he was discharged from German hospital where he was being treated for poisoning by Novichok , his spokeswoman said Thursday .
Kira Yarmysh said court marshals came after Navalny ’ s three-bedroom apartment in southeastern Moscow to enforce a $ 1-million court ruling in favor of catering magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin .
The businessman has earned the nickname `` Putin 's chef '' from his close ties to President Vladimir Putin .
Prigozhin last year won 88 million rubles ( $ 1.1 million ) in damages against Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prigozhin for a dysentery outbreak among Moscow schoolchildren linked to contaminated lunches .
Prigozhin previously vowed to “ ruin ” Navalny if he survives the poisoning .
“ Instead of siding with the affected children , the court sided with Prigozhin , ” Yarmysh said in a video on Twitter .
“ As a result , they seized the assets and the apartment of a person who was in a coma , ” she said .
Navalny came out of a coma two weeks ago after falling violently ill on a flight in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the fierce Putin critic was flown two days later , said it had unequivocal proof that he was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family .
The court marshals ’ seizure bans Navalny from selling , renting out or leaving the apartment in a will but does not mean he can no longer live there , Yarmysh said .
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner is undergoing rehab in Germany after his release from hospital .
Yarmysh has said Navalny plans to return to Russia as soon as he recovers from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Federal Security Service ( FSB ) rejected a request to investigate reports that security agents tailed Navalny throughout his trip to Siberia during which he fell ill. Russia denies that Navalny was poisoned and complains that Germany is not sharing its findings in order for authorities to launch an investigation at home .

Russian authorities have seized Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s apartment days after he was discharged from German hospital where he was being treated for poisoning by Novichok, his spokeswoman said Thursday. Kira Yarmysh said court marshals came after Navalny’s three-bedroom apartment in southeastern Moscow to enforce a $1-million court ruling in favor of catering magnate Yevgeny Prigozhin. The businessman has earned the nickname "Putin's chef" from his close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
Приставы наложили арест на квартиру Алексея Навального pic.twitter.com/DwA39HSpzZ — Кира Ярмыш (@Kira_Yarmysh) September 24, 2020
Prigozhin last year won 88 million rubles ($1.1 million) in damages against Navalny and his close associate, who blamed Prigozhin for a dysentery outbreak among Moscow schoolchildren linked to contaminated lunches. Prigozhin previously vowed to “ruin” Navalny if he survives the poisoning. “Instead of siding with the affected children, the court sided with Prigozhin,” Yarmysh said in a video on Twitter. “As a result, they seized the assets and the apartment of a person who was in a coma,” she said.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--Russia's Season of War Games Unites West-Weary Allies

Russia is staging a series of military exercises with China and other allies amid growing alarm over fresh tensions with the West .
The largest of these games , Caucasus-2020 , kicked off in southern Russia this week and include land and naval exercises involving a total of 80,000 people including more than 12,000 troops .
China , Iran and Myanmar are taking part along with several ex-Soviet countries including Belarus .
`` These exercises are the main annual test of the Russian Armed Forces ' readiness to engage in a large-scale conflict , '' Vasily Kashin , a Moscow-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drills that last until Saturday and feature naval deployments on the Black Sea and the Caspian have been organized `` for the top echelons of the military leadership , '' he said .
According to the Defense Ministry , up to 250 tanks and around 450 infantry combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers are taking part in the drills along with artillery systems and rocket launchers .
The Russian forces will test the TOS-2 heavy flamethrower systems first paraded through Moscow 's Red Square during Victory Day celebrations in June .
President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the top priorities of his 20-year rule .
After years of post-Soviet neglect , the armed forces received new aircraft , tanks and missiles , opened new bases in the Arctic and resumed Cold War-style strategic bomber patrols .
Moscow has staged more frequent large-scale military exercises in the Caucasus , the Baltic and the Arctic in recent years .
In 2018 , Russia held what it has called its largest-ever military drills , with 300,000 Russian troops joining Chinese soldiers in a show of force condemned by NATO .
Russia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a show of support for Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko who has faced unprecedented protests against his disputed re-election last month and was sworn in during a secret ceremony Wednesday .
Running parallel to the Caucasus-2020 games , the joint Russian-Belarusian drills dubbed Slavic Brotherhood began in mid-September and involve more than 900 troops .
The drills were launched near Belarus 's southwestern city of Brest on the Polish border , and as part of the games , two Russian supersonic heavy strategic Tu-160 bombers flew over Belarus 's border with the EU on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Baltic states of coordinating with the opposition and has claimed Western countries see Belarus as a `` springboard '' to attack Russia .
`` Putin and me are of the same opinion : we are being hunted here so that they can go for Russia afterwards , '' Lukashenko said in August .
Next month Belarus will also host drills by the six-member states of a Russia-led security bloc , the Collective Security Treaty Organization .
Ukraine , whose army is fighting Moscow-backed separatists in the east of the country , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious threat .
`` Military units present participating in the maneuvers could be used to provoke escalations and threaten the stability of the Black Sea , '' the Defense Ministry said .
NATO patrols the Black Sea where Ukrainian and Russian gunboats have clashed in waters near Crimea after the territory was annexed in 2014 .
Several countries have pulled out of military exercises with Russia this year , with New Delhi citing the coronavirus pandemic but observers pointing to its frayed ties with China .
Moscow 's ally Serbia dropped out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called `` great and undeserved pressure '' from the EU .
The Kremlin 's relationship with Europe has worsened since Russia annexed Crimea and tensions are exacerbated by allegations of election meddling and spying .
The poisoning of leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny recently spurred sharp condemnations from European leaders who have said they could respond with further sanctions on Moscow .
Russia insists the purpose of its `` purely defensive '' exercises are to ward off a theoretical enemy , but sees the games as an opportunity to show off its military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costly overhaul of the country 's military and has tested dozens of new additions to its arsenal in Syria since entering the conflict in 2015 .
Compared with the last Caucasus-2020 games in 2016 , Russia has added more drones and artillery to its military as well as fighter jets and air defense systems like the renowned S-400 systems , Kashin says .
Putin has also lauded new `` invincible '' nuclear-capable weapons , which have yet to be shown off in drills .
Kashin raised the possibility that one of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be unveiled during Caucasus-2020 as well as the fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet , which has been anticipated for several years .

Russia is staging a series of military exercises with China and other allies amid growing alarm over fresh tensions with the West. The largest of these games, Caucasus-2020, kicked off in southern Russia this week and include land and naval exercises involving a total of 80,000 people including more than 12,000 troops. China, Iran and Myanmar are taking part along with several ex-Soviet countries including Belarus. "These exercises are the main annual test of the Russian Armed Forces' readiness to engage in a large-scale conflict," Vasily Kashin, a Moscow-based military analyst, told AFP.
The drills that last until Saturday and feature naval deployments on the Black Sea and the Caspian have been organized "for the top echelons of the military leadership," he said. According to the Defense Ministry, up to 250 tanks and around 450 infantry combat vehicles and armored personnel carriers are taking part in the drills along with artillery systems and rocket launchers. The Russian forces will test the TOS-2 heavy flamethrower systems first paraded through Moscow's Red Square during Victory Day celebrations in June. President Vladimir Putin has made reviving the army one of the top priorities of his 20-year rule. After years of post-Soviet neglect, the armed forces received new aircraft, tanks and missiles, opened new bases in the Arctic and resumed Cold War-style strategic bomber patrols. A 'springboard' for attack Moscow has staged more frequent large-scale military exercises in the Caucasus, the Baltic and the Arctic in recent years. In 2018, Russia held what it has called its largest-ever military drills, with 300,000 Russian troops joining Chinese soldiers in a show of force condemned by NATO. Russia's drills this fall are also viewed as a show of support for Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko who has faced unprecedented protests against his disputed re-election last month and was sworn in during a secret ceremony Wednesday. Running parallel to the Caucasus-2020 games, the joint Russian-Belarusian drills dubbed Slavic Brotherhood began in mid-September and involve more than 900 troops. The drills were launched near Belarus's southwestern city of Brest on the Polish border, and as part of the games, two Russian supersonic heavy strategic Tu-160 bombers flew over Belarus's border with the EU on Tuesday.
Lukashenko has accused Poland and the Baltic states of coordinating with the opposition and has claimed Western countries see Belarus as a "springboard" to attack Russia. "Putin and me are of the same opinion: we are being hunted here so that they can go for Russia afterwards," Lukashenko said in August. Next month Belarus will also host drills by the six-member states of a Russia-led security bloc, the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Ukraine, whose army is fighting Moscow-backed separatists in the east of the country, has said Russia's upcoming war games constitute a serious threat.
'Invincible' weapons "Military units present participating in the maneuvers could be used to provoke escalations and threaten the stability of the Black Sea," the Defense Ministry said. NATO patrols the Black Sea where Ukrainian and Russian gunboats have clashed in waters near Crimea after the territory was annexed in 2014. Several countries have pulled out of military exercises with Russia this year, with New Delhi citing the coronavirus pandemic but observers pointing to its frayed ties with China. Moscow's ally Serbia dropped out of drills in Belarus after what Belgrade called "great and undeserved pressure" from the EU.
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