themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Russian PM to Visit Minsk Thursday

Russian PM to Visit Minsk Thursday

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Belarus on Thursday , Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday , after weeks @ @ @ @ @ a disputed presidential election .
Lavrov also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would host Belarus @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow `` in the next couple of weeks . ''
He made the announcements @ @ @ @ @ meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow , Russian news agencies reported .
Unprecedented protests @ @ @ @ @ after Lukashenko , who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years , claimed re-election @ @ @ @ @ vote in the August 9 poll .

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Belarus on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday, after weeks of protests in Minsk against a disputed presidential election.
Lavrov also confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would host Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow "in the next couple of weeks."
He made the announcements at the start of a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported.
Unprecedented protests broke out in ex-Soviet Belarus after Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years, claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote in the August 9 poll.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Elderly Coronavirus Vaccine Recipients ‘Healthy,’ Russian Developer Says

Elderly scientists who helped develop Russia ’ s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine have not reported adverse effects after being injected @ @ @ @ @ research institute behind the inoculation told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday .
Sputnik @ @ @ @ @ month as the world ’ s first coronavirus vaccine before large-scale clinical trials has sparked @ @ @ @ @ safety .
Experts have warned it could cause harm to patients aged 60 and older @ @ @ @ @ forms of Covid-19 and have the highest death rates .
Alexander Gintsburg , the head @ @ @ @ @ Gamaleya Institute which developed the vaccine , said that around a dozen of its employees @ @ @ @ @ had taken the shots and did not report complications .
“ The vaccination did not @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .
Gintsburg , 68 , has said he has also taken @ @ @ @ @ His remarks came amid a flurry of reports saying that several high-level Russian government officials @ @ @ @ @ vaccine over the past weeks .

Elderly scientists who helped develop Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine have not reported adverse effects after being injected, the head of the research institute behind the inoculation told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency Wednesday.
Sputnik V’s registration last month as the world’s first coronavirus vaccine before large-scale clinical trials has sparked questions over its effectiveness and safety. Experts have warned it could cause harm to patients aged 60 and older, who develop more severe forms of Covid-19 and have the highest death rates.
Alexander Gintsburg, the head of Moscow’s state-run Gamaleya Institute which developed the vaccine, said that around a dozen of its employees aged between 70 and 80 had taken the shots and did not report complications.
“They’re all fit, healthy, active, they’re giving lectures, managing patients and playing sports,” Gintsburg told RIA Novosti.
“The vaccination did not affect them in any way,” he added.
Gintsburg, 68, has said he has also taken the adenoviral vector-based vaccine.
His remarks came amid a flurry of reports saying that several high-level Russian government officials have taken the Sputnik V vaccine over the past weeks.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Greece, Poland Lift Coronavirus Travel Restrictions for Russians for a Short Time

Greece and Poland have updated their coronavirus travel restrictions to allow Russian citizens to cross their borders for two-week periods @ @ @ @ @ caseload topped the one million milestone .
Poland ’ s government has removed Russia from @ @ @ @ @ subject to a travel ban , meaning flights will be able to resume from Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ news website , the Polish government is expected to update its travel ban list again @ @ @ @ @ will allow Russians to fly into the country between Sept. 7 and 21 , according @ @ @ @ @ by the RIA Novosti news agency .
The number of entries is capped at 500 @ @ @ @ @ who will be required to provide a negative Covid-19 test result within three days of @ @ @ @ @ personal information form .

Greece and Poland have updated their coronavirus travel restrictions to allow Russian citizens to cross their borders for two-week periods as Russia’s virus caseload topped the one million milestone.
Poland’s government has removed Russia from its latest list of countries subject to a travel ban, meaning flights will be able to resume from Wednesday. According to the Notesfrompoland.com news website, the Polish government is expected to update its travel ban list again on Sept. 15.
Greece will allow Russians to fly into the country between Sept. 7 and 21, according to a government decision cited by the RIA Novosti news agency. The number of entries is capped at 500 Russian nationals per week, who will be required to provide a negative Covid-19 test result within three days of entry and complete a detailed personal information form.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--Facebook Nabs Russia-linked Campaign to Fuel U.S. Chaos

Facebook on Tuesday said that it caught a budding Russia-linked campaign to fuel political chaos in the U.S. , working off a tip from the FBI in its latest take-down of coordinated inauthentic behavior at the leading social network .
The network of 13 Facebook accounts and two pages posing as journalists and targeting left-wing progressives was removed for violating a policy against `` foreign interference '' at the platform .
The investigation that uncovered the covert operation , which was linked to the Internet Research Agency in Russia ( IRA ) , started with a tip from the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher .
The network was in the early stages of building an audience , with little engagement from users , Facebook said .
`` They put substantial effort into creating elaborate fictitious personas , trying to make fake accounts look as real as possible , '' Gleicher said while briefing reporters .
The list of topics in posts included `` social and racial justice in the U.S. and Britain , NATO and EU politics , alleged Western war crimes and corruption , environmental issues , the founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus pandemic , criticism of fracking , French influence in Africa , the Biden-Harris campaign , QAnon , President Trump and his policies , and the U.S. military policies in Africa. ''
.
Unwitting freelance writers were recruited to write material to be posted online , according to Facebook .
The Facebook pages were said to be crafted to drive viewers to websites of the social network , and their operators were working diligently to get approval to run targeted ads .
`` It follows a steady pattern where particularly Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are , but their impact is smaller and smaller and they are getting caught earlier , '' Gleicher said .
`` These actors are caught between a rock and hard place : run a large network that gets caught quickly or run a small network that has limited reach . ''
The campaign targeted its audience with English-language content focused heavily on a small number of political groups , including Democratic Socialists , environmentalists , and disgruntled Democrats in the US , according to an analysis by Graphika .
A consistent target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain and the U.S. with the potential to be dissuaded from supporting centrist leadership of the Democratic and Labour parties , Graphika determined .
The network worked to amplify a PeaceData website that posed as an independent news outlet , the analysis found .
Only about five percent of the English-language articles on the website dealt primarily with the U.S. election or candidates , but they appeared oriented to build a left-wing audience and steer it away from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s campaign , in the same way that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Hillary Clinton in 2016 , according to Graphika .
The operation had a presence on Twitter and LinkedIn as well as on Facebook , according to the social network analysis specialist .
Twitter said it suspended five accounts linked to Russia for `` platform manipulation . ''
The accounts appeared to be associated with the PeaceData website and appeared to gain little traction on Twitter before being removed , according to the one-to-many messaging platform .
`` Regardless of the low-level impact in this case , governments around the world must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tweet .
Twitter is blocking links to content from the PeaceData website , which could still be accessed online Tuesday .
The website began publishing in December , and the Facebook accounts were set up in May , according to Graphika .
`` The network was in its infancy when it was taken down , '' Graphika concluded .

Facebook on Tuesday said that it caught a budding Russia-linked campaign to fuel political chaos in the U.S., working off a tip from the FBI in its latest take-down of coordinated inauthentic behavior at the leading social network. The network of 13 Facebook accounts and two pages posing as journalists and targeting left-wing progressives was removed for violating a policy against "foreign interference" at the platform. The investigation that uncovered the covert operation, which was linked to the Internet Research Agency in Russia (IRA), started with a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to Facebook head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher. The network was in the early stages of building an audience, with little engagement from users, Facebook said.
"They put substantial effort into creating elaborate fictitious personas, trying to make fake accounts look as real as possible," Gleicher said while briefing reporters. The list of topics in posts included "social and racial justice in the U.S. and Britain, NATO and EU politics, alleged Western war crimes and corruption, environmental issues, the founder of Wikileaks, tensions between Israel and Palestine, the coronavirus pandemic, criticism of fracking, French influence in Africa, the Biden-Harris campaign, QAnon, President Trump and his policies, and the U.S. military policies in Africa.". Unwitting freelance writers were recruited to write material to be posted online, according to Facebook. The Facebook pages were said to be crafted to drive viewers to websites of the social network, and their operators were working diligently to get approval to run targeted ads. "It follows a steady pattern where particularly Russian actors have gotten better at hiding who they are, but their impact is smaller and smaller and they are getting caught earlier," Gleicher said. "These actors are caught between a rock and hard place: run a large network that gets caught quickly or run a small network that has limited reach."
Beyond Facebook


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Germany Says Kremlin Critic Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok

`` This has given rise to some very serious questions that only Russia can and must answer , '' Merkel said , adding that `` the intent was to silence him . ''
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday demanded answers from Russia over the case .
Prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator more than a week after falling violently ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow .
Navalny , 44 , has been receiving treatment in Germany after spending two days in a Siberian hospital where Russian doctors ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s opposition was poisoned .
“ The Russian government is urged to explain the incident ... the substance in Navalny ’ s organism is undoubtedly from the Novichok family , '' said government spokesman Steffen Seibert in a statement .
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family , the German government said Wednesday , demanding explanations from Moscow .
The Kremlin said Wednesday evening that Russia was ready to cooperate fully with Germany .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists : `` In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have an interest in full cooperation and exchange of data on this topic with Germany , '' he was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti state news agency .
Peskov complained that Russia had not received an answer to its request for German doctors to share their findings .
He insisted that before Navalny was evacuated to Berlin on August 22 , Russia had not found traces of poisoning , reflecting earlier statements by doctors .
`` Before the sick man was taken to Berlin , a whole set of tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accordance with all international standards , no poisonous substances were detected , '' he said , not using Navalny 's name as is Kremlin practice .
A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson slammed Germany for not providing Russia with evidence for its statements in comments to AFP .
`` We are urging our partners to offer full cooperation and exchange of information , '' the spokesperson said , criticising `` loud public announcements without any presenting any facts at all '' .
The spokesperson suggested that Germany 's aim was to `` justify some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' .
Russia is still awaiting an answer from Germany to an official request sent by the Prosecutor-General 's Office asking German doctors to share medical data on Navalny with Russian counterparts , the ministry spokesperson said .
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen denounced what she called the `` despicable and cowardly '' act and said those responsible should be brought to justice .
The White House said it is `` deeply troubled '' by Navalny 's poisoning .
`` Alexei Navalny 's poisoning is completely reprehensible , '' National Security Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was `` outrageous '' that Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent and urged Moscow to `` explain '' what had happened .
`` We have seen first-hand the deadly consequences of Novichok in the UK , '' Johnson said on Twitter .

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family, the German government said Wednesday, demanding explanations from Moscow. “The Russian government is urged to explain the incident ... the substance in Navalny’s organism is undoubtedly from the Novichok family," said government spokesman Steffen Seibert in a statement. Prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator more than a week after falling violently ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. Navalny, 44, has been receiving treatment in Germany after spending two days in a Siberian hospital where Russian doctors ruled out that the de facto leader of Russia’s opposition was poisoned. German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday demanded answers from Russia over the case. "This has given rise to some very serious questions that only Russia can and must answer," Merkel said, adding that "the intent was to silence him."
news Russian Ruble Plunges After Germany Says Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok Read more
The Kremlin said Wednesday evening that Russia was ready to cooperate fully with Germany. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists: "In general we confirm that we are ready and have an interest in full cooperation and exchange of data on this topic with Germany," he was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti state news agency. Peskov complained that Russia had not received an answer to its request for German doctors to share their findings. He insisted that before Navalny was evacuated to Berlin on August 22, Russia had not found traces of poisoning, reflecting earlier statements by doctors. "Before the sick man was taken to Berlin, a whole set of tests were carried out in our country in accordance with all international standards, no poisonous substances were detected," he said, not using Navalny's name as is Kremlin practice. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson slammed Germany for not providing Russia with evidence for its statements in comments to AFP. "We are urging our partners to offer full cooperation and exchange of information," the spokesperson said, criticising "loud public announcements without any presenting any facts at all". The spokesperson suggested that Germany's aim was to "justify some retaliatory measures that have already been prepared". Russia is still awaiting an answer from Germany to an official request sent by the Prosecutor-General's Office asking German doctors to share medical data on Navalny with Russian counterparts, the ministry spokesperson said. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen denounced what she called the "despicable and cowardly" act and said those responsible should be brought to justice. The White House said it is "deeply troubled" by Navalny's poisoning. "Alexei Navalny's poisoning is completely reprehensible," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said on Twitter. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was "outrageous" that Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent and urged Moscow to "explain" what had happened. "We have seen first-hand the deadly consequences of Novichok in the UK," Johnson said on Twitter.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--How the World Is Reacting to the News That Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok

On Wednesday , Germany said that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family .
Novichok is a military-grade poison that was developed by the Soviet government toward the end of the Cold War .
The news sent shockwaves around the West .
Here 's an overview of how the world 's leading officials have so far reacted to the news : German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded answers from Russia over the case after Berlin said it had proof he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent .
`` This has given rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia can and must answer , '' Merkel said .
The German government said Navalny , who fell ill in Siberia in August and was later transferred to Berlin for treatment , had been poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family .
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday denounced what she called the `` despicable and cowardly '' poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny .
Those responsible should be brought to justice , she said '' I was informed by Chancellor ( Angela ) Merkel that Russian opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent , in his own country , '' von der Leyen tweeted .
The White House said Wednesday it is `` deeply troubled '' by Navalny 's poisoning .
`` Alexei Navalny 's poisoning is completely reprehensible , '' National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said on Twitter , noting that the poison was Novichok , a nerve agent used by Russia in the past .
`` We will work with allies and the international community to hold those in Russia accountable , wherever the evidence leads , and restrict funds for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Russian people have a right to express their views peacefully without fear of retribution of any kind , and certainly not with chemical agents . ''
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday it was `` outrageous '' that Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent and urged Moscow to `` explain '' what had happened .
`` We have seen first-hand the deadly consequences of Novichok in the UK , '' Johnson said on Twitter .
The same type of nerve agent was used in Britain against ex-double agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed on Russia but Moscow denied any involvement in .
`` The Russian government must now explain what happened to Mr Navalny , we will work with international partners to ensure justice is done , '' Johnson said .
Britain 's Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said in a separate statement that Russia `` must tell the truth '' about what had occurred .
`` The Russian government has a clear case to answer .
It must tell the truth about what happened to Mr Navalny , '' Raab added .
France on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agent Novichok in the poisoning of Navalny was shocking and irresponsible , adding that Russia had grave questions to answer in the case .
`` I want to condemn in the strongest terms the shocking and irresponsible use of such an agent , '' Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement after Germany , where Navalny is being treated after falling ill in Siberia , said he had been poisoned with Novichok .
Calling on Russia to explain what had happened , he added : `` Given Mr Navalny 's political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him raises serious questions .
It is the responsibility of the Russian authorities to respond to them . ''

On Wednesday, Germany said that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family. Novichok is a military-grade poison that was developed by the Soviet government toward the end of the Cold War.
The news sent shockwaves around the West.
Here's an overview of how the world's leading officials have so far reacted to the news:
Germany:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded answers from Russia over the case after Berlin said it had proof he was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.
"This has given rise to some very serious questions that only Russia can and must answer," Merkel said.
The German government said Navalny, who fell ill in Siberia in August and was later transferred to Berlin for treatment, had been poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family.
EU:
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday denounced what she called the "despicable and cowardly" poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Those responsible should be brought to justice, she said
"I was informed by Chancellor (Angela) Merkel that Russian opposition leader Navalny was attacked with a nerve agent, in his own country," von der Leyen tweeted.
U.S:
The White House said Wednesday it is "deeply troubled" by Navalny's poisoning.
"Alexei Navalny's poisoning is completely reprehensible," National Security Council spokesman John Ullyot said on Twitter, noting that the poison was Novichok, a nerve agent used by Russia in the past.
"We will work with allies and the international community to hold those in Russia accountable, wherever the evidence leads, and restrict funds for their malign activities," he said.
"The Russian people have a right to express their views peacefully without fear of retribution of any kind, and certainly not with chemical agents."
U.K:
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday it was "outrageous" that Navalny had been poisoned with a nerve agent and urged Moscow to "explain" what had happened.
"We have seen first-hand the deadly consequences of Novichok in the UK," Johnson said on Twitter.
The same type of nerve agent was used in Britain against ex-double agent Sergei Skripal, in an attack London blamed on Russia but Moscow denied any involvement in.
"The Russian government must now explain what happened to Mr Navalny, we will work with international partners to ensure justice is done," Johnson said.
Britain's Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said in a separate statement that Russia "must tell the truth" about what had occurred.
"The Russian government has a clear case to answer. It must tell the truth about what happened to Mr Navalny," Raab added.
France:
France on Wednesday said that the use of the nerve agent Novichok in the poisoning of Navalny was shocking and irresponsible, adding that Russia had grave questions to answer in the case.
"I want to condemn in the strongest terms the shocking and irresponsible use of such an agent," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement after Germany, where Navalny is being treated after falling ill in Siberia, said he had been poisoned with Novichok.
Calling on Russia to explain what had happened, he added: "Given Mr Navalny's political status in Russia, the attack against him raises serious questions. It is the responsibility of the Russian authorities to respond to them."
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Novichok, Feared Soviet-Designed Poison

Novichok, Feared Soviet-Designed Poison

The Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok that Germany says poisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is a military-grade toxin banned as a chemical weapon after it was used in a previous attack in Britain .
The newest class of nerve agent , the Novichok family of toxins was developed by the Soviet government towards the end of the Cold War .
Little was known of them until 2018 , when they were used in the English city of Salisbury in the attempt to kill a Russian ex-spy , an attack that Western agencies blamed on the Kremlin .
They were added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chemical Weapons Convention last year -- the first addition in its history .
Navalny fell ill after boarding a flight in Siberia last month and was initially treated in Russia before being flown to Berlin .
Doctors in Russia said they found no trace of a toxin , but the Charite hospital in Berlin indicated he was poisoned with a type of cholinesterase inhibitor -- a group of chemicals that include pesticides and nerve agents like Novichok , VX and Sarin .
Germany on Wednesday said army tests had confirmed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name is Russian for `` newbie '' or `` newcomer '' .
The Russian chemist who first revealed the existence of Novichok nerve agents told AFP in 2018 that it took 15 years to develop them using tests on animals .

The Russian chemist who first revealed the existence of Novichok nerve agents told AFP in 2018 that it took 15 years to develop them using tests on animals.
The name is Russian for "newbie" or "newcomer".
Germany on Wednesday said army tests had confirmed that the substance used was a Novichok.
Doctors in Russia said they found no trace of a toxin, but the Charite hospital in Berlin indicated he was poisoned with a type of cholinesterase inhibitor -- a group of chemicals that include pesticides and nerve agents like Novichok, VX and Sarin.
Navalny fell ill after boarding a flight in Siberia last month and was initially treated in Russia before being flown to Berlin.
They were added to the list of banned substances in the Chemical Weapons Convention last year -- the first addition in its history.
Little was known of them until 2018, when they were used in the English city of Salisbury in the attempt to kill a Russian ex-spy, an attack that Western agencies blamed on the Kremlin.
The newest class of nerve agent, the Novichok family of toxins was developed by the Soviet government towards the end of the Cold War.
The Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok that Germany says poisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is a military-grade toxin banned as a chemical weapon after it was used in a previous attack in Britain.
Vil Mirzayanov, who moved to the United States in 1995, said that an attack with the nerve agents was excruciating and could be fatal.
"Only the Russians" developed this class of nerve agents, he told AFP at the time of the Salisbury poisonings. "They kept it and are still keeping it in secrecy."
Novichok toxins are thought to be used in the form of an ultra-fine powder, or like other nerve agents, in liquid or vapor form.
The ingredients for the toxin are transported separately and are safe until mixed together, said Richard Parsons, senior lecturer in Biochemical Toxicology at King's College London.
"They are extremely toxic," he said, adding that the nerve agent was "unavailable from anywhere except the Russian military as far as I am aware".
Nerve agents affect the central nervous system by disrupting communication between the brain, the main organs and muscles.
A signaling overload results in loss of muscle control which can lead to breathing difficulties and paralysis.
In severe cases the victim may asphyxiate, suffer heart failure and die.
"Individuals could be exposed to Novichok through skin absorption or from inhaling or ingesting it," said Wayne Carter, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham.
Atropine antidote
The Berlin hospital has said Navalny was being kept in a medically induced coma and treated with the antidote atropine.
This relieves symptoms by blocking acetylcholine -- a chemical transmitter that controls muscle contraction.
Nerve agents attack the enzyme that controls acetylcholine, leading to an overproduction and muscle malfunction.
With time, the body clears out the nerve agent and starts producing the acetylcholine-controlling enzyme itself.
"But in the main it is wait-and-see -- you have to wait for the body to break down the non-functioning cholinesterase enzyme and produce more, and this can take a long time," said Parsons.
In the Salisbury poisoning, former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter escaped death after medical treatment.
Risk to others
But the 2018 attack also led to the death of a British woman who came into contact with the nerve agent, as well as injuring several others including a policeman.
The decontamination operation in the sleepy Wiltshire town took almost a year and involved a dozen sites.
Moscow denied all involvement and insists it has destroyed all of its chemical weapons.
Navalny's supporters believe he was poisoned by a substance in the cup of tea he drank at the airport.
Parsons said this may mean the risk to others "may be significantly reduced, but you cannot rule out contamination of other areas, in particular the hospital and the airplane".
In adding Novichoks to an annex of the Chemical Weapons Convention's in November 2019, the global watchdog said it was adapting to "changing threats".
It was the first time that it had been revised since its entry into force in 1997.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Novichok Use Shows 'Only State' Could Have Poisoned Navalny – Aide

Germany 's finding that Alexey Navalny was poisoned with nerve agent Novichok shows that only the Russian state could be responsible , the head of the opposition leader 's organization said on Wednesday .
`` Only the state ( FSB , GRU ) can use Novichok .
This is beyond any reasonable doubt , '' Ivan Zhdanov , the director of Navalny 's Anti-Corruption Foundation , said on Twitter , referring to the FSB internal security and GRU military intelligence services .
Navalny , 44 , fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month .
He was initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flown to Berlin for treatment .
His supporters insist he was poisoned and blame President Vladimir Putin 's government .
The German government spokesman said Wednesday that tests carried out by the army in consultation with the Charite hospital in Berlin , where Navalny is being treated , had found `` unequivocal evidence of a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok family '' .
The use of a `` chemical warfare agent '' made it clear the attack was organized by the state , Zhdanov said in separate comments to the Ekho Moskvy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for the attempt on the life of a public figure .
So naturally we demand the initiation of a criminal case and a normal investigation of all the circumstances of the poisoning . ''
Russian scientist Leonid Rink , who state media say worked on a government-backed programme to develop Novichok , dismissed the possibility that the substance was used on Navalny .
If it had been used on Navalny , Rink told state news agency RIA Novosti , the opposition leader would be dead , not in a coma .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the cemetery , that 's all there is to it , '' Rink said .

Germany's finding that Alexey Navalny was poisoned with nerve agent Novichok shows that only the Russian state could be responsible, the head of the opposition leader's organization said on Wednesday.
"Only the state (FSB, GRU) can use Novichok. This is beyond any reasonable doubt," Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said on Twitter, referring to the FSB internal security and GRU military intelligence services.
Navalny, 44, fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month. He was initially treated in a local hospital before being flown to Berlin for treatment.
His supporters insist he was poisoned and blame President Vladimir Putin's government.
The German government spokesman said Wednesday that tests carried out by the army in consultation with the Charite hospital in Berlin, where Navalny is being treated, had found "unequivocal evidence of a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok family".
The use of a "chemical warfare agent" made it clear the attack was organized by the state, Zhdanov said in separate comments to the Ekho Moskvy radio station.
"And it is responsible for the attempt on the life of a public figure. So naturally we demand the initiation of a criminal case and a normal investigation of all the circumstances of the poisoning."
Russian scientist Leonid Rink, who state media say worked on a government-backed programme to develop Novichok, dismissed the possibility that the substance was used on Navalny.
If it had been used on Navalny, Rink told state news agency RIA Novosti, the opposition leader would be dead, not in a coma.
"He would be taking a long rest in the cemetery, that's all there is to it," Rink said.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--‘Everyone Who Can Leave, Will Leave’: Violence, Raids and Internet Blackouts Scare Off Belarus’ Entr

‘Everyone Who Can Leave, Will Leave’: Violence, Raids and Internet Blackouts Scare Off Belarus’ Entrepreneurs

Eight years ago , Anton , a Russian programmer then in his mid-twenties , was lured to Minsk with an unbeatable offer from one of Belarus ’ booming online games companies .
He knew the country ’ s strongman president Alexander Lukashenko was no liberal , but having protested at the Bolotnaya Square demonstrations in Moscow in 2011-12 against Vladimir Putin ’ s return to the Russian presidency and seen the police suppression there , he thought he was prepared for anything .
Two weeks ago he decided to go home to Russia after seeing many of his friends in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained in a brutal crackdown against tens of thousands of protesters who took to streets after Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in disputed presidential elections .
“ The psychological stress was becoming unbearable .
It is very hard to continue working if you feel unsafe , if people around you have been arrested , and if you don ’ t know if you ’ ll be next , ” Anton told The Moscow Times , asking to be referred to only by his first name as he is fearful of repercussions should he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his employer , a large international technology company , started quietly moving employees out of Belarus even before the elections and has accelerated relocations amid the country ’ s largest protests since the break-up of the Soviet Union .
Hundreds of Belarus ’ brightest , most highly skilled and affluent young workers have already left the country — moved temporarily by their companies to a nearby country so they can carry-on working amid internet blackouts and avoid raids and searches by the security services .
Others , as in Anton ’ s case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fearful for their safety .
The saga of Lukashenko ’ s re-election — from the emergence of a unified opposition through a three-day internet shutdown to multiple accounts of police violence and torture — has frightened Belarus ’ fledgling , progressive-minded IT industry and the wider business community in the country , said Katia Glod , non-resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis ( CEPA ) .
“ The middle classes — first of all private businesses — were at the forefront of the protests .
They wanted to achieve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw that the current government ’ s policy had reached a ceiling in terms of business development and that things will not move any further unless there are reforms.
” As Lukashenko seems committed to staying in power , many of them are reconsidering their future in the country .
Assessing the extent of the current exodus is tricky .
Companies are reluctant to broadcast that they are shipping dozens of staff out of the country for fear of raising red flags to the authorities .
Anton said firms were moving staff “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times spoke to last week said they had been told that day they were being moved to Kiev , and were instructed not to speak publicly as it could complicate their departure or draw attention to the company .
But relocations in the IT sector are accelerating , and if Lukashenko holds onto power many are likely to become permanent , said Alexei Kuzmenkov , co-founder of Dutch-Belarusian medtech startup Deepdee , which has an office in Minsk ’ s famous Hi-Tech Park .
He estimated that at least 50 firms in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have already moved some staff out of Belarus , mainly to Ukraine , Russia , Poland or the Baltic states .
“ More than 100 others are still making preparations or thinking about relocating , ” he told The Moscow Times by video call from The Netherlands , where he is based .
After Yandex ’ s offices were raided by Belarus ’ KGB security services and the Russian tech company started moving staff out of Minsk , some felt an irreversible blow had been dealt to the industry .
“ Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will likely not , ” Franak Viacorka , a Belarusian journalist and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council , wrote on Twitter .
“ Companies ’ first concern is employee safety .
You never know if an employee will be able to work tomorrow , ” said Darya Miskevich , a Belarusian IT recruitment and relocation consultant , referring to the possibility of people being arrested or detained in Minsk .
“ The second risk is the internet blackouts .
The internet is being controlled by the regime — and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was a really bad mistake by the authorities to shut down the internet for three days , ” said Daniel Krutzinna , an adviser to former Belarusian prime minister Sergei Rumas who was sacked by Lukashenko in June .
“ For IT companies that depend on a permanent internet connection with their clients abroad , or if it ’ s an office — like with Yandex — that is supporting their Russian operations , it ’ s completely unacceptable .
The internet shutdown might happen again , which is really scaring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really counterproductive to this big effort from Belarus over the last 10 years to significantly build up its IT industry , ” he added .
The internet blackouts , repression in the wake of the vote and Lukashenko ’ s own anti-business rhetoric have prompted many young professionals , business owners and entrepreneurs to consider a permanent departure from Belarus , analysts and insiders say .
“ If Lukashenko stays in power , everyone who can leave , will leave , ” Anton said .
“ I will definitely not go back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the whole industry , but all of my colleagues and friends in the sector said they would leave if Lukashenko stays .
And we ’ re talking about within a matter of a few weeks or months.
” Even if an immediate wave of emigration doesn ’ t materialize , talk of a more sustained ‘ brain drain ’ from Belarus ’ middle classes over the next few years is circulating .
“ If there is no change , then definitely a lot of people will leave .
A lot of founders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple , smart Belarusian people will leave , ” said Miskevich .
Deepdee ’ s Kuzmenkov said that while most of the firms at Belarus ’ Hi-Tech Park would probably remain , the damage to the sector has already been done .
“ Even though they will stay , the investment situation is so broken that we probably won ’ t see any progress in the next five years .
Young , smart people will leave year-by-year .
The economy and businesses will just freeze , or decline .
And the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are really active — those who have founded businesses , for instance .
Our best people will leave.
” Analysts say this scenario is unlikely to concern Lukashenko , who has already signalled he intends to double down on his statist policies .
“ What ’ s likely to follow is a more repressive political environment , which is not something that would be conducive to a positive business environment — especially in the IT sector , ” said Alex Kokcharov , political risk analyst with IHS Markit .
“ I can easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving their bases elsewhere if Lukashenko remains in power.
” “ I don ’ t think that the current government really cares … Power is far more important for Lukashenko than any economic development , ” said Glod .
Even before the election , there were ominous signs .
In June , Lukashenko sacked his prime minister Sergei Rumas — an economically minded figure who had brought a degree of macroeconomic stability to the country and supported reforms — putting members of the siloviki , or secret service , military and security figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When Rumas was prime minister , you had a balance inside the government , ” said Krutzinna , his former adviser .
“ You had quite an educated , economically oriented government with the prime minister and deputy prime minister being quite reform minded .
But with the reshuffle in early June , the government is now mostly people with a military or secret service background … Their priority is control , ” he told The Moscow Times .
On the other hand , should the opposition somehow make a breakthrough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic they may finally be able harness the country ’ s economic potential , which has long been hampered by its Soviet-era industries , heavy state control and weak legal protection for private players .
“ It ’ s very fertile ground .
There is huge potential , and there is a strong desire among many Belarusians abroad to come back to Belarus and invest , ” said Glod .
Both Miskevich and Kuzmenkov — Belarusian entrepreneurs who have relocated to Europe — say they would enthusiastically pour money into a post-Lukashenko Belarus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My family and I will buy accommodation there and invest in businesses there .
And I know lots of people who will do the same , ” said Miskevich .
“ If the regime changes , Belarus has a really good chance of becoming a great IT country and a place of reform .
But if nothing changes , it will be very painful for businesses .
”

Eight years ago, Anton, a Russian programmer then in his mid-twenties, was lured to Minsk with an unbeatable offer from one of Belarus’ booming online games companies. He knew the country’s strongman president Alexander Lukashenko was no liberal, but having protested at the Bolotnaya Square demonstrations in Moscow in 2011-12 against Vladimir Putin’s return to the Russian presidency and seen the police suppression there, he thought he was prepared for anything. Two weeks ago he decided to go home to Russia after seeing many of his friends in the IT sector beaten, threatened and detained in a brutal crackdown against tens of thousands of protesters who took to streets after Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory in disputed presidential elections. “The psychological stress was becoming unbearable. It is very hard to continue working if you feel unsafe, if people around you have been arrested, and if you don’t know if you’ll be next,” Anton told The Moscow Times, asking to be referred to only by his first name as he is fearful of repercussions should he return to Belarus.
He added that his employer, a large international technology company, started quietly moving employees out of Belarus even before the elections and has accelerated relocations amid the country’s largest protests since the break-up of the Soviet Union. Hundreds of Belarus’ brightest, most highly skilled and affluent young workers have already left the country — moved temporarily by their companies to a nearby country so they can carry-on working amid internet blackouts and avoid raids and searches by the security services. Others, as in Anton’s case, have left of their own accord, fearful for their safety. The saga of Lukashenko’s re-election — from the emergence of a unified opposition through a three-day internet shutdown to multiple accounts of police violence and torture — has frightened Belarus’ fledgling, progressive-minded IT industry and the wider business community in the country, said Katia Glod, non-resident fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). “The middle classes — first of all private businesses — were at the forefront of the protests. They wanted to achieve change so much, because they clearly saw that the current government’s policy had reached a ceiling in terms of business development and that things will not move any further unless there are reforms.” As Lukashenko seems committed to staying in power, many of them are reconsidering their future in the country. “Ninja-style” Assessing the extent of the current exodus is tricky. Companies are reluctant to broadcast that they are shipping dozens of staff out of the country for fear of raising red flags to the authorities. Anton said firms were moving staff “ninja-style.” One IT worker The Moscow Times spoke to last week said they had been told that day they were being moved to Kiev, and were instructed not to speak publicly as it could complicate their departure or draw attention to the company. But relocations in the IT sector are accelerating, and if Lukashenko holds onto power many are likely to become permanent, said Alexei Kuzmenkov, co-founder of Dutch-Belarusian medtech startup Deepdee, which has an office in Minsk’s famous Hi-Tech Park. He estimated that at least 50 firms in the Park — more than 10% — have already moved some staff out of Belarus, mainly to Ukraine, Russia, Poland or the Baltic states. “More than 100 others are still making preparations or thinking about relocating,” he told The Moscow Times by video call from The Netherlands, where he is based. After Yandex’s offices were raided by Belarus’ KGB security services and the Russian tech company started moving staff out of Minsk, some felt an irreversible blow had been dealt to the industry. “Even if Lukashenko survives, Belarus’ IT industry will likely not,” Franak Viacorka, a Belarusian journalist and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, wrote on Twitter.
Parts of the Belarusian diaspora — here in London — have come out in support of the protests. Many would be prepared to invest in a post-Lukashenko Belarus, entrepreneurs who have already emigrated told The Moscow Times. PA Wire
“Companies’ first concern is employee safety. You never know if an employee will be able to work tomorrow,” said Darya Miskevich, a Belarusian IT recruitment and relocation consultant, referring to the possibility of people being arrested or detained in Minsk. “The second risk is the internet blackouts. The internet is being controlled by the regime — and it’s chaotic,” she added. “It was a really bad mistake by the authorities to shut down the internet for three days,” said Daniel Krutzinna, an adviser to former Belarusian prime minister Sergei Rumas who was sacked by Lukashenko in June. “For IT companies that depend on a permanent internet connection with their clients abroad, or if it’s an office — like with Yandex — that is supporting their Russian operations, it’s completely unacceptable. The internet shutdown might happen again, which is really scaring the IT community, and it’s really counterproductive to this big effort from Belarus over the last 10 years to significantly build up its IT industry,” he added.
The internet blackouts, repression in the wake of the vote and Lukashenko’s own anti-business rhetoric have prompted many young professionals, business owners and entrepreneurs to consider a permanent departure from Belarus, analysts and insiders say. “If Lukashenko stays in power, everyone who can leave, will leave,” Anton said. “I will definitely not go back. I understand I’m not representative of the whole industry, but all of my colleagues and friends in the sector said they would leave if Lukashenko stays. And we’re talking about within a matter of a few weeks or months.” Even if an immediate wave of emigration doesn’t materialize, talk of a more sustained ‘brain drain’ from Belarus’ middle classes over the next few years is circulating. “If there is no change, then definitely a lot of people will leave. A lot of founders, business owners and just normal, simple, smart Belarusian people will leave,” said Miskevich. Deepdee’s Kuzmenkov said that while most of the firms at Belarus’ Hi-Tech Park would probably remain, the damage to the sector has already been done. “Even though they will stay, the investment situation is so broken that we probably won’t see any progress in the next five years. Young, smart people will leave year-by-year. The economy and businesses will just freeze, or decline. And the people who will leave the country are those who are really active — those who have founded businesses, for instance. Our best people will leave.” Statist policies Analysts say this scenario is unlikely to concern Lukashenko, who has already signalled he intends to double down on his statist policies. “What’s likely to follow is a more repressive political environment, which is not something that would be conducive to a positive business environment — especially in the IT sector,” said Alex Kokcharov, political risk analyst with IHS Markit. “I can easily see a lot of Belarusian IT firms moving their bases elsewhere if Lukashenko remains in power.” “I don’t think that the current government really cares … Power is far more important for Lukashenko than any economic development,” said Glod. Even before the election, there were ominous signs. In June, Lukashenko sacked his prime minister Sergei Rumas — an economically minded figure who had brought a degree of macroeconomic stability to the country and supported reforms — putting members of the siloviki, or secret service, military and security figures, into key government and economic positions. “When Rumas was prime minister, you had a balance inside the government,” said Krutzinna, his former adviser. “You had quite an educated, economically oriented government with the prime minister and deputy prime minister being quite reform minded. But with the reshuffle in early June, the government is now mostly people with a military or secret service background … Their priority is control,” he told The Moscow Times.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Navalny Case Poisons Ties Between Germany, Russia

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced mounting pressure Thursday to toughen her ambivalent stance toward Russia following her announcement that Berlin has `` unequivocal '' proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a deadly nerve agent .
The Navalny case is only the latest in what Berlin has seen as a series of bitter provocations by Russian President Vladimir Putin that have damaged ties and called future cooperation into question .
But German politicians and media said a line had been crossed with the use on Navalny of military-grade Novichok , a poison first developed by the Soviet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War .
Merkel was confronted with insistent calls in particular to abandon the controversial German-Russian energy project Nord Stream 2 , a multi-billion-euro gas pipeline nearing completion that has drawn the ire of U.S. and European partners alike .
`` Diplomatic rituals are no longer enough , '' the head of the German parliament 's foreign affairs committee , Norbert Roettgen , tweeted .
`` After the poisoning of Navalny we need a strong European answer which Putin understands : The EU should jointly decide to stop Nord Stream 2 , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next leader of Merkel 's Christian Democratic Union party .
The top-selling Bild daily issued a full-throated appeal to abandon the pipeline , saying that pursuing it was `` tantamount to us financing Putin 's next Novichok attack '' .

German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced mounting pressure Thursday to toughen her ambivalent stance toward Russia following her announcement that Berlin has "unequivocal" proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a deadly nerve agent. The Navalny case is only the latest in what Berlin has seen as a series of bitter provocations by Russian President Vladimir Putin that have damaged ties and called future cooperation into question. But German politicians and media said a line had been crossed with the use on Navalny of military-grade Novichok, a poison first developed by the Soviet Union towards the end of the Cold War. Merkel was confronted with insistent calls in particular to abandon the controversial German-Russian energy project Nord Stream 2, a multi-billion-euro gas pipeline nearing completion that has drawn the ire of U.S. and European partners alike. "Diplomatic rituals are no longer enough," the head of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, Norbert Roettgen, tweeted. "After the poisoning of Navalny we need a strong European answer which Putin understands: The EU should jointly decide to stop Nord Stream 2," said Roettgen, a candidate to be the next leader of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party. The top-selling Bild daily issued a full-throated appeal to abandon the pipeline, saying that pursuing it was "tantamount to us financing Putin's next Novichok attack".
news Germany Says Kremlin Critic Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok Read more
Bild slammed Merkel for comments last week that Nord Stream 2 should be judged independently from Moscow's actions. "Vladimir Putin views the gas pipeline as an important strategic weapon against Europe and as a vital source of funding for his war against his own people," it said. Navalny fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia last month, with aides saying they suspect he drank a cup of spiked tea at the airport. He was initially treated in a local Russian hospital, where doctors said they were unable to find any toxic substances in his blood, before he was flown to Berlin for specialised treatment on August 22. Navalny's poisoning comes a year after a daylight murder of a former Chechen rebel commander in a Berlin park, which German prosecutors believe was ordered by Russia. Merkel had also revealed in May that Russia had targeted her in hacking attacks, saying she had concrete proof of the "outrageous" spying attempts. Moscow has denied involvement in the string of allegations, with the Kremlin saying Thursday "there is no reason to accuse the Russian state" over Navalny's poisoning. Russia has long been a divisive issue in German politics, and a deterioration in transatlantic ties under US President Donald Trump had revived sentiment that Berlin couldn't afford to alienate Moscow. Wolfgang Ischinger, the head of the Munich Security Conference, often a forum for airing Russian-Western tensions, warned against cutting ties too abruptly. "We can't put up a wall between us and Russia," he told public broadcaster ARD.
news How the World Is Reacting to the News That Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Lukashenko Says 'Intercepted Call' Shows Germany ‘Falsified’ Navalny Poisoning Claims

Germany “ falsified ” its statement that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned , Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko told @ @ @ @ @ minister Thursday , citing an intercepted conversation .
The German government said Wednesday that Navalny @ @ @ @ @ in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator two weeks after falling ill on @ @ @ @ @ with a substance from the deadly Novichok family .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s @ @ @ @ @ has raised the possibility of fresh European sanctions against Moscow .
“ We intercepted a @ @ @ @ @ before Merkel ’ s statement… which clearly states that this is a falsification , ” @ @ @ @ @ Mikhail Mishustin .
“ Navalny was never poisoned , ” Lukashenko said in a televised @ @ @ @ @ channel with reported close ties to his administration .
Lukashenko claimed that Merkel made a @ @ @ @ @ s poisoning “ to discourage [ Russian President Vladimir ] Putin from sticking his nose @ @ @ @ @

Germany “falsified” its statement that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned, Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko told Russia’s visiting prime minister Thursday, citing an intercepted conversation.
The German government said Wednesday that Navalny, 44, who remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator two weeks after falling ill on a flight, was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s demand for answers from Russia has raised the possibility of fresh European sanctions against Moscow.
“We intercepted a conversation between Warsaw and Berlin before Merkel’s statement… which clearly states that this is a falsification,” Lukashenko told Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
“Navalny was never poisoned,” Lukashenko said in a televised meeting shared by a Telegram channel with reported close ties to his administration.
Lukashenko claimed that Merkel made a public announcement about Navalny’s poisoning “to discourage [Russian President Vladimir] Putin from sticking his nose in Belarusian affairs.”


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--A New Russian Law Could Ban Trans People From Officially Changing Their Gender

When Irma Veller , a 44-year-old transgender woman , found out about a new Russian law that would bar transgender people from changing their gender on their birth certificates , she decided it was finally time to leave the country .
“ I understood that my life is of no value here anymore , ” Veller told The Moscow Times last week prior to her departure to seek political asylum in a destination she asked not to be named .
In a country that classifies them as mentally ill , Russian transgender people , who are not even allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But proposed amendments to Russia ’ s Family Code on “ strengthening the institution of the family ” will make their lives even more difficult , activists and rights groups say .
Commonly referred to as “ Mizulina ’ s law ” after Yelena Mizulina , the conservative lawmaker who spearheaded its development , the legislation will be considered by the State Duma , Russia ’ s lower house of parliament , later this month .
In recent years , Mizulina has also successfully lobbied for the notorious 2013 law banning “ gay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to decriminalize domestic violence .
Her latest push to enshrine a traditional understanding of family , which primarily seeks to ban same-sex marriage and adoption , came in July , just days after Russians approved a set of amendments to the Constitution that include a clause defining marriage as a heterosexual union .
But in explicitly banning same-sex marriage and adoption , the amendments go the extra mile by barring transgender people from officially changing their gender .
In this way , rights group say , lawmakers will prevent even heterosexual trans people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birth-assigned gender would make their marriage same-sex on paper .
“ I can ’ t think of any other explanation , ” Tatiana Glushkova , a lawyer with the Transgender Legal Defense Project , said of the decision to ban gender changes .
“ They have a fantasy in their heads that people change their documents in order to enter into a same-sex marriage.
” Critics say the move came as part of a package of sweeteners for traditionalists aimed at strengthening President Vladimir Putin ’ s support going into his third decade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trend of preserving “ traditional family values.
” “ Trans people in Russia already occupied a precarious position vis-à-vis the law , and regressing legal standards further accomplishes nothing but to score cheap political points , ” said Kyle Knight , senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch .
But if for lawmakers the move was a neat trick , the amendments will open up a Pandora ’ s box of complications for the country ’ s transgender people .
For one , besides barring future changes in gender , some transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may even have to return their new birth certificates .
That ’ s because for years in Russia , until the Health Ministry developed a standardized procedure in February 2018 , gender changes were decided on a case-by-case basis .
After receiving the required psychiatric diagnosis , transgender people would visit their local civil registry offices .
But while some offices would immediately make a change to the person ’ s birth certificate on that basis , others would first require the person to get court approval .
According to Glushkova , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were made with court approval , Mizulina ’ s law would render the changes made without court approval void .
If the bill is approved , those people will be required to change their birth certificates back to their originals by Jan. 1 , 2022 .
“ It shows that the lawmakers don ’ t even understand the process involved for changing gender in Russia , ” Glushkova said .
“ These amendments shouldn ’ t be accepted simply on technical grounds , not to mention the human rights violations.
” Rights groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with similar legal flaws that would leave transgender people on uncertain ground in other areas too .
Eva Shteiner , a 40-year-old transgender woman who for years has consulted transgender people on Russia ’ s Family Code , said the amendments , for instance , are not clear on whether they will retroactively annul marriages like hers .
Shteiner , who was assigned male at birth and changed her documents in 2013 , married her wife in 2001 , with whom she is raising four children .
Even before Mizulina ’ s law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage .
But some couples who married abroad were able to register their marriages back home through a legal loophole .
If the law is passed , that loophole would be closed .
There was also previously no law explicitly banning same-sex couples from adopting children , though those couples were exposed to criminal negligence charges under the “ gay propaganda ” law .
That possibility will now be officially barred , too , including for families like Shteiner ’ s .
Yekaterina Messorosh , a trans activist at the St. Petersburg-based T-Action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group has seen a significant increase in calls to their counseling hotline since the law was introduced .

When Irma Veller, a 44-year-old transgender woman, found out about a new Russian law that would bar transgender people from changing their gender on their birth certificates, she decided it was finally time to leave the country. “I understood that my life is of no value here anymore,” Veller told The Moscow Times last week prior to her departure to seek political asylum in a destination she asked not to be named. In a country that classifies them as mentally ill, Russian transgender people, who are not even allowed to drive, have long faced discrimination. But proposed amendments to Russia’s Family Code on “strengthening the institution of the family” will make their lives even more difficult, activists and rights groups say. Commonly referred to as “Mizulina’s law” after Yelena Mizulina, the conservative lawmaker who spearheaded its development, the legislation will be considered by the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, later this month.
In recent years, Mizulina has also successfully lobbied for the notorious 2013 law banning “gay propaganda,” as well as efforts to decriminalize domestic violence. Her latest push to enshrine a traditional understanding of family, which primarily seeks to ban same-sex marriage and adoption, came in July, just days after Russians approved a set of amendments to the Constitution that include a clause defining marriage as a heterosexual union. But in explicitly banning same-sex marriage and adoption, the amendments go the extra mile by barring transgender people from officially changing their gender. In this way, rights group say, lawmakers will prevent even heterosexual trans people from getting married, because their original birth-assigned gender would make their marriage same-sex on paper. “I can’t think of any other explanation,” Tatiana Glushkova, a lawyer with the Transgender Legal Defense Project, said of the decision to ban gender changes. “They have a fantasy in their heads that people change their documents in order to enter into a same-sex marriage.” Critics say the move came as part of a package of sweeteners for traditionalists aimed at strengthening President Vladimir Putin’s support going into his third decade in power, building on a longer trend of preserving “traditional family values.” “Trans people in Russia already occupied a precarious position vis-à-vis the law, and regressing legal standards further accomplishes nothing but to score cheap political points,” said Kyle Knight, senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch.
But if for lawmakers the move was a neat trick, the amendments will open up a Pandora’s box of complications for the country’s transgender people. For one, besides barring future changes in gender, some transgender people who have already made the change may even have to return their new birth certificates. That’s because for years in Russia, until the Health Ministry developed a standardized procedure in February 2018, gender changes were decided on a case-by-case basis. After receiving the required psychiatric diagnosis, transgender people would visit their local civil registry offices. But while some offices would immediately make a change to the person’s birth certificate on that basis, others would first require the person to get court approval. According to Glushkova, while most gender changes prior to February 2018 were made with court approval, Mizulina’s law would render the changes made without court approval void. If the bill is approved, those people will be required to change their birth certificates back to their originals by Jan. 1, 2022. “It shows that the lawmakers don’t even understand the process involved for changing gender in Russia,” Glushkova said. “These amendments shouldn’t be accepted simply on technical grounds, not to mention the human rights violations.”
Rights groups say that the proposed legislation is riddled with similar legal flaws that would leave transgender people on uncertain ground in other areas too. Eva Shteiner, a 40-year-old transgender woman who for years has consulted transgender people on Russia’s Family Code, said the amendments, for instance, are not clear on whether they will retroactively annul marriages like hers. Shteiner, who was assigned male at birth and changed her documents in 2013, married her wife in 2001, with whom she is raising four children. Even before Mizulina’s law, Russia did not formally recognize gay marriage. But some couples who married abroad were able to register their marriages back home through a legal loophole. If the law is passed, that loophole would be closed. There was also previously no law explicitly banning same-sex couples from adopting children, though those couples were exposed to criminal negligence charges under the “gay propaganda” law. That possibility will now be officially barred, too, including for families like Shteiner’s. Yekaterina Messorosh, a trans activist at the St. Petersburg-based T-Action transgender rights group, said that the group has seen a significant increase in calls to their counseling hotline since the law was introduced.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Europeans Turned Off Visiting Russia by High Costs, Low Awareness – Survey

Europeans avoid Russia because of low awareness of the country as a tourist destination and high costs of travel , according to a survey by the Moscow-based NAFI research center .
Two-thirds of those polled told NAFI they had not encountered media information about tourist attractions in Russia .
“ The lack of information contributes to the spread of negative opinions among European tourists about Russia as an unsafe country for travelers , ” the research center said .
“ Low awareness leads to a drop in interest in our country .
Nearly every European talks about lack of interest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” it added .
One-fifth of the European respondents who had plans to visit Russia said they were turned off by high travel expenses .
Another 17 % said they were attracted by “ more interesting destinations , ” while 15 % said Russia was too far away .
Among those who had already visited Russia , most respondents ( 37 % ) said they were turned off by underdeveloped infrastructure and the service sector .
Another 15 % criticized the local population ’ s “ unfriendliness ” and 14 % “ danger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NAFI said the survey was designed to analyze the experiences of foreign travelers in order to “ develop an effective strategy for attracting European travelers ” when coronavirus restrictions are eventually lifted .
NAFI carried out the survey among 2,106 nationals of 27 European countries in late 2019 .
The Boston Consulting Group ’ s 2019 survey obtained similarly negative responses , with international tourists saying they avoid visiting Moscow because they think it ’ s too expensive and unsafe .

Europeans avoid Russia because of low awareness of the country as a tourist destination and high costs of travel, according to a survey by the Moscow-based NAFI research center.
Two-thirds of those polled told NAFI they had not encountered media information about tourist attractions in Russia.
“The lack of information contributes to the spread of negative opinions among European tourists about Russia as an unsafe country for travelers,” the research center said.
“Low awareness leads to a drop in interest in our country. Nearly every European talks about lack of interest in Russia as a travel destination,” it added.
One-fifth of the European respondents who had plans to visit Russia said they were turned off by high travel expenses. Another 17% said they were attracted by “more interesting destinations,” while 15% said Russia was too far away.
Among those who had already visited Russia, most respondents (37%) said they were turned off by underdeveloped infrastructure and the service sector. Another 15% criticized the local population’s “unfriendliness” and 14% “danger in traveling,” NAFI said.
NAFI said the survey was designed to analyze the experiences of foreign travelers in order to “develop an effective strategy for attracting European travelers” when coronavirus restrictions are eventually lifted.
NAFI carried out the survey among 2,106 nationals of 27 European countries in late 2019.
The Boston Consulting Group’s 2019 survey obtained similarly negative responses, with international tourists saying they avoid visiting Moscow because they think it’s too expensive and unsafe.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Almost All Arctic Wildfires Producing Record CO2 Emissions Are in Russia – EU

This year 's Arctic Circle wildfires , still ablaze , have already surpassed the record set in 2019 for CO2 emissions , adding to the carbon pollution humanity needs to curtail , the European Union 's Earth observation program said Thursday .
Uncontrolled forest fires across one of the planet 's coldest regions has sent a quarter of a billion tonnes of CO2 spiraling into the atmosphere since January this year , topping by more than a third the total for 2019 , according to satellite data .
Almost all of the fires are in Russia , the EU 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts jointly reported .
Russia 's Eastern Federal District , which includes parts of the Arctic Circle , emitted more than half-a-billion tonnes of CO2 from June to August 2020 , also the highest amount to date .
`` The Arctic fires burning since mid-June with high activity have already beaten 2019 's record in terms of scale and intensity , '' said CAMS senior scientist Mark Parrington .
While satellite images do not reveal how these fires start , many of the blazes early in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused by `` zombie '' fires that smolder through the winter and then reignite , he said .
Freakishly warm weather across large swathes of Siberia since January combined with low soil moisture — likely consequences of global warming — have fuelled the flames .
Siberia and the Arctic Circle are prone to large year-on-year temperature fluctuations , but the persistence of this year 's warm spell is unusual , Carlo Buontempo , director of the EU 's Copernicus Climate Change Service noted last month .
`` What is worrisome is that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world , '' he said .
In both polar regions , average temperatures have risen more than two degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century , mostly in the last 50 years .
That is twice the global average .
Worldwide , CO2 emissions from fires have averaged about seven billion tonnes a year since 2000 , and were even higher in the 1990s , according to Copernicus .
But humanity 's output of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels — 37 billion tonnes last year — has increased by nearly 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pulgar-Vidal , who heads up WWF 's climate and energy work , said it was clear that the planet was facing an `` emergency '' .
`` We need a cohesive global response to limit the worst impacts of climate change , and to help improve public health and protect the places we live , '' he said .
`` Current commitments by governments to fight climate change are completely inadequate , and could lead to an Arctic that is 10 degrees Celsius warmer than it is today . ''
Out-of-control wildfires in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been fanned by high winds and heatwave conditions , according to CAMS , which tracks fires around the globe .
And the number of fires in Brazil 's Amazon basin last month were at their second highest level in a decade , according to official figures released this week .

This year's Arctic Circle wildfires, still ablaze, have already surpassed the record set in 2019 for CO2 emissions, adding to the carbon pollution humanity needs to curtail, the European Union's Earth observation program said Thursday. Uncontrolled forest fires across one of the planet's coldest regions has sent a quarter of a billion tonnes of CO2 spiraling into the atmosphere since January this year, topping by more than a third the total for 2019, according to satellite data. The Arctic Circle includes latitudes upwards of 66 degrees North. Almost all of the fires are in Russia, the EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts jointly reported. Russia's Eastern Federal District, which includes parts of the Arctic Circle, emitted more than half-a-billion tonnes of CO2 from June to August 2020, also the highest amount to date. "The Arctic fires burning since mid-June with high activity have already beaten 2019's record in terms of scale and intensity," said CAMS senior scientist Mark Parrington.
news 2020 Arctic Wildfires Emissions So Far Surpass All of 2019 Read more
While satellite images do not reveal how these fires start, many of the blazes early in the summer are thought to have been caused by "zombie" fires that smolder through the winter and then reignite, he said. Freakishly warm weather across large swathes of Siberia since January combined with low soil moisture — likely consequences of global warming — have fuelled the flames. Arctic warming Siberia and the Arctic Circle are prone to large year-on-year temperature fluctuations, but the persistence of this year's warm spell is unusual, Carlo Buontempo, director of the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service noted last month. "What is worrisome is that the Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world," he said. In both polar regions, average temperatures have risen more than two degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century, mostly in the last 50 years. That is twice the global average. Worldwide, CO2 emissions from fires have averaged about seven billion tonnes a year since 2000, and were even higher in the 1990s, according to Copernicus. But humanity's output of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels — 37 billion tonnes last year — has increased by nearly 50 percent over the same period. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, who heads up WWF's climate and energy work, said it was clear that the planet was facing an "emergency".
news Rosneft Head Gifts Putin With Bottle of Arctic Oil Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Russia Plans to Resume Egypt, UAE, Maldives Flights Amid Pandemic

Russia has added Egypt , the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives to the list of countries it plans to @ @ @ @ @ after closing its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic , a government decree said Thursday @ @ @ @ @ flights in late March to slow the spread of Covid-19 .
Russia gradually lifted travel @ @ @ @ @ , Switzerland and Tanzania starting in August .
The decree , signed by Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ air travel with Egypt , the UAE and the Maldives will resume “ on a @ @ @ @ @ that the three countries will need to accept Russian citizens in order for Russia to @ @ @

Russia has added Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives to the list of countries it plans to restart flights with five months after closing its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic, a government decree said Thursday.
Russia grounded most international flights in late March to slow the spread of Covid-19. Russia gradually lifted travel restrictions to Britain, Turkey, Switzerland and Tanzania starting in August.
The decree, signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, states that air travel with Egypt, the UAE and the Maldives will resume “on a reciprocal basis.” It means that the three countries will need to accept Russian citizens in order for Russia to accept theirs.