themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--Russia’s 2nd Potential Coronavirus Vaccine Nears Approval

The Siberia-based Vektor State Virology and Biotechnology Center concluded Phase 2 trials on 100 volunteers last week , with results due to be published Wednesday .
Volunteers were said to be “ feeling good ” after taking the peptide-based jab called EpiVacCorona .
Russia ’ s second candidate vaccine against the coronavirus is less than a month away from state approval after completing small-scale human trials , the vaccine ’ s developers have said this week .
The Russian government plans to approve EpiVacCorona sometime around Oct. 15 , Interfax reported , after which Vektor will begin large-scale trials on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimates that EpiVacCorona will require booster doses every three years .
“ After the vaccination cycle , the next revaccination will be required no more than once every three years , ” Maksyutov said in a preview of a state television documentary about Covid-19 vaccines published Thursday .
Russia ’ s first coronavirus vaccine , Sputnik V , was the first in the world to receive government approval last month , and large-scale post-registration trials are currently underway on 40,000 volunteers .
Its developer has said that booster shots for Sputnik V would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s number of new Covid-19 cases has seen a gradual rise from below 5,000 per day in mid-to-late August to more than 6,000 in the past five days .
More than 1.12 million cases have been officially confirmed in Russia , the fourth-highest number of infections in the world .
The Vektor laboratory complex , based in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk , conducted secret biological weapons research in the Soviet era and stockpiles viruses ranging from Ebola to smallpox .

The Siberia-based Vektor State Virology and Biotechnology Center concluded Phase 2 trials on 100 volunteers last week, with results due to be published Wednesday. Volunteers were said to be “feeling good” after taking the peptide-based jab called EpiVacCorona.
Russia’s second candidate vaccine against the coronavirus is less than a month away from state approval after completing small-scale human trials, the vaccine’s developers have said this week.
The Russian government plans to approve EpiVacCorona sometime around Oct. 15, Interfax reported, after which Vektor will begin large-scale trials on 5,000 volunteers.
Vektor head Rinat Maksyutov estimates that EpiVacCorona will require booster doses every three years.
“After the vaccination cycle, the next revaccination will be required no more than once every three years,” Maksyutov said in a preview of a state television documentary about Covid-19 vaccines published Thursday.
Russia’s first coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, was the first in the world to receive government approval last month, and large-scale post-registration trials are currently underway on 40,000 volunteers. Its developer has said that booster shots for Sputnik V would be required every two years.
Russia’s number of new Covid-19 cases has seen a gradual rise from below 5,000 per day in mid-to-late August to more than 6,000 in the past five days.
More than 1.12 million cases have been officially confirmed in Russia, the fourth-highest number of infections in the world.
The Vektor laboratory complex, based in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, conducted secret biological weapons research in the Soviet era and stockpiles viruses ranging from Ebola to smallpox.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--Jailed U.S. Investor Calvey Denied MRI Scan for Cancer Treatment – FT

Lawyers for Calvey , who was detained last February on embezzlement charges that he says are being used to pressure him in a business dispute , revealed in June that he had a malignant tumor in his leg .
While the court allowed him to seek treatment at a private hospital , his appeal for an early house arrest release was rejected .
Russian investigators refused to allow jailed U.S. investor Michael Calvey to remove his electronic ankle bracelet in order to undergo an MRI scan required for cancer treatment , the Financial Times reported Thursday .
In the absence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remove the tumor using an outdated method that required Calvey to undergo an additional round of radiation therapy , the FT reported , citing unnamed sources .
Calvey ’ s cancer is reportedly in remission following the treatment .
The investor was detained alongside five other executives of Russia ’ s largest foreign-funded equity group Baring Vostok on accusations of embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ( $ 36.4 million ) .
The case , which the defendants say is an attempt to pressure them in a business dispute over control of mid-sized bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business and foreign investment communities .
According to information obtained by the Financial Times , backchannel efforts to lobby Kremlin officials and security forces to reduce the charges against the defendants have stalled in recent weeks , leaving little hope for Calvey ’ s early release .

Lawyers for Calvey, who was detained last February on embezzlement charges that he says are being used to pressure him in a business dispute, revealed in June that he had a malignant tumor in his leg. While the court allowed him to seek treatment at a private hospital, his appeal for an early house arrest release was rejected.
Russian investigators refused to allow jailed U.S. investor Michael Calvey to remove his electronic ankle bracelet in order to undergo an MRI scan required for cancer treatment, the Financial Times reported Thursday.
In the absence of MRI results, doctors were forced to remove the tumor using an outdated method that required Calvey to undergo an additional round of radiation therapy, the FT reported, citing unnamed sources.
Calvey’s cancer is reportedly in remission following the treatment.
The investor was detained alongside five other executives of Russia’s largest foreign-funded equity group Baring Vostok on accusations of embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ($36.4 million).
The case, which the defendants say is an attempt to pressure them in a business dispute over control of mid-sized bank Vostochny, has rattled Russia’s business and foreign investment communities.
According to information obtained by the Financial Times, backchannel efforts to lobby Kremlin officials and security forces to reduce the charges against the defendants have stalled in recent weeks, leaving little hope for Calvey’s early release.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--New Virus Cases in Moscow Climb to June Levels

The caseload increase had remained relatively stable in the capital at around 700 per day for several months , but the numbers began to climb again from Sept. 15 .
New coronavirus cases in Moscow on Thursday reached the highest level since late June , raising fears of a new wave of cases in the world 's fourth most affected country .
On Thursday , the capital recorded 1,050 new cases , the highest figure since June 23 .
Russia as a whole confirmed 6,595 new cases , the highest figure since July 12 .
The government virus website said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The highest numbers of new cases are in Moscow , its surrounding region and the second-largest city of St. Petersburg .
Russia 's total number of recorded cases reached 1,128,836 on Thursday with a death toll of 19,948 .
Russia has prided itself on registering the world 's first coronavirus vaccine , Sputnik V , although it is still undergoing large-scale clinical trials after promising results in early trials .
Numerous high-profile figures including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin have already had the vaccine .
President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations general assembly this week , offered to inoculate those working there for free .
He earlier said that one of his daughters had been vaccinated .

The caseload increase had remained relatively stable in the capital at around 700 per day for several months, but the numbers began to climb again from Sept. 15.
New coronavirus cases in Moscow on Thursday reached the highest level since late June, raising fears of a new wave of cases in the world's fourth most affected country.
On Thursday, the capital recorded 1,050 new cases, the highest figure since June 23.
Russia as a whole confirmed 6,595 new cases, the highest figure since July 12. The government virus website said that 24% had no clinical symptoms.
The highest numbers of new cases are in Moscow, its surrounding region and the second-largest city of St. Petersburg.
Russia's total number of recorded cases reached 1,128,836 on Thursday with a death toll of 19,948.
Russia has prided itself on registering the world's first coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, although it is still undergoing large-scale clinical trials after promising results in early trials.
Numerous high-profile figures including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin have already had the vaccine.
President Vladimir Putin, in a speech to the United Nations general assembly this week, offered to inoculate those working there for free.
He earlier said that one of his daughters had been vaccinated.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--TikTok Admits to Deleting Russian Videos at Government's Request

Nearly 300 pieces of content were taken down or restricted at the Russian government 's request .
The transparency report does not specify what types of content were restricted .
The Chinese-owned app removed or restricted nearly 700 videos worldwide following government requests between Jan. 1-June 30 , according to its latest transparency report published this week .
TikTok has deleted hundreds of Russian videos at the government 's request since the start of 2020 , the popular short video app ’ s European policy executive said this week .
“ I think the Russian law is terrible and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voice that on the platform , ” TikTok ’ s director of government relations and public policy in Europe , Theo Bertram , told British lawmakers in response to a question on whether TikTok 's content moderation complies with the laws of “ homophobic , regressive ” regimes .
“ But unfortunately we have to comply with the legal requests in the country we operate , ” Bertram said Tuesday in the British parliament ’ s digital and media committee hearing .
A TikTok representative in Russia denied that the platform took down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying the deleted and restricted videos “ have nothing to do with LGBT people.
” TikTok pledged to cooperate with Russian authorities in the summer of 2019 after Russia ’ s state media regulator announced a probe into whether the app distributed child pornography or other banned content .
Overall , TikTok said in its transparency report that it banned more than 104 million videos that violated its policies , including adult nudity , suicide , drug use and hate speech .

Nearly 300 pieces of content were taken down or restricted at the Russian government's request. The transparency report does not specify what types of content were restricted.
The Chinese-owned app removed or restricted nearly 700 videos worldwide following government requests between Jan. 1-June 30, according to its latest transparency report published this week.
TikTok has deleted hundreds of Russian videos at the government's request since the start of 2020, the popular short video app’s European policy executive said this week.
“I think the Russian law is terrible and our community does too, and they strongly voice that on the platform,” TikTok’s director of government relations and public policy in Europe, Theo Bertram, told British lawmakers in response to a question on whether TikTok's content moderation complies with the laws of “homophobic, regressive” regimes.
“But unfortunately we have to comply with the legal requests in the country we operate,” Bertram said Tuesday in the British parliament’s digital and media committee hearing.
A TikTok representative in Russia denied that the platform took down LGBT content at the government's request, saying the deleted and restricted videos “have nothing to do with LGBT people.”
TikTok pledged to cooperate with Russian authorities in the summer of 2019 after Russia’s state media regulator announced a probe into whether the app distributed child pornography or other banned content.
Overall, TikTok said in its transparency report that it banned more than 104 million videos that violated its policies, including adult nudity, suicide, drug use and hate speech.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-24--Russia’s Coronavirus Drug to Be Sold in 23 Countries

Avifavir , manufactured by Russia ’ s ChemRar biotechnology firm , was the world ’ s first drug to be registered for coronavirus treatment .
Belarus , Bolivia , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan already sell Avifavir , though it remains unavailable to Russian consumers as production is mostly export-oriented .
Russia ’ s coronavirus treatment drug Avifavir will be made available in 17 more countries in addition to the six countries where it is already sold , Russia ’ s sovereign wealth fund said in a statement Thursday .
EU members Bulgaria and Slovakia , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arabia , the UAE and several Latin American countries , are among the latest countries to receive supplies of the drug , the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) 's statement said .
Russia has rolled out a total of three coronavirus treatment drugs , two of which became available in pharmacies across the country starting this week .
All coronavirus drugs produced in Russia are variants of favipiravir , the generic version of an anti-flu medication developed by Japan ’ s Fujifilm in 2014 .
Favipiravir has been shown to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trials .
Fujifilm said Wednesday that it would seek the drug ’ s regulatory approval in Japan next month after the latest trials for Covid-19 treatment yielded statistically significant results .
Fujifilm ’ s efforts to get the drug approved for coronavirus treatment were delayed after its initial trials were deemed “ inconclusive ” due to a lack of tested patients .
Russian President Vladimir hailed Russia ’ s efforts in the fight against Covid-19 in an address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday , extending an invitation for partnership over Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sputnik V ’ s developers , 20 countries have already pre-ordered supplies of the vaccine , including India , Saudi Arabia , the Philippines and Brazil .
Large-scale clinical trials of the Russian coronavirus vaccine are yet to be completed .

Avifavir, manufactured by Russia’s ChemRar biotechnology firm, was the world’s first drug to be registered for coronavirus treatment. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan already sell Avifavir, though it remains unavailable to Russian consumers as production is mostly export-oriented.
Russia’s coronavirus treatment drug Avifavir will be made available in 17 more countries in addition to the six countries where it is already sold, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund said in a statement Thursday.
EU members Bulgaria and Slovakia, as well as Serbia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and several Latin American countries, are among the latest countries to receive supplies of the drug, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)'s statement said.
Russia has rolled out a total of three coronavirus treatment drugs, two of which became available in pharmacies across the country starting this week.
All coronavirus drugs produced in Russia are variants of favipiravir, the generic version of an anti-flu medication developed by Japan’s Fujifilm in 2014. Favipiravir has been shown to reduce recovery time for the virus in clinical trials.
Fujifilm said Wednesday that it would seek the drug’s regulatory approval in Japan next month after the latest trials for Covid-19 treatment yielded statistically significant results. Fujifilm’s efforts to get the drug approved for coronavirus treatment were delayed after its initial trials were deemed “inconclusive” due to a lack of tested patients.
Russian President Vladimir hailed Russia’s efforts in the fight against Covid-19 in an address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, extending an invitation for partnership over Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
According to Sputnik V’s developers, 20 countries have already pre-ordered supplies of the vaccine, including India, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines and Brazil.
Large-scale clinical trials of the Russian coronavirus vaccine are yet to be completed.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-25--Putin Proposes Election Non-Interference Pact With U.S.

Western countries have for years accused Russia of using hackers and internet trolls to sway the outcome of elections , and U.S. intelligence officials have said that it is once again manipulating social media in favor of Donald Trump as it did in 2016 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday concluding a pact with the United States against interfering in one another 's elections , just weeks before the U.S. heads to the polls .
In a Kremlin statement , Putin called for the two countries to `` exchange guarantees of non-interference in each others ' domestic affairs including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information and communication technologies . ''
He also called for a global pact agreeing not to use such methods to deal `` the first blow '' in conflicts .
In addition to interfering in U.S. politics , a hacking group believed linked to Russian intelligence services was accused by British officials of trying to steal information on coronavirus vaccines .
The British government this year also accused `` Russian actors '' of seeking to disrupt the 2019 general election by circulating leaked trade documents between London and Washington .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her in hacking attacks , saying she had concrete proof of the `` outrageous '' spying attempts .
The Kremlin has denied allegations of election meddling and interference and instead accused the Western leaders of waging a disinformation campaign against Russia .

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov read out Putin's statement in a video released by the ministry, while the Kremlin chief was visiting massive military drills involving China and Iran in southern Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday concluding a pact with Washington against interfering in one another's elections and internal affairs, just weeks before the U.S. hosts a divisive presidential vote.
Western countries have for years accused Russia of using hackers and internet trolls to sway the outcome of elections, and U.S. intelligence officials have said that Moscow is once again manipulating social media in favor of Donald Trump as it did in 2016.
Putin's proposal for a non-interference pact in cyberspace came amid Kremlin accusations that Western countries are mounting a "disinformation" campaign against Russia over the poisoning last month of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Siberia.
In his statement, Putin called for the two countries to "exchange guarantees of non-interference in each others' domestic affairs including elections," and particularly noted the use of "information and communication technologies."
He also called for a global pact agreeing not to use such methods to deal "the first blow" in conflicts.
"One of today's major strategic challenges is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital field," the Russian leader said.
"A special responsibility for its prevention lies on the key players in the field of ensuring international information security," he added.
He also suggested that Moscow and Washington strike a deal to prevent cyberspace incidents, comparing that to a 1972 Soviet-American agreement to reduce the possibility of an incident at sea or in the air and an escalation in tensions.
He added that dialogue should be restored between Russian and U.S. officials on key issues of international information security.
Professional dialogue should not become "hostage to our political disagreements," Putin said.
U.S. President Donald Trump last week attacked his FBI director Christopher Wray for highlighting the threat posed by Russia in the upcoming Nov. 3 election.
Trump, whose campaign had murky ties to Russian operatives offering assistance during his 2016 victory against Hillary Clinton, has repeatedly criticized his intelligence officials who consistently say that Moscow still poses the chief danger.
In addition to interfering in U.S. politics, a hacking group believed linked to Russian intelligence services was accused by British officials of trying to steal information on coronavirus vaccines.
The British government this year also accused "Russian actors" of seeking to disrupt the 2019 general election by circulating leaked trade documents between London and Washington.
'Disinformation campaign'
Lavrov said Friday that over the past few years Russia has been accused of undermining U.S. elections and "the entire domestic political system."
"As we've repeatedly said, there is no basis for such statements," he added. "We are in favor of professional and constructive discussion of all existing problems" through negotiations, Russia's top diplomat said.
The Kremlin has repeatedly brushed off all allegations of election meddling and interference and instead accused Western leaders of waging a disinformation war against Russia.
This week, its Foreign Ministry accused European countries of "unleashing a massive disinformation campaign" over the poisoning of Navalny, whose allies say he was targeted with Novichok in a state-sanctioned attack last month.
Labs in Germany, France and Sweden have said they confirmed that the 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner was poisoned with the Soviet military-grade nerve agent.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-25--Russia’s Coronavirus Vaccine Delivers Immunity After First Dose – Developer

Sputnik V is an adenovirus-based vector vaccine that is administered in two doses .
President Vladimir Putin last month hailed it as the world ’ s first registered coronavirus vaccine , though large-scale trials to prove its safety and effectiveness have only recently started in Moscow and small batches are being distributed across Russian regions .
Russia ’ s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine confers immunity among some recipients after the first shot , its developer has said in an interview with state media Friday .
Alexander Gintsburg , the head of Moscow ’ s state-run Gamaleya research institute that developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news agency that developing immunity for Covid-19 depends on individual reactions to both the vaccine and the infection .
“ For some , the protective level of antibodies is produced after the first vaccination and they need the second one to extend that protection .
They will likely be protected two weeks after the first vaccination , ” he said .
Gintsburg noted that while no volunteers have become infected between the two shots , he did not rule out that risk .
“ If there is [ an infection between the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occur in a weaker form , ” he said .
There are “ no grounds ” for vaccine recipients to self-isolate or limit contacts , Gintsburg added .
Gintsburg , 68 , has said he received the adenoviral vector-based vaccine himself .
Previously , the microbiologist noted that booster shots for Sputnik V would be required every two years .
Russia has seen a growing number of daily Covid-19 infections in September following two months of new cases falling below 5,000 .
On Friday , Russia confirmed more than 7,000 new infections for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials maintain that Russia is still battling its first wave of the virus , not the second .
Overall , the country has the world ’ s fourth-highest number of infections at 1.13 million .

Sputnik V is an adenovirus-based vector vaccine that is administered in two doses. President Vladimir Putin last month hailed it as the world’s first registered coronavirus vaccine, though large-scale trials to prove its safety and effectiveness have only recently started in Moscow and small batches are being distributed across Russian regions.
Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine confers immunity among some recipients after the first shot, its developer has said in an interview with state media Friday.
Alexander Gintsburg, the head of Moscow’s state-run Gamaleya research institute that developed Sputnik V, told the RIA Novosti news agency that developing immunity for Covid-19 depends on individual reactions to both the vaccine and the infection.
“For some, the protective level of antibodies is produced after the first vaccination and they need the second one to extend that protection. They will likely be protected two weeks after the first vaccination,” he said.
Gintsburg noted that while no volunteers have become infected between the two shots, he did not rule out that risk.
“If there is [an infection between the first and second shots], it will occur in a weaker form,” he said.
There are “no grounds” for vaccine recipients to self-isolate or limit contacts, Gintsburg added.
Gintsburg, 68, has said he received the adenoviral vector-based vaccine himself. Previously, the microbiologist noted that booster shots for Sputnik V would be required every two years.
Russia has seen a growing number of daily Covid-19 infections in September following two months of new cases falling below 5,000. On Friday, Russia confirmed more than 7,000 new infections for the first time since late June.
Officials maintain that Russia is still battling its first wave of the virus, not the second.
Overall, the country has the world’s fourth-highest number of infections at 1.13 million.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-25--Russia Counts Over 7K New Coronavirus Cases

Overall , the country ’ s official number of cases has reached 1,136,048 , the fourth-highest number of infections in the world .
Russia confirmed 7,212 coronavirus infections Friday , the first time in three months that its daily caseload crossed the 7,000 mark .
The last time Russia recorded more than 7,000 new coronavirus infections was on June 25 , when the total caseload was around half of the current total .
The highest numbers of new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Moscow ( 1,560 ) and St. Petersburg ( 240 ) , the national coronavirus task force said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also passed the 20,000 mark with 108 fatalities confirmed Friday , the task force said .
Separate figures published by Russia ’ s state statistics agency suggest a much higher number of coronavirus deaths .
Officials have continued to reassure the public that Russia will not go into a full lockdown as it did in spring despite persistent rumors .
Earlier Friday , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin ordered elderly residents and those suffering from chronic diseases to stay home and limit contacts starting Monday .
He urged the city ’ s businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remote work to prevent the further spread of Covid-19 .
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told regional leaders that he “ really wouldn ’ t like to return to the restrictive measures we introduced this spring .
”

Overall, the country’s official number of cases has reached 1,136,048, the fourth-highest number of infections in the world.
Russia confirmed 7,212 coronavirus infections Friday, the first time in three months that its daily caseload crossed the 7,000 mark.
The last time Russia recorded more than 7,000 new coronavirus infections was on June 25, when the total caseload was around half of the current total.
The highest numbers of new Covid-19 cases were recorded in Moscow (1,560) and St. Petersburg (240), the national coronavirus task force said in its daily update.
Deaths nationwide have also passed the 20,000 mark with 108 fatalities confirmed Friday, the task force said. Separate figures published by Russia’s state statistics agency suggest a much higher number of coronavirus deaths.
Officials have continued to reassure the public that Russia will not go into a full lockdown as it did in spring despite persistent rumors.
Earlier Friday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin ordered elderly residents and those suffering from chronic diseases to stay home and limit contacts starting Monday. He urged the city’s businesses to shift as many employees as possible to remote work to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told regional leaders that he “really wouldn’t like to return to the restrictive measures we introduced this spring.”


themoscowtimes--2020-09-25--Gorbachev Backs Belarus Opposition Protesters

His statement came the day after Lukashenko was sworn into office in a secret ceremony following more than a month of unprecedented protests against his disputed re-election on Aug. 9 .
Mikhail Gorbachev , the last leader of the Soviet Union , voiced his support for the Belarusian opposition Thursday as the country continues to see mass protests against long-serving strongman Alexander Lukashenko .
“ I respect the Republic [ of Belarus ] and love the Belarusian people ...
They have now shown their true strong character — that ’ s very good , ” Gorbachev , 89 , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlet .
The ex-Soviet leader said that he is closely following the developments in Belarus and described the mass arrests of protesters on the day of Lukashenko ’ s secret inauguration as “ devilish.
” Gorbachev voiced hope that protesters ’ efforts will be rewarded , but acknowledged that there is still a lot of work left to do .
“ There is a colossal amount of work ahead… All of it is for the current youth to take on.
” The European Union , United States and Ukraine have said they recognize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor Lukashenko ’ s inauguration .
In turn , Lukashenko has been publicly backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping .

His statement came the day after Lukashenko was sworn into office in a secret ceremony following more than a month of unprecedented protests against his disputed re-election on Aug. 9.
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, voiced his support for the Belarusian opposition Thursday as the country continues to see mass protests against long-serving strongman Alexander Lukashenko.
“I respect the Republic [of Belarus] and love the Belarusian people...They have now shown their true strong character — that’s very good,” Gorbachev, 89, said in an interview with the Podyom media outlet.
The ex-Soviet leader said that he is closely following the developments in Belarus and described the mass arrests of protesters on the day of Lukashenko’s secret inauguration as “devilish.”
Gorbachev voiced hope that protesters’ efforts will be rewarded, but acknowledged that there is still a lot of work left to do.
“There is a colossal amount of work ahead… All of it is for the current youth to take on.”
The European Union, United States and Ukraine have said they recognize neither the Aug. 9 presidential election results nor Lukashenko’s inauguration.
In turn, Lukashenko has been publicly backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.