themoscowtimes--2020-08-15--Russia's Official Coronavirus Cases Continue to Slow

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

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


themoscowtimes--2020-08-15--Belarus Strongman Says Putin Ready to 'Help Ensure Security'

President Alexander Lukashenko said Saturday that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has offered full assistance to ensure security in Belarus as thousands held peaceful protests against his rule .
`` To talk about the military element , we have an agreement with Russia as part of the union state and the Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) .
Such situations fall under that agreement , '' Lukashenko told defense chiefs , quoted by Belta state news agency .
`` I had a long , substantial conversation today with the Russian president ... We agreed that at our very first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure the security of Belarus . ''
Belarus and Russia have formed a `` union state '' linking their economies and militaries , while the CSTO is a military alliance between six ex-Soviet states .
Lukashenko had a phone conversation with Putin earlier Saturday and the Kremlin said the leaders `` expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon '' .
Russia has been the only neighbor of Belarus to back Lukashenko during the mass protests that have gained growing support from Belarusians and drawn international condemnation @ @ @ @ @ @

President Alexander Lukashenko said Saturday that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has offered full assistance to ensure security in Belarus as thousands held peaceful protests against his rule.
"To talk about the military element, we have an agreement with Russia as part of the union state and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Such situations fall under that agreement," Lukashenko told defense chiefs, quoted by Belta state news agency.
"I had a long, substantial conversation today with the Russian president... We agreed that at our very first request, comprehensive help will be given to ensure the security of Belarus."
Belarus and Russia have formed a "union state" linking their economies and militaries, while the CSTO is a military alliance between six ex-Soviet states.
Lukashenko had a phone conversation with Putin earlier Saturday and the Kremlin said the leaders "expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon."
Russia has been the only neighbor of Belarus to back Lukashenko during the mass protests that have gained growing support from Belarusians and drawn international condemnation of police violence and vote-rigging.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-16--Lukashenko Urges Supporters to Defend Belarus Independence

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday spoke in front of a crowd of supporters at a rally in central Minsk @ @ @ @ @ country and its independence .
As mass protests continued against his rule , Lukashenko spoke @ @ @ @ @ Square , telling supporters : `` I called you here not to defend me ... @ @ @ @ @ in a quarter-century , to defend your country and its independence . ''
`` If @ @ @ @ @ we will go into a tailspin and will never stabilize our aircraft , '' he @ @ @ @ @ perish as a state , as a people , as a nation , '' he @ @ @ @ @ stood nearby with his teenage son Nikolai .
Lukashenko called the rally ahead as the @ @ @ @ @ `` March of Freedom '' protests and tens of thousands gathered in Minsk .

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday spoke in front of a crowd of supporters at a rally in central Minsk asking them to defend the country and its independence.
As mass protests continued against his rule, Lukashenko spoke on the capital's Independence Square, telling supporters: "I called you here not to defend me... but for the first time in a quarter-century, to defend your country and its independence."
"If we kowtow to them, we will go into a tailspin and will never stabilize our aircraft," he said.
"We will perish as a state, as a people, as a nation," he said, as security staff stood nearby with his teenage son Nikolai.
Lukashenko called the rally ahead as the opposition movement called for nationwide "March of Freedom" protests and tens of thousands gathered in Minsk.
On a nearby street, his opponents shouted "Leave!"


themoscowtimes--2020-08-16--Belarus Opposition to 'March for Freedom' a Week After Disputed Vote

The Kremlin said only that the leaders had agreed in a phone call that the `` problems '' in Belarus would be `` resolved soon , '' with no mention of specific support for Lukashenko .
Facing the biggest challenge of his 26 years in power , Lukashenko said on Saturday he had won support from Russian President Vladimir Putin who promised help to `` ensure the security of Belarus . ''
The opposition in Belarus hopes to bring thousands to the streets of the capital for a `` March for Freedom '' on Sunday , a week after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Alexander Lukashenko .
The Belarusian strongman , who has ruled his ex-Soviet country with an iron grip since 1994 , is under increasing pressure from the streets and abroad over his claim to have won re-election last Sunday with 80 % of the vote .
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to denounce the result and support the main opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other potential candidates including her husband were jailed .
A violent police crackdown on protesters has seen more 6,700 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people dead .
From exile in Lithuania , where she fled on Tuesday , Tikhanovskaya called for a weekend of peaceful rallies including Sunday 's march in Minsk on the one-week anniversary of the vote .
The opposition has called for one of the biggest rallies yet in defiance of Lukashenko , who has dismissed protesters as foreign-controlled `` sheep '' and criminals .
A rival pro-Lukashenko rally was also called for midday in Independence Square in central Minsk and a few hundred people had gathered , waving Belarusian flags and chanting `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko ! ''
Svetlana Gordienko , a 55-year-old French teacher , told AFP she attended the rally `` because Belarus has been stable for the last 26 years . ''
`` We have n't lived so badly , we raised the country from ruins , restored everything , '' she said .
`` Everything works , just go to work . ''
There were reports of workers being required to attend the demonstration or risk losing their jobs and supporters being bussed in from outside the city .
An AFP journalist counted 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ square .
On Friday hundreds of workers at state-run factories walked off the job in protest at the election , in a first sign that Lukashenko 's traditional support base was turning against him .
Thousands of opposition supporters demonstrated in Minsk on Saturday , with many gathering at the spot where a 34-year-old protester died during unrest on Monday .
Demonstrators heaped flowers at the spot and the crowd chanted `` Thank you ! ''
and raised victory signs .
Many held up photographs of protesters beaten during the crackdown , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purple bruises on his thighs , buttocks and back .
Amnesty International has accused authorities of carrying out `` a campaign of widespread torture '' to crush the opposition .
Some protesters said they feared a Russian intervention on Lukashenko 's behalf .
`` It 's obvious that our president ca n't deal with his own people any more , he 's seeking help in the east , '' said Alexei Linich , a 27-year-old programmer .
`` If Russia intervenes , that would be the worst .
I 'm really afraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a landscape designer .
Thousands also protested on Saturday evening outside the Belarusian state television centre , complaining that their broadcasts backed Lukashenko and gave a skewed picture of the protests .
Around 100 staff came out of the building to join the crowd , and said they planned a strike on Monday .
European governments have condemned the election and police crackdown , and EU ministers on Friday agreed to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions .
The leaders of the three ex-Soviet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latvia — on Saturday called for a new vote .
Opposition newspaper Nasha Niva posted a video of the Belarusian ambassador to Slovakia , Igor Leshchenya , saying he was `` shocked by stories of torture and beatings '' and expressing his solidarity with the protesters .
Tikhanovskaya has announced the creation of a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power , asking foreign governments to `` help us in organising a dialogue with Belarusian authorities '' .
She demanded the authorities release all detainees , remove security forces from the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered the crackdown .
She has said she will organise new elections if Lukashenko steps down .
Lukashenko on Saturday rejected any foreign mediation in the crisis and told defence chiefs he would not hand over power .
`` We will not give up the country to anyone , '' he said .
`` We do n't need any foreign governments , any intermediaries . ''

Darya Kukhta, 39, a mother of six, told AFP: "We believe that a new Belarus is beginning. I'm very happy to be seeing this with my own eyes."
"Blood was spilled and the people will never forget that."
"Now we're changing history," said 26-year-old Yekaterina Gorbina, a content manager.
Columns of demonstrators raised victory signs and held flowers and balloons as a sea of protesters gathered in Independence Square, the focus of peaceful demonstrations in recent days.
Belarusian independent news site Tut.by called the rally "the largest in the history of independent Belarus."
Crowds of protesters marched through the streets to the central Independence Square, with an AFP journalist estimating the turnout at more than 100,0000, a scale of protest not seen since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Tens of thousands of Belarusian opposition supporters gathered for the largest protest rally in recent history in Minsk on Sunday as President Alexander Lukashenko rejected calls to step down in a defiant speech.
Demonstrators held placards with slogans such as "You can't wash off the blood" and "Lukashenko must answer for the torture and dead."
Popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had called for a weekend of protests after leaving for neighbouring Lithuania following the disputed election, which gave Lukashenko 80% of the vote.
Other major towns and cities in the ex-Soviet country of 9 million also saw large rallies, local media reported.
More and more Belarusians have taken to the streets over the last week to condemn Lukashenko's disputed victory and a subsequent violent crackdown by riot police and abuse of detainees.
Unusually, tightly controlled state television news aired a short item on the "alternative protest" in Minsk, while not showing anti-Lukashenko slogans.
'Defend your country!'
Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet country for 26 years, is facing an unprecedented challenge to his leadership.
Tikhanovskaya's campaign ally Maria Kolesnikova in a speech to protesters said: "The former president must resign."
The 65-year-old strongman held a rare campaign-style rally on Independence Square before the opposition protest.
He told flag-waving supporters: "I called you here not to defend me... but for the first time in a quarter-century, to defend your country and its independence."
State television said 65,000 people attended the rally, though an AFP reporter put the number closer to 10,000.
Standing at a podium in a short-sleeved shirt, Lukashenko insisted on the legitimacy of the presidential poll.
"The elections were valid. There could not be more than 80% of votes falsified," he said in a sometimes emotional speech.
"We won't give away the country!" he vowed, while his teenage son Nikolai stood watching nearby.
Kremlin 'ready' to help
With pressure growing from the street and abroad after the European Union said it would impose new sanctions, Lukashenko has reached out to Russia.
Moscow said Sunday it was ready to provide military help if needed.
The Kremlin said that in a call with Lukashenko, President Vladimir Putin had expressed Russia's "readiness to provide the needed assistance" including "if necessary" through the CSTO military alliance between six ex-Soviet states.
RT Kremlin-funded television reported that this was in the case of "outside military threats."
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets over the last week to denounce the election result and support Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other potential candidates including her husband were jailed.
A violent police crackdown on protesters saw more than 6,700 people arrested, hundreds wounded and two people dead.
From exile in Lithuania, where she fled on Tuesday, Tikhanovskaya called for a weekend of peaceful rallies.
Thousands of opposition supporters demonstrated in Minsk on Saturday at the spot where a 34-year-old protester died during unrest on Monday.
Officials said the man, Alexander Taraisky, died when an explosive device he was holding blew up in his hand.
Following the release of video footage contradicting this, Interior Minister Yury Karayev told Tut.by on Sunday: "Maybe they shot him with non-lethal weapons," saying only rubber bullets were used.
Call for mass strikes
The opposition has called for a general strike from Monday after hundreds of workers at state-run factories downed tools on Friday in a first sign that Lukashenko's traditional support base was turning against him.
European governments have condemned the election and police crackdown, and EU ministers on Friday agreed to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions.
Tikhanovskaya has announced the creation of a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power, asking foreign governments to "help us in organising a dialogue with Belarusian authorities."
She demanded the authorities release all detainees, remove security forces from the streets and open criminal cases against those who ordered the crackdown.
She has said she will organise new elections if Lukashenko steps down.