themoscowtimes--2020-09-30--‘Silovichok’ Children’s Military Playground Rekindles Debate in Russia

A military-patriotic children ’ s playground in northern Russia has rekindled debate over the militarization of young Russians amid President Vladimir Putin ’ s efforts to cement patriotism as a unifying national idea .
Social media users were divided after images of the “ Silovichok ” playground , which opened this summer in the city of Arkhangelsk , circulated online this week .
They depicted tank-shaped merry-go-rounds , warplane-shaped jungle gyms and other equipment painted army green and featuring other military symbols .
“ They ’ re not instilling patriotism from childhood but love of war , ” wrote the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , commenting on a sign at “ Silovichok ” that depicts children wearing uniforms .
The playground ’ s creators dismissed the criticism as a product of the liberal opposition that supports Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny .
Navalny , 44 , is recovering in Germany after what Berlin said was a poisoning attempt by the nerve agent Novichok .
“ We ’ re being criticized for offering children games with obvious militaristic overtones , ” Svetlana Vlasova , who heads the Arkhangelsk-based military-patriotic club Orden behind “ Silovichok , ” told the state-run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not dragging anyone here by force .
Find another playground if you don ’ t like this one , ” Vlasova said .
She added that “ Silovichok ’ s ” creation was inspired by the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II .
The word “ Silovichok ” is a diminutive of the Russian silovik , a member of the military or security services within the government bureaucracy .
Heated debates over the militarization of the Russian youth date back to Putin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has drawn unfavorable comparisons to the Hitler Youth .
This year , Putin has moved to add war history and patriotism to the national school curriculum and last year began sending delinquent juveniles to military-patriotic re-education camps .
Also in 2019 , Russian state television launched a channel targeting young viewers with 24/7 coverage of World War II .
These efforts have been accompanied by an increasing number of news reports of Russian schoolchildren being taught to assemble weapons and marching while donning military uniforms and holding mockups of rifles .

A military-patriotic children’s playground in northern Russia has rekindled debate over the militarization of young Russians amid President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to cement patriotism as a unifying national idea. Social media users were divided after images of the “Silovichok” playground, which opened this summer in the city of Arkhangelsk, circulated online this week. They depicted tank-shaped merry-go-rounds, warplane-shaped jungle gyms and other equipment painted army green and featuring other military symbols.
“They’re not instilling patriotism from childhood but love of war,” wrote the popular urban activist and blogger Ilya Varlamov, commenting on a sign at “Silovichok” that depicts children wearing uniforms. The playground’s creators dismissed the criticism as a product of the liberal opposition that supports Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny, 44, is recovering in Germany after what Berlin said was a poisoning attempt by the nerve agent Novichok. “We’re being criticized for offering children games with obvious militaristic overtones,” Svetlana Vlasova, who heads the Arkhangelsk-based military-patriotic club Orden behind “Silovichok,” told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency. “We’re not dragging anyone here by force. Find another playground if you don’t like this one,” Vlasova said.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-29--Belarus Suspends Influential Independent Media Website

Authorities in Belarus on Tuesday suspended independent news provider Tut.by for three months , a move decried by the opposition @ @ @ @ @ .
Tut.by has been covering widespread protests against Lukashenko since his recent disputed election win @ @ @ @ @ who denounced the halting of the site as an attack on the `` right to @ @ @ @ @ ministry statement said the site would be `` suspended '' from October 1 to December @ @ @ @ @ previously launched a legal bid to have the website closed down , citing its coverage @ @ @ @ @ is forbidden '' as reported by `` government organs . ''
It did not elaborate @ @ @ @ @ by large scale protests against the rule of authoritarian leader Lukashenko , the official winner @ @ @ @ @ election , an outcome the opposition says was rigged .

Authorities in Belarus on Tuesday suspended independent news provider Tut.by for three months, a move decried by the opposition to beleaguered President Alexander Lukashenko.
Tut.by has been covering widespread protests against Lukashenko since his recent disputed election win over rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who denounced the halting of the site as an attack on the "right to truth."
An information ministry statement said the site would be "suspended" from October 1 to December 30.
The ministry had previously launched a legal bid to have the website closed down, citing its coverage of "information whose broadcasting is forbidden" as reported by "government organs."
It did not elaborate.
Belarus has been shaken by large scale protests against the rule of authoritarian leader Lukashenko, the official winner of the August 9 presidential election, an outcome the opposition says was rigged.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-29--Russia Reports 'Non-Standard' Air Leak on International Space Station

Russia said Tuesday that astronauts had found an air leak in its section of the International Space Station , with a senior space official calling the air loss beyond expected levels .
The crew on the ISS -- Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy -- have been searching for the air leak since August , first checking the US segment .
Russia 's space agency , Roscosmos , said in a statement that after analysis and a search for the leak `` it was established that the spot is located in the Zvezda ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientific equipment . ''
It said a search was now underfoot to pinpoint the exact location , saying the situation `` is not dangerous for the life and health of the ISS crew and does not prevent the ISS continuing manned flight . ''
`` It 's not critical in the near future , '' said Sergei Krikalyov , the executive director of Russia 's manned space programs , in a televised comment .
He said the ISS always has slight air loss due to the air purifying system .
`` These leaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more than the standard leakage and naturally if it lasts a long time , it will require supplies of extra air to the station , '' he said .
He said the crew were now resting but hoped to find the precise spot and fix the leak on Wednesday .
`` That 's not for sure , '' he added , saying there was quite a large area to search .
`` We have time .
The leak exists of course .
It 's not good that it 's there , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
NASA said that the leak had appeared to grow in size overnight Monday to Tuesday and the crew were awakened by flight controllers to carry out a search .
It was later found that a temperature change had made the leak seem to grow , while the rate of air escaping was `` unchanged , '' the US space agency said .
Previously , astronauts had searched for the source of the leak in the US segment of the station using an ultrasound detector .
The incident comes after astronauts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a Russian-made Soyuz space capsule docked onto the ISS .
The cause of the hole has not yet been made public .
Three new crew members , Russians Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins , are set to arrive in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft due to launch October 14 .

Russia said Tuesday that astronauts had found an air leak in its section of the International Space Station, with a senior space official calling the air loss beyond expected levels.
The crew on the ISS -- Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Christopher Cassidy -- have been searching for the air leak since August, first checking the US segment.
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, said in a statement that after analysis and a search for the leak "it was established that the spot is located in the Zvezda (star) service module, which contains scientific equipment."
It said a search was now underfoot to pinpoint the exact location, saying the situation "is not dangerous for the life and health of the ISS crew and does not prevent the ISS continuing manned flight."
"It's not critical in the near future," said Sergei Krikalyov, the executive director of Russia's manned space programs, in a televised comment.
He said the ISS always has slight air loss due to the air purifying system.
"These leaks are predictable. What's happening now is more than the standard leakage and naturally if it lasts a long time, it will require supplies of extra air to the station," he said.
He said the crew were now resting but hoped to find the precise spot and fix the leak on Wednesday.
"That's not for sure," he added, saying there was quite a large area to search.
"We have time. The leak exists of course. It's not good that it's there, but it's not critical," he said.
NASA said that the leak had appeared to grow in size overnight Monday to Tuesday and the crew were awakened by flight controllers to carry out a search.
It was later found that a temperature change had made the leak seem to grow, while the rate of air escaping was "unchanged," the US space agency said.
Previously, astronauts had searched for the source of the leak in the US segment of the station using an ultrasound detector.
The incident comes after astronauts in 2018 found a hole in the wall of a Russian-made Soyuz space capsule docked onto the ISS.
The cause of the hole has not yet been made public.
Three new crew members, Russians Sergei Ryzhikov and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, are set to arrive in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft due to launch October 14.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-30--Russia Says Syria, Libya Fighters Deployed to Karabakh Conflict

Russia 's foreign ministry said Wednesday that fighters from Syria and Libya were being deployed to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict @ @ @ @ @ deeply concerned '' by the development .
`` Fighters of illegal armed groups including from @ @ @ @ @ deployed to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict zone in order to directly take part in fighting @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` We are deeply concerned by these processes which not only escalate tensions @ @ @ @ @ but create long-lasting threats to security for all countries in the region . ''
Armenian @ @ @ @ @ in the heaviest fighting in years over Karabakh , an ethnic Armenian province that broke @ @ @ @ @ 1990s during the collapse of the Soviet Union .
Armenia has accused Azerbaijan 's ally @ @ @ @ @ '' to Karabakh .
The Russian statement made no mention of Turkey , but called @ @ @ @ @ interested states '' to take measures to prevent `` foreign terrorists and mercenaries '' from @ @ @ @ @ .

"Fighters of illegal armed groups including from Syria and Libya are being deployed to the Nagorny Karabakh conflict zone in order to directly take part in fighting," the Foreign Ministry said.
Russia's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that fighters from Syria and Libya were being deployed to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and that it was "deeply concerned" by the development.
"We are deeply concerned by these processes which not only escalate tensions in the conflict zone further but create long-lasting threats to security for all countries in the region."
Armenian and Azerbaijani forces are engaged in the heaviest fighting in years over Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian province that broke away from Azerbaijan in the 1990s during the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Armenia has accused Azerbaijan's ally Turkey of sending "mercenaries" to Karabakh.
The Russian statement made no mention of Turkey, but called on the "leadership of interested states" to take measures to prevent "foreign terrorists and mercenaries" from being involved in the conflict.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-30--Moscow Film Fest Pulls Nagorno-Karabakh Drama Over Violence Worries

Organizers made the decision as clashes between arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh entered their fourth day and the number of confirmed casualties neared triple figures , marking the worst outbreak of the simmering , decades-long conflict in years .
The Moscow International Film Festival will not screen an Armenian drama set in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in order to avoid provoking violence between ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the Russian capital , Interfax reported Wednesday .
Kirill Razlogov , program director for the 42nd annual Moscow film festival which opens Thursday , told Interfax that director Jivan Avetisyan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be screened “ to avoid clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Moscow.
” “ It ’ s a precautionary measure linked directly to Karabakh , ” Razlogov said .
“ Although the film is good.
” He vowed to screen the drama at the next festival in April 2021 “ if the conflict dies down to at least a truce.
” “ Gate to Heaven ” tells the love story of a German journalist returning to cover the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2016 and a younger opera singer whose father he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early years in the early 1990s .
Videos have circulated online showing stepped-up security at an Armenian-owned food market in Moscow to prevent a repeat of Armenian-Azeri violence that broke out in Russia 's capital following a previous escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh this summer .

Organizers made the decision as clashes between arch-foes Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh entered their fourth day and the number of confirmed casualties neared triple figures, marking the worst outbreak of the simmering, decades-long conflict in years.
The Moscow International Film Festival will not screen an Armenian drama set in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in order to avoid provoking violence between ethnic Armenians and Azerbaijanis in the Russian capital, Interfax reported Wednesday.
Kirill Razlogov, program director for the 42nd annual Moscow film festival which opens Thursday, told Interfax that director Jivan Avetisyan’s “Gate to Heaven” won’t be screened “to avoid clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Moscow.”
“It’s a precautionary measure linked directly to Karabakh,” Razlogov said. “Although the film is good.”
He vowed to screen the drama at the next festival in April 2021 “if the conflict dies down to at least a truce.”
“Gate to Heaven” tells the love story of a German journalist returning to cover the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2016 and a younger opera singer whose father he had abandoned during the war’s early years in the early 1990s.
Avetisyan shared news of the film's removal from the festival program earlier this week, writing on Instagram that “it’s disheartening that the festival will act upon on the political climate rather than promote the art of filmmaking.” Alexei Medvedev, a representative from the IF Festival Center film distributor, slammed the festival's decision to pull its film, arguing that “there is nothing in it that resembles either hatred or propaganda.” Both the Armenian and Azerbaijani diasporas in Russia have called on their members to steer clear of unauthorized public demonstrations and avoid provocations from either side.
Videos have circulated online showing stepped-up security at an Armenian-owned food market in Moscow to prevent a repeat of Armenian-Azeri violence that broke out in Russia's capital following a previous escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh this summer.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-02--Europeans on Security Council Want Russia Explanation on Navalny

Five European members of the UN Security Council have demanded an explanation from Russia on the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny , which they called `` a threat to international peace and security . ''
The letter from Germany , Britain , Belgium , Estonia and France -- released Thursday -- was submitted to the Council on the eve of Moscow 's taking over the presidency of the panel for the month of October .
`` We call on the Russian Federation to disclose , urgently , fully and in a transparent manner , the circumstances of this attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this regard , '' the five countries said in the letter .
They pointed to a November 22 , 2019 Security Council declaration that `` any use of chemical weapons anywhere , at any time , by anyone , under any circumstance is unacceptable and a threat to international peace and security . ''
`` As such , we consider that the use of a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group in the abhorrent poisoning of Mr Alexey Navalny constitutes a threat to international peace and security . ''
Asked by journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called for cooperation from the Europeans .
`` Instead of drafting letters ... they should have better , some of them , cooperate with the Russian authorities , '' he said .
`` We are saying a simple thing : if you have facts , present them . ''
Navalny on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning , with the West identifying the toxin as the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok .
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner Navalny pledged to get fit as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @

Five European members of the UN Security Council have demanded an explanation from Russia on the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, which they called "a threat to international peace and security."
The letter from Germany, Britain, Belgium, Estonia and France -- released Thursday -- was submitted to the Council on the eve of Moscow's taking over the presidency of the panel for the month of October.
"We call on the Russian Federation to disclose, urgently, fully and in a transparent manner, the circumstances of this attack and to inform the Security Council in this regard," the five countries said in the letter.
They pointed to a November 22, 2019 Security Council declaration that "any use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anyone, under any circumstance is unacceptable and a threat to international peace and security."
"As such, we consider that the use of a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group in the abhorrent poisoning of Mr Alexey Navalny constitutes a threat to international peace and security."
Asked by journalists for his response to the letter, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called for cooperation from the Europeans.
"Instead of drafting letters... they should have better, some of them, cooperate with the Russian authorities," he said. "We are saying a simple thing: if you have facts, present them."
Navalny on Thursday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning, with the West identifying the toxin as the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner Navalny pledged to get fit as soon as possible to continue his fight.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Russia Says Ready for 'Close Coordination' With Turkey on Karabakh

Russia said on Thursday its foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu had confirmed in a phone call they were ready for `` close coordination '' to stabilize the situation in Nagorny Karabakh .
Fighting over the breakaway region between majority-Muslim Azerbaijan and Christian Armenia has raised fears of a wider conflict involving regional powers Turkey and Russia .
The Russian ministry said both confirmed `` readiness for close coordination of the actions of Russia and Turkey to stabilize the situation with the aim of returning the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict to the channel of peaceful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not release an official statement on the phone call 's contents .
A Turkish diplomatic source told AFP that the topic of the discussion was `` Armenia 's aggression . ''
Russia 's diplomatic statement came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier Thursday that a ceasefire was only possible if Armenian-backed forces withdrew from the separatist region and the rest of Azerbaijan .
Ankara has backed Azerbaijan in the conflict and on Tuesday the Armenian defense ministry said a Turkish F-16 flying in support of Baku 's forces had downed an @ @ @ @

Russia said on Thursday its foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu had confirmed in a phone call they were ready for "close coordination" to stabilize the situation in Nagorny Karabakh.
Fighting over the breakaway region between majority-Muslim Azerbaijan and Christian Armenia has raised fears of a wider conflict involving regional powers Turkey and Russia.
The Russian ministry said both confirmed "readiness for close coordination of the actions of Russia and Turkey to stabilize the situation with the aim of returning the settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict to the channel of peaceful talks".
However, Turkey did not release an official statement on the phone call's contents. A Turkish diplomatic source told AFP that the topic of the discussion was "Armenia's aggression."
Russia's diplomatic statement came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier Thursday that a ceasefire was only possible if Armenian-backed forces withdrew from the separatist region and the rest of Azerbaijan.
Ankara has backed Azerbaijan in the conflict and on Tuesday the Armenian defense ministry said a Turkish F-16 flying in support of Baku's forces had downed an Armenian SU-25 warplane.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Forest Fire Blazes Near Ukraine Front Line, Killing 9

At least nine people have died and 14 others have been injured in forest fires in eastern Ukraine near the front line of Kiev 's conflict with Moscow-backed separatists , the emergency services said Thursday .
Ukraine has sent 1,200 firefighters to battle the blaze which officials in one village near the frontline said was detonating unexploded shells previously fired over by pro-Russian separatists .
Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire that has forced the evacuation of more than a hundred residents from nearby villages since it broke out on Wednesday following unusually hot weather .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flames that have spread over 11,000 hectares ( 27,000 acres ) , regional officials said .
Nine people have died during the fires and 14 people have been hospitalised , emergency services said , without giving details .
More than 20 villages were under threat from the fire , fanned by dry conditions and strong winds .
The fire was blazing just a few kilometres from an area where fighting between Kiev forces and Russian-backed separatists erupts sporadically .
A ceasefire brokered two months ago has largely held and the authorities have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fighting .
Local officials in one village near the frontline , Stanytsa Luganska , said that numerous unexploded shells fired over by Russia-backed separatists were detonating due to the high temperature of the fire , threatening firefighters and local residents .
Regional officials said they had temporarily closed a crossing point into separatist-held territory due to the approaching fire .
The Ukrainian presidency said in a statement that it was important to establish what started the fire and how it had spread so quickly .
Ukraine has been hit by unprecedented heat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are hard to bring under control .
`` This is not the best year for our country in terms of natural disasters and other tragedies , '' Ukraine 's President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing on Thursday .
In July , forest fires in the Lugansk region killed five people and injured around 30 .
Scientists predict that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as catastrophic fires .
Fires in April ravaged more than 66,000 hectares in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl in northern Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's worst nuclear accidents in 1986 .

At least nine people have died and 14 others have been injured in forest fires in eastern Ukraine near the front line of Kiev's conflict with Moscow-backed separatists, the emergency services said Thursday.
Ukraine has sent 1,200 firefighters to battle the blaze which officials in one village near the frontline said was detonating unexploded shells previously fired over by pro-Russian separatists.
Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire that has forced the evacuation of more than a hundred residents from nearby villages since it broke out on Wednesday following unusually hot weather.
Water-bombing planes and a helicopter were fighting the flames that have spread over 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres), regional officials said.
Nine people have died during the fires and 14 people have been hospitalised, emergency services said, without giving details.
More than 20 villages were under threat from the fire, fanned by dry conditions and strong winds.
The fire was blazing just a few kilometres from an area where fighting between Kiev forces and Russian-backed separatists erupts sporadically.
A ceasefire brokered two months ago has largely held and the authorities have not said whether the fire has affected the fighting.
Local officials in one village near the frontline, Stanytsa Luganska, said that numerous unexploded shells fired over by Russia-backed separatists were detonating due to the high temperature of the fire, threatening firefighters and local residents.
Regional officials said they had temporarily closed a crossing point into separatist-held territory due to the approaching fire.
The Ukrainian presidency said in a statement that it was important to establish what started the fire and how it had spread so quickly.
Ukraine has been hit by unprecedented heat waves this year, fuelling fires that are hard to bring under control.
"This is not the best year for our country in terms of natural disasters and other tragedies," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a briefing on Thursday.
In July, forest fires in the Lugansk region killed five people and injured around 30.
Scientists predict that climate change will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as catastrophic fires.
Fires in April ravaged more than 66,000 hectares in the exclusion zone around Chernobyl in northern Ukraine, the scene of one of the world's worst nuclear accidents in 1986.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Kremlin Says Navalny Charges Against Putin 'Unacceptable'

`` I assert that Putin is behind this act , I do n't see any other explanation , '' the anti-corruption campaigner told Der Spiegel in his first published interview since being discharged from a German hospital .
The Kremlin on Thursday accused opposition leader Alexei Navalny of working with the CIA and making `` groundless and unacceptable statements '' after he claimed President Vladimir Putin had orchestrated his poisoning with Novichok .
But Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered : `` We believe that such charges against the Russian president are absolutely groundless and unacceptable . ''
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working '' with Navalny , who studied at Yale University , but did not provide any evidence .
`` It 's not the patient who is working with Western security services , it 's Western security services who are working with him , '' the Kremlin spokesman said .
`` I can even say directly that CIA instructors are currently working with him . ''
Navalny immediately said he would sue Peskov , accusing him of `` talking nonsense . ''
The 44-year-old also challenged the Kremlin to release `` evidence and facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` If the authorities on behalf of which Peskov is speaking have the proof of the nonsense he 's saying , then it 's a matter of national security , and I demand this proof be published , '' Navalny said .
Navalny was evacuated to Berlin for treatment after he collapsed in August on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow following a campaign trip to support opposition candidates in local elections .
The Putin critic was discharged just over a week ago after Germany found that he was poisoned with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has denied any involvement .
In the interview with Der Spiegel , Navalny again vowed to return to Russia as soon as he has fully recovered , saying he would not give Putin `` the gift '' of his absence from the country .
Earlier Thursday , the speaker of Russia 's lower house of parliament , Vyacheslav Volodin , also accused the `` shameless '' opposition leader of working for Western security services and claimed Navalny owed his life to Putin .
`` Navalny is a shameless and mean man , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone — from pilots to doctors to the president — were sincerely saving him . ''
`` Only a dishonorable man can make such statements , '' he said in an apparent reference to Navalny 's claim that Putin was behind the poisoning .
`` It is absolutely obvious that Navalny is working with the security services and authorities of Western countries . ''
Navalny 's supporters organized his medical evacuation after Russian doctors treating him said they found no evidence of poisoning and suggested he had a problem with his metabolism .

"I assert that Putin is behind this act, I don't see any other explanation," the anti-corruption campaigner told Der Spiegel in his first published interview since being discharged from a German hospital.
The Kremlin on Thursday accused opposition leader Alexei Navalny of working with the CIA and making "groundless and unacceptable statements" after he claimed President Vladimir Putin had orchestrated his poisoning with Novichok.
But Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered: "We believe that such charges against the Russian president are absolutely groundless and unacceptable."
He also claimed that the CIA was "currently working" with Navalny, who studied at Yale University, but did not provide any evidence.
"It's not the patient who is working with Western security services, it's Western security services who are working with him," the Kremlin spokesman said.
"I can even say directly that CIA instructors are currently working with him."
Navalny immediately said he would sue Peskov, accusing him of "talking nonsense."
The 44-year-old also challenged the Kremlin to release "evidence and facts" proving his cooperation with the CIA.
"If the authorities on behalf of which Peskov is speaking have the proof of the nonsense he's saying, then it's a matter of national security, and I demand this proof be published," Navalny said.
'Shameless man'
Navalny was evacuated to Berlin for treatment after he collapsed in August on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow following a campaign trip to support opposition candidates in local elections.
The Putin critic was discharged just over a week ago after Germany found that he was poisoned with the Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.
In the interview with Der Spiegel, Navalny again vowed to return to Russia as soon as he has fully recovered, saying he would not give Putin "the gift" of his absence from the country.
Earlier Thursday, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, also accused the "shameless" opposition leader of working for Western security services and claimed Navalny owed his life to Putin.
"Navalny is a shameless and mean man," Volodin said in a statement.
"Everyone — from pilots to doctors to the president — were sincerely saving him."
"Only a dishonorable man can make such statements," he said in an apparent reference to Navalny's claim that Putin was behind the poisoning.
"It is absolutely obvious that Navalny is working with the security services and authorities of Western countries."
Navalny's supporters organized his medical evacuation after Russian doctors treating him said they found no evidence of poisoning and suggested he had a problem with his metabolism.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--'All I Know Is That I Am Dying': Navalny Recounts Ordeal

`` Perhaps 30 minutes passed from the point where I thought something was off to unconsciousness , '' Navalny , 44 , told Germany 's Der Spiegel news weekly .
Navalny , in his first media interview since his hospitalization with what Western experts identified as exposure to the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok , recounted his chilling near-death experience .
Russia 's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny suddenly felt unwell on a flight over Siberia — a frightening queasiness with cold sweat pouring down his brow .
At first , the crew thought it was food poisoning .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigning ahead of regional elections in Siberia in August .
`` It was a wonderful day .
I 'm on my way home , with a strenuous and successful business trip behind me , '' he said .
He said he was looking forward to watching a series on the flight when something felt gravely wrong .
`` And then ... it 's hard to describe because there is nothing to compare it with , '' he said .
`` Organophosphorus compounds attack your nervous system like a DDoS attack attacks the computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you . ''
A cold sweat began pouring down his brow and he asked his spokeswoman for a tissue .
`` Then I say to her : 'Speak to me .
I need to hear a voice — something 's wrong with me . '
She looks at me like I 'm crazy and starts talking . ''
He rushed to the bathroom and splashed himself with cold water , sitting on the toilet seat to steady himself .
`` And then I think : 'If I don ’ t get out now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' The most important feeling was : You are feeling no pain , but you know you 're dying , '' he said .
When he emerged , he turned to a flight attendant .
`` Instead of asking for help , I say , to my own surprise : ' I 've been poisoned .
I 'm dying . '
And then I lay down on the ground in front of him to die , '' Navalny told Spiegel .
`` He 's the last thing I see — a face that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a light smile .
He says : 'Poisoned ? '
and by that he probably means I was served bad chicken . ''
Prostrate on the floor of the cabin , Navalny said it was clear to him he would likely not survive , as fellow passengers begged him to hold on .
`` Nothing hurts .
All I know is that I am dying , '' he said .
`` Then I heard voices that were getting softer , a woman calling 'Do n't leave us ! '
.
Then that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Only later did I realize that I was wrong . ''
Asked about a video that circulated online in the days after his ordeal claiming to show him `` screaming in pain , '' Navalny said his agony was very different .
`` It was something else , worse .
Pain makes you feel like you 're alive .
But in this case , you sense : This is the end , '' he said .
Navalny said he was grateful he could fly to Berlin for treatment , saying that move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the emergency care he received in Russia .
But he criticized officials who he said succumbed to pressure from Moscow .
`` Take the doctors in Omsk , for example , who told my wife to her face that I could of course be flown out , only to then turn around and say that I wasn ’ t fit for transport , '' he said .
`` In my opinion , the chief physician at the hospital in Omsk is worse than the secret service agents who kill people .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profession . ''
Navalny said his doctors in Berlin are unsure whether he 'll ever completely recover .
`` Basically , I ’ m a bit of a guinea pig .
After all , there are n't many people you can observe who are still alive after being poisoned with a nerve agent , '' he said .
`` At some point , I will probably be written about in medical journals . ''
He said he was genuinely shocked to have been targeted for poisoning and pointed the finger directly at Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had told me a month and a half ago that I would be poisoned with Novichok , I would have laughed at them , '' he said .
`` After all , we know how Putin fights the opposition .
We have 20 years of experience .
You can be arrested , beaten up , sprayed with disinfectants or shot on a bridge like Boris Nemtsov .
But chemical warfare agents were considered the domain of the intelligence services . ''
Navalny said he would continue his work in the opposition , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not resisting would mean putting everyone at even greater risk in the long term , '' he said .
`` That 's just how it is : We are fighting again monstrous villains who are prepared to commit the most heinous crimes . ''

"Perhaps 30 minutes passed from the point where I thought something was off to unconsciousness," Navalny, 44, told Germany's Der Spiegel news weekly.
Navalny, in his first media interview since his hospitalization with what Western experts identified as exposure to the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, recounted his chilling near-death experience.
Russia's most prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny suddenly felt unwell on a flight over Siberia — a frightening queasiness with cold sweat pouring down his brow. At first, the crew thought it was food poisoning.
The Kremlin critic was returning to Moscow from campaigning ahead of regional elections in Siberia in August.
"It was a wonderful day. I'm on my way home, with a strenuous and successful business trip behind me," he said.
He said he was looking forward to watching a series on the flight when something felt gravely wrong.
"And then... it's hard to describe because there is nothing to compare it with," he said.
"Organophosphorus compounds attack your nervous system like a DDoS attack attacks the computer — it's an overload that breaks you."
'Speak to me'
A cold sweat began pouring down his brow and he asked his spokeswoman for a tissue.
"Then I say to her: 'Speak to me. I need to hear a voice — something's wrong with me.' She looks at me like I'm crazy and starts talking."
He rushed to the bathroom and splashed himself with cold water, sitting on the toilet seat to steady himself.
"And then I think: 'If I don’t get out now, I'll never get out.' The most important feeling was: You are feeling no pain, but you know you're dying," he said.
When he emerged, he turned to a flight attendant.
"Instead of asking for help, I say, to my own surprise: 'I've been poisoned. I'm dying.' And then I lay down on the ground in front of him to die," Navalny told Spiegel.
"He's the last thing I see — a face that looks at me with slight astonishment and a light smile. He says: 'Poisoned?' and by that he probably means I was served bad chicken."
'Don't leave us!'
Prostrate on the floor of the cabin, Navalny said it was clear to him he would likely not survive, as fellow passengers begged him to hold on.
"Nothing hurts. All I know is that I am dying," he said.
"Then I heard voices that were getting softer, a woman calling 'Don't leave us!'. Then that was it. I knew I was dead. Only later did I realize that I was wrong."
Asked about a video that circulated online in the days after his ordeal claiming to show him "screaming in pain," Navalny said his agony was very different.
"It was something else, worse. Pain makes you feel like you're alive. But in this case, you sense: This is the end," he said.
Navalny said he was grateful he could fly to Berlin for treatment, saying that move had saved his life a second time after the emergency care he received in Russia. But he criticized officials who he said succumbed to pressure from Moscow.
"Take the doctors in Omsk, for example, who told my wife to her face that I could of course be flown out, only to then turn around and say that I wasn’t fit for transport," he said.
"In my opinion, the chief physician at the hospital in Omsk is worse than the secret service agents who kill people. At least for them, killing is their profession."
'Monstrous villains'
Navalny said his doctors in Berlin are unsure whether he'll ever completely recover.
"Basically, I’m a bit of a guinea pig. After all, there aren't many people you can observe who are still alive after being poisoned with a nerve agent," he said.
"At some point, I will probably be written about in medical journals."
He said he was genuinely shocked to have been targeted for poisoning and pointed the finger directly at Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"If someone had told me a month and a half ago that I would be poisoned with Novichok, I would have laughed at them," he said.
"After all, we know how Putin fights the opposition. We have 20 years of experience. You can be arrested, beaten up, sprayed with disinfectants or shot on a bridge like Boris Nemtsov. But chemical warfare agents were considered the domain of the intelligence services."
Navalny said he would continue his work in the opposition, despite the now clearly apparent risks.
"Not resisting would mean putting everyone at even greater risk in the long term," he said.
"That's just how it is: We are fighting again monstrous villains who are prepared to commit the most heinous crimes."


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Two French Journalists Hurt in Nagorno-Karabakh Fighting

News editor Luc Bronner confirmed that two of its journalists had been hurt after the Armenian foreign ministry said that they had been hit in a bombardment by Azerbaijan forces .
A reporter and photographer working for the French daily Le Monde have been wounded in fighting in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh , the newspaper told AFP Thursday .
`` Two French reporters from Le Monde were hurt at Martuni in the Artsakh region ... they had been taken to hospital , '' the ministry tweeted .
Two Armenian journalists were also hurt in the shelling , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team from AFP , were interviewing residents in Martuni and assessing damage from previous bombardments when the shelling started .
No one in the AFP team was hurt .
Heavy fighting has been raging for four days after the long-running conflict over the region between Armenia and Azerbaijan reignited .
The death toll has been rising rapidly , with both sides reporting civilian casualties .
Azerbaijan 's defense ministry said its forces have killed 2,300 Karabakh separatist troops and `` destroyed 130 tanks , 200 artillery units , 25 anti-aircraft units , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 55 military vehicles . ''
Armenia claimed that Azerbaijan had lost 130 troops while another 200 were wounded .
The majority ethnic Armenian breakaway region declared independence from Azerbaijan after the fall of the Iron Curtain which sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives .
But it is still not recognized as independent by any country , including Armenia .
Talks to resolve the conflict have largely stalled since a 1994 ceasefire agreement .

News editor Luc Bronner confirmed that two of its journalists had been hurt after the Armenian foreign ministry said that they had been hit in a bombardment by Azerbaijan forces.
A reporter and photographer working for the French daily Le Monde have been wounded in fighting in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the newspaper told AFP Thursday.
"Two French reporters from Le Monde were hurt at Martuni in the Artsakh region... they had been taken to hospital," the ministry tweeted.
Two Armenian journalists were also hurt in the shelling, according to Armenian authorities.
Several journalists, including a team from AFP, were interviewing residents in Martuni and assessing damage from previous bombardments when the shelling started. No one in the AFP team was hurt.
Heavy fighting has been raging for four days after the long-running conflict over the region between Armenia and Azerbaijan reignited.
The death toll has been rising rapidly, with both sides reporting civilian casualties.
Armenia has recorded 104 military deaths and 23 civilians killed.
Azerbaijan's defense ministry said its forces have killed 2,300 Karabakh separatist troops and "destroyed 130 tanks, 200 artillery units, 25 anti-aircraft units, five ammunition depots, 50 anti-tank units and 55 military vehicles."
Armenia claimed that Azerbaijan had lost 130 troops while another 200 were wounded.
"Armenian armed forces destroyed 29 tanks and armored vehicles," a defense ministry spokesman said.
The majority ethnic Armenian breakaway region declared independence from Azerbaijan after the fall of the Iron Curtain which sparked a war in the early 1990s that claimed 30,000 lives.
But it is still not recognized as independent by any country, including Armenia.
Talks to resolve the conflict have largely stalled since a 1994 ceasefire agreement.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Belarus Opposition Leader Takes Risky Diplomatic Path

Once a political novice , Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is joining Europe 's diplomatic big leagues but risks undermining her own cause in the process , experts said .
After meeting French President Emmanuel Macron this week , the self-proclaimed victor of Belarus 's presidential election in August is set to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel .
The high-profile meetings are part of a campaign focused on European leaders with the aim of pressuring Belarus 's long-term leader Alexander Lukashenko into holding new elections .
But Tatiana Kastoueva-Jean , head of the Russia/NIS ( Newly Independent States ) Centre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said this diplomacy could be `` dangerous . ''
`` These meetings with Western leaders could be considered a provocation by Russia and by Lukashenko and partly justify their claim that the West is interfering , '' she said .
The concern is shared in diplomatic circles .
Following Tikhanovskaya 's meeting with Macron this week in Vilnius , a French diplomatic source said : `` Tikhanovskaya must not become a Western icon .
She should be a Belarusian icon instead . ''
Anna Colin Lebedev from Paris-Nanterre University said meetings with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were `` a double-edged sword '' since they could position the Belarusian opposition as pro-European .
But she said the opposition had little choice after Russian President Vladimir Putin 's full-throated endorsement of Lukashenko .
`` It is Russia that has ensured the only possible interlocutor for Belarusians in the international community is Europe , '' she said .
Tikhanovskaya fled Belarus in the aftermath of the Aug. 9 election amid a deadly crackdown against unprecedented mass protests calling for an end to Lukashenko 's 26 years in power .
She crossed into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received strong support from the ex-Soviet Baltic state , as well as from the leaders of Poland , which also neighbors Belarus .
While the EU does not recognize the result of the election , it has stopped short of calling Tikhanovskaya the victor and is instead pushing for fresh elections with international monitors .
Her efforts have prompted scorn from Lukashenko and Russia .
This week , Lukashenko was quoted by his spokeswoman as saying that Macron was `` paying too much attention '' to Tikhanovskaya and this could `` create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On the day of the meeting , Putin condemned `` unprecedented external pressure '' on Belarus and said Russia 's support was `` all-weather . ''
His spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Macron `` seems to support this Belarusian citizen . ''
Perhaps mindful of the risk of being seen to interfere , Merkel has been more cautious .
She told German MPs on Wednesday that Lukashenko should begin `` a dialogue with the people ... without interference from east or west . ''
Tikhanovskaya herself , who only joined the presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he tried to register as a candidate , has said she does not have political ambitions beyond a new vote .
The 38-year-old former English teacher has said she will not be a candidate in the election , which she wants to be held by the end of the year .
Colin Lebedev said that for Belarusians taking part in protests she is more of a `` spokeswoman '' representing them than their official leader .
`` Part of her attraction is her aversion to a political career ...
There is no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Protesters in Belarus said any high-profile meetings for Tikhanovskaya were welcome attention for a movement that risks slipping down the priority list for world leaders .
`` It 's good , it 's a positive sign for us , '' said Alexander Gruzdilovich , a tech industry worker , although he cautioned that `` to get rid of Lukashenko you have to speak to Putin . ''
Another protester in the streets of Minsk , Anna Potapenko , said : `` The more the international community focuses on Belarus ... the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome ! ''

Once a political novice, Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is joining Europe's diplomatic big leagues but risks undermining her own cause in the process, experts said. After meeting French President Emmanuel Macron this week, the self-proclaimed victor of Belarus's presidential election in August is set to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The high-profile meetings are part of a campaign focused on European leaders with the aim of pressuring Belarus's long-term leader Alexander Lukashenko into holding new elections. But Tatiana Kastoueva-Jean, head of the Russia/NIS (Newly Independent States) Centre at the French Institute of International Relations, said this diplomacy could be "dangerous." "These meetings with Western leaders could be considered a provocation by Russia and by Lukashenko and partly justify their claim that the West is interfering," she said. The concern is shared in diplomatic circles.
news Macron Promises Help in Talks With Belarus Opposition Leader Read more
Following Tikhanovskaya's meeting with Macron this week in Vilnius, a French diplomatic source said: "Tikhanovskaya must not become a Western icon. She should be a Belarusian icon instead." Anna Colin Lebedev from Paris-Nanterre University said meetings with Western leaders gave Tikhanovskaya greater legitimacy but were "a double-edged sword" since they could position the Belarusian opposition as pro-European. But she said the opposition had little choice after Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-throated endorsement of Lukashenko. "It is Russia that has ensured the only possible interlocutor for Belarusians in the international community is Europe," she said. 'Too much attention' Tikhanovskaya fled Belarus in the aftermath of the Aug. 9 election amid a deadly crackdown against unprecedented mass protests calling for an end to Lukashenko's 26 years in power. She crossed into EU and NATO member Lithuania and has received strong support from the ex-Soviet Baltic state, as well as from the leaders of Poland, which also neighbors Belarus. While the EU does not recognize the result of the election, it has stopped short of calling Tikhanovskaya the victor and is instead pushing for fresh elections with international monitors. Her efforts have prompted scorn from Lukashenko and Russia. This week, Lukashenko was quoted by his spokeswoman as saying that Macron was "paying too much attention" to Tikhanovskaya and this could "create a problem in his personal life". On the day of the meeting, Putin condemned "unprecedented external pressure" on Belarus and said Russia's support was "all-weather."
news Tens of Thousands March in Belarus Despite Police Detentions Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Moscow Orders Remote Work Amid ‘Very Dangerous’ Coronavirus Spike

Sobyanin 's order for companies to send at least 30 % of staff to work from home between Oct. 5-28 comes as the Russian capital 's daily count of new Covid-19 infections has more than doubled over the past week , surpassing 2,400 on Thursday .
Moscow employers will be required to transfer up to one-third of their workforces to remote work starting next week due to the city ’ s “ very dangerous ” coronavirus situation , Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced Thursday .
Workers over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic diseases will also be required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I hope this will be enough to bring down the incidence rate of the disease and we won ’ t have to make more difficult decisions , ” he warned .
Sobyanin did not indicate whether he plans to enforce the rules through fines or other measures .
Workers at medical institutions , defense agencies , the state nuclear agency Rosatom and state space agency Roscosmos are exempt from the new rules .
Late last week , Sobyanin had urged businesses to reinstate work-from-home measures and “ strongly recommended ” Muscovites aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There was hope that this would significantly reduce trips by metro and land transport , ” he wrote on his website Thursday .
“ Unfortunately , that wasn ’ t enough.
” Moscow 's schools will also take a two-week vacation from Oct. 5-18 in order to slow the city 's rise in coronavirus cases , Sobyanin announced earlier this week , saying that a large number of asymptomatic cases are among children .
Russia has officially confirmed 1.18 million coronavirus infections , the world ’ s fourth-highest number , with new daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nearly 9,000 in a month .
Moscow has been the most-affected Russian city with almost 300,000 total infections and , according to Sobyanin , more than 5,000 hospitalizations per week and more than 1,500 severe cases .

Sobyanin's order for companies to send at least 30% of staff to work from home between Oct. 5-28 comes as the Russian capital's daily count of new Covid-19 infections has more than doubled over the past week, surpassing 2,400 on Thursday.
Moscow employers will be required to transfer up to one-third of their workforces to remote work starting next week due to the city’s “very dangerous” coronavirus situation, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced Thursday.
Workers over the age of 65 and those suffering from chronic diseases will also be required to work remotely during this period.
“I hope this will be enough to bring down the incidence rate of the disease and we won’t have to make more difficult decisions,” he warned.
Sobyanin did not indicate whether he plans to enforce the rules through fines or other measures.
Workers at medical institutions, defense agencies, the state nuclear agency Rosatom and state space agency Roscosmos are exempt from the new rules.
Late last week, Sobyanin had urged businesses to reinstate work-from-home measures and “strongly recommended” Muscovites aged 65 and older to self-isolate.
“There was hope that this would significantly reduce trips by metro and land transport,” he wrote on his website Thursday. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough.”
Moscow's schools will also take a two-week vacation from Oct. 5-18 in order to slow the city's rise in coronavirus cases, Sobyanin announced earlier this week, saying that a large number of asymptomatic cases are among children.
Russia has officially confirmed 1.18 million coronavirus infections, the world’s fourth-highest number, with new daily cases growing rapidly from less than 5,000 to nearly 9,000 in a month.
Moscow has been the most-affected Russian city with almost 300,000 total infections and, according to Sobyanin, more than 5,000 hospitalizations per week and more than 1,500 severe cases.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Russian Cleaner Takes Office After Surprise Election Win

“ I didn ’ t put myself forward , ” Marina Udgodskaya , 35 , told the Podyom news website in one of her early interviews before going silent due to overwhelming national media attention .
A cleaner from a small Russian village has put away her brooms and become its reluctant leader after unexpectedly winning last month ’ s regional vote and overthrowing the pro-Kremlin incumbent .
Udgodskaya explained that she was persuaded to run by the incumbent to meet the vote 's two-candidate minimum requirement .
Neither candidate campaigned in any way , but the former cleaner swept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I didn ’ t do anything at all , but the people came and voted , ” she said .
On Thursday , Udgodskaya was inaugurated as head of Povalikhino , the largest of 29 villages in the Kostroma region 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow .
Their combined population totals around 400 people .
Her triumph over pro-Kremlin incumbent Nikolai Loktev is seen less as a political statement from the villagers toward Moscow and more as a personal rebuke of the 58-year-old former policeman ’ s leadership style .
“ I respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony Thursday .
Other locales , notably Russia ’ s third-largest city of Novosibirsk and the Siberian city of Tomsk , saw opposition candidates win seats on Sept. 13 despite nationwide irregularities and claims of fraud .
These candidates received the active backing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ’ s “ Smart Vote ” strategy , which urges voters to cast their ballots for the candidate with the highest chance of unseating pro-Kremlin rivals .
Udgodskaya had considered quitting , but that turned out to be a costly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that nominated her says Udgodskaya would have been saddled with the steep costs of a re-run .
“ I think she ’ ll cope .
The whole village will help , ” village shopkeeper Irina told the BBC .

“I didn’t put myself forward,” Marina Udgodskaya, 35, told the Podyom news website in one of her early interviews before going silent due to overwhelming national media attention.
A cleaner from a small Russian village has put away her brooms and become its reluctant leader after unexpectedly winning last month’s regional vote and overthrowing the pro-Kremlin incumbent.
Udgodskaya explained that she was persuaded to run by the incumbent to meet the vote's two-candidate minimum requirement. Neither candidate campaigned in any way, but the former cleaner swept to power in a 87-to-48 landslide.
“I didn’t do anything at all, but the people came and voted,” she said.
On Thursday, Udgodskaya was inaugurated as head of Povalikhino, the largest of 29 villages in the Kostroma region 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow. Their combined population totals around 400 people.
Her triumph over pro-Kremlin incumbent Nikolai Loktev is seen less as a political statement from the villagers toward Moscow and more as a personal rebuke of the 58-year-old former policeman’s leadership style.
“I respect Nikolai Sergeyevich very much,” Udgodskaya told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony Thursday.
Other locales, notably Russia’s third-largest city of Novosibirsk and the Siberian city of Tomsk, saw opposition candidates win seats on Sept. 13 despite nationwide irregularities and claims of fraud. These candidates received the active backing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote” strategy, which urges voters to cast their ballots for the candidate with the highest chance of unseating pro-Kremlin rivals.
Udgodskaya had considered quitting, but that turned out to be a costly option: the small pensioners’ party that nominated her says Udgodskaya would have been saddled with the steep costs of a re-run.
“I think she’ll cope. The whole village will help,” village shopkeeper Irina told the BBC.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-01--Vowing Return To Russia, Navalny Accuses Putin Over Poisoning

In the first media interview since his poisoning , Navalny gave harrowing details of his collapse on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow after he was poisoned by what the West identified as the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok .
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning on Thursday , as he vowed to return to Russia to press on with his opposition campaign .
Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also claimed that Navalny was working with the CIA , while the head of Russia 's lower house of parliament , Vyacheslav Volodin , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Kremlin immediately hit back at Navalny 's statements , calling them `` groundless and unacceptable . ''
`` I will not give Putin the gift of not returning to Russia , '' he said , adding that for him `` Putin is behind this act , I do n't see any other explanation . ''
`` Not returning would mean that Putin has achieved his aim .
And my job now is to stay the guy who 's not afraid , '' he told the Spiegel weekly .
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the experience , pledging to get fit as soon as possible to continue his fight .
The Kremlin critic was evacuated to Berlin for treatment after he collapsed in August following a campaign trip to support opposition candidates in local elections in Siberia .
He was discharged just over a week ago and his first comments to the press came as European leaders were holding a summit during which the question of a response to Russia may be raised over his case .
Germany , which holds the presidency of the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was poisoned by the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok .
Laboratories in France and Sweden have independently corroborated Germany 's findings .
The Kremlin has firmly denied allegations of involvement and accused Western leaders of launching a disinformation campaign over the opposition leader 's illness .
Instead , it pointed to tests carried out by Russian doctors who first treated Navalny which it says showed no toxic substances .
Navalny had arrived in Berlin in a coma and on mechanical ventilation .
He was finally discharged on Sept. 22 after spending 32 days in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including 24 days in intensive care .
In a sign of how seriously Merkel was taking the case , the German leader paid a visit to Navalny in the hospital .
Merkel has also stressed repeatedly that `` only Russia can and must answer '' questions on the case .
Putting responsibility for the poisoning squarely on Putin , Navalny said the `` most important fact is Novichok . ''
Only the leaders of Russia 's secret services can make the call to deploy the poison , he said .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moments when the poison took effect , leaving him breaking out in a cold sweat .
He described telling cabin crew that he had been poisoned before he fell on the floor .
`` Then I heard voices that were getting softer , a woman calling 'Do n't leave us ! '
.
Then that was it .
I knew I was dead .
Only later did I realise that I was wrong . ''
Despite the close call , he said he will press on with his activities when he returns to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Russia 's regions , stay in hotels and drink water that 's in the rooms .
What can I do otherwise ?
One can not do much to counter Putin 's invisible murderers . ''
For now , he is staying in Berlin with his wife and son as he undergoes the long process of rehabilitation .
`` I take walks in the park in the morning , that 's my task , then I do some exercises with my doctor , then in the evenings I go on a walk again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also begun juggling exercises , he said , `` to improve coordination , so that the hands will move in the same direction as the eyes . ''
Navalny 's poisoning has heightened tensions between Russia and the West , in particular aggravating the relationship with Germany .
Merkel had always insisted on keeping channels of dialogue open with Moscow but she has sharpened her tone lately , with Navalny 's case coming a year after a murder in a central Berlin park that German prosecutors say was ordered by Russia .
Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a water bottle taken from the hotel room where he stayed before being taken ill .
The bottle appears to have been key evidence for Germany 's conclusion that the lawyer and outspoken Putin critic was poisoned with the deadly nerve agent .
Novichok was also used to poison ex-double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury , England , in 2018 .
He survived .

In the first media interview since his poisoning, Navalny gave harrowing details of his collapse on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow after he was poisoned by what the West identified as the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused President Vladimir Putin of being behind his poisoning on Thursday, as he vowed to return to Russia to press on with his opposition campaign.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov also claimed that Navalny was working with the CIA, while the head of Russia's lower house of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, said Putin had helped saved his life.
The Kremlin immediately hit back at Navalny's statements, calling them "groundless and unacceptable."
"I will not give Putin the gift of not returning to Russia," he said, adding that for him "Putin is behind this act, I don't see any other explanation."
"Not returning would mean that Putin has achieved his aim. And my job now is to stay the guy who's not afraid," he told the Spiegel weekly.
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner also said he would not be cowed by the experience, pledging to get fit as soon as possible to continue his fight.
The Kremlin critic was evacuated to Berlin for treatment after he collapsed in August following a campaign trip to support opposition candidates in local elections in Siberia.
He was discharged just over a week ago and his first comments to the press came as European leaders were holding a summit during which the question of a response to Russia may be raised over his case.
Germany, which holds the presidency of the EU, has said toxicology tests show he was poisoned by the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
Laboratories in France and Sweden have independently corroborated Germany's findings.
The Kremlin has firmly denied allegations of involvement and accused Western leaders of launching a disinformation campaign over the opposition leader's illness.
Instead, it pointed to tests carried out by Russian doctors who first treated Navalny which it says showed no toxic substances.
Juggling
Navalny had arrived in Berlin in a coma and on mechanical ventilation. He was finally discharged on Sept. 22 after spending 32 days in the Charite hospital in the German capital, including 24 days in intensive care.
In a sign of how seriously Merkel was taking the case, the German leader paid a visit to Navalny in the hospital.
Merkel has also stressed repeatedly that "only Russia can and must answer" questions on the case.
Putting responsibility for the poisoning squarely on Putin, Navalny said the "most important fact is Novichok."
Only the leaders of Russia's secret services can make the call to deploy the poison, he said.
In the interview, Navalny gave details of the moments when the poison took effect, leaving him breaking out in a cold sweat.
He described telling cabin crew that he had been poisoned before he fell on the floor.
"Then I heard voices that were getting softer, a woman calling 'Don't leave us!'. Then that was it. I knew I was dead. Only later did I realise that I was wrong."
Despite the close call, he said he will press on with his activities when he returns to Russia.
"I will keep traveling through Russia's regions, stay in hotels and drink water that's in the rooms. What can I do otherwise? One cannot do much to counter Putin's invisible murderers."
For now, he is staying in Berlin with his wife and son as he undergoes the long process of rehabilitation.
"I take walks in the park in the morning, that's my task, then I do some exercises with my doctor, then in the evenings I go on a walk again," he said.
He has also begun juggling exercises, he said, "to improve coordination, so that the hands will move in the same direction as the eyes."
Tensions
Navalny's poisoning has heightened tensions between Russia and the West, in particular aggravating the relationship with Germany.
Merkel had always insisted on keeping channels of dialogue open with Moscow but she has sharpened her tone lately, with Navalny's case coming a year after a murder in a central Berlin park that German prosecutors say was ordered by Russia.
Navalny aides said that German experts found Novichok on a water bottle taken from the hotel room where he stayed before being taken ill.
The bottle appears to have been key evidence for Germany's conclusion that the lawyer and outspoken Putin critic was poisoned with the deadly nerve agent.
Novichok was also used to poison ex-double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, England, in 2018. He survived.