themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Navalny Ally Says Poisoning 'New Chapter' in Kremlin Crackdown

Alexei Navalny 's top ally said Thursday that the Russian opposition leader 's poisoning opened a `` new chapter '' in a crackdown on dissent and accused the Kremlin of seeking to avoid responsibility for the attack .
Allies like Ivan Zhdanov put the blame for the 44-year-old Navalny 's poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent squarely on President Vladimir Putin 's Kremlin , saying the latest alleged assassination attempt on a dissident was a new low .
While Kremlin critics have for years accused Russian authorities of targeting their enemies at home and abroad , this is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a top opposition leader on Russian soil , Zhdanov said .
`` This has not happened before , '' Zhdanov , the 32-year-old director of Navalny 's Anti-Corruption Foundation , told AFP in an interview at the group 's headquarters in southern Moscow .
`` This is certainly a new chapter in Russian history . ''
He suggested Moscow possibly wanted to get rid of a charismatic protest leader amid opposition rallies in Belarus and the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk .
`` When a protest movement has a leader it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` They like a leader-less protest .
When there is no leader people do not know what to do . ''
Germany said on Wednesday that Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok , a military grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union .
`` I believe that it 's the Kremlin that bears responsibility for the attempt on Alexei Navalny 's life .
Therefore it has been trying to deny everything and obfuscate , '' Zhdanov said .
Zhdanov said it was hard for rogue elements to receive access to `` warfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state will be inventing the most absurd and crazy versions of what has happened .
This is their style . ''
Pro-Kremlin figures have already wheeled out a number of theories including that Navalny might have been poisoned by Germans .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had not found any traces of poison in Navalny 's samples .
Navalny 's poisoning bears chilling echoes of the bid to murder ex-double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in southwest England in 2018 , using a Novichok nerve agent , blamed on Russian intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that attack as well as a litany of similar crimes .
Navalny , who is being treated at Berlin 's Charite hospital , is still in a coma but is gradually improving , his doctors say .
They caution however that it is too early to say if Navalny will make a full recovery .
Zhdanov said he was confident Navalny would recover , adding his anti-corruption foundation would soldier on in the meantime .
Since the poisoning , the team has released two anti-corruption investigations , with the most recent one published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he traveled last month to work on the investigations and promote his `` smart voting '' tactics ahead of regional polls in September .
Zhdanov said the poisoning would likely prompt more Russians to vote for candidates promoted by his team .
`` Naturally we will link the poisoning to the regional elections , '' he said .
`` I believe it will draw even more attention to these elections . ''

Alexei Navalny's top ally said Thursday that the Russian opposition leader's poisoning opened a "new chapter" in a crackdown on dissent and accused the Kremlin of seeking to avoid responsibility for the attack. Allies like Ivan Zhdanov put the blame for the 44-year-old Navalny's poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent squarely on President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin, saying the latest alleged assassination attempt on a dissident was a new low. While Kremlin critics have for years accused Russian authorities of targeting their enemies at home and abroad, this is the first time a banned warfare agent was used against a top opposition leader on Russian soil, Zhdanov said. "This has not happened before," Zhdanov, the 32-year-old director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, told AFP in an interview at the group's headquarters in southern Moscow.
"This is certainly a new chapter in Russian history." He suggested Moscow possibly wanted to get rid of a charismatic protest leader amid opposition rallies in Belarus and the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk. "When a protest movement has a leader it is much stronger," Zhdanov said. "They like a leader-less protest. When there is no leader people do not know what to do." Germany said on Wednesday that Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok, a military grade nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union. "I believe that it's the Kremlin that bears responsibility for the attempt on Alexei Navalny's life. Therefore it has been trying to deny everything and obfuscate," Zhdanov said. Zhdanov said it was hard for rogue elements to receive access to "warfare agents."
'Kremlin Style'


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Belarus Leader Replaces Security Chiefs as Russian Prime Minister Visits

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday replaced his security chiefs and said progress was being made on plans to bring @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko , who is under huge pressure from protesters to step down after last month @ @ @ @ @ the heads of the KGB security service , the security council and the state control @ @ @ @ @ announced during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin , who became the most @ @ @ @ @ a public visit to Belarus since the political crisis broke out over disputed polls on @ @ @ @ @ thousands have taken to the streets for weeks in unprecedented protests against Lukashenko 's 26-year @ @ @ @ @ has refused to quit and has instead sought support from the Kremlin .
In recent @ @ @ @ @ for closer economic and political integration between the two ex-Soviet countries but Lukashenko has so @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , he indicated he might be open to bringing the nations closer .

Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday replaced his security chiefs and said progress was being made on plans to bring Moscow and Minsk closer.
Lukashenko, who is under huge pressure from protesters to step down after last month's disputed election, replaced the heads of the KGB security service, the security council and the state control committee.
The reshuffle was announced during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who became the most senior Moscow official to make a public visit to Belarus since the political crisis broke out over disputed polls on August 9.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets for weeks in unprecedented protests against Lukashenko's 26-year rule.
The mustachioed leader has refused to quit and has instead sought support from the Kremlin.
In recent years the Kremlin has pushed for closer economic and political integration between the two ex-Soviet countries but Lukashenko has so far resisted outright unification.
On Thursday, he indicated he might be open to bringing the nations closer.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Don’t Blame Us for Navalny Poisoning, Russia Says

“ We certainly wouldn ’ t want our partners in Germany and other European countries to rush to any judgments , we would prefer to be in dialogue , ” Peskov told reporters .
“ I ’ d speak carefully about accusing the Russian state .
After all , there are no charges and there ’ s no reason to accuse the Russian state , ” Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying .
Germany said Wednesday that Berlin has “ unequivocal ” proof that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family .
Britain in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for poisoning former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the same military-grade nerve agent , developed by the Soviet Union toward the end of the Cold War .
There is no reason to accuse Russia of poisoning prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny , the Kremlin said Thursday , as the fallout from the case raises the threat of new Western sanctions against Moscow .
He added that the Kremlin sees no reason for sanctions to be imposed against Russia .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing domestic pressure to abandon the $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wake of the Navalny poisoning .
The Gazprom gas pipeline will double the capacity for natural gas pumped from Russia to Germany when completed .
Peskov said he doesn ’ t think that “ anyone would benefit ” from poisoning Navalny “ if you take a sober look at what ’ s happening.
” He reiterated calls for Germany to share its findings on Navalny ’ s poisoning , saying it would help Russian investigators establish the causes of his sudden illness .
Peskov pointed to this lack of information when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are no grounds to open a criminal case into Navalny ’ s poisoning .
Navalny ’ s associates have launched legal proceedings in Russia over what they say is the authorities ’ failure to investigate his poisoning .
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner fell violently ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on Aug. 20 .
He was treated in Russia for two days before being airlifted to Germany , where he remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator .
Doctors in Russia have reiterated their original claims over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran comprehensive tests and found no toxic substances in Navalny ’ s system .
Peskov said no toxic substances were detected “ before the patient was taken to Berlin.
” German Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated her demand Thursday for Russia to answer questions over the Navalny poisoning .
The United States , Britain , France , the European Union and NATO have joined her in expressing shock and dismay over the findings .

“We certainly wouldn’t want our partners in Germany and other European countries to rush to any judgments, we would prefer to be in dialogue,” Peskov told reporters.
“I’d speak carefully about accusing the Russian state. After all, there are no charges and there’s no reason to accuse the Russian state,” Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
Germany said Wednesday that Berlin has “unequivocal” proof that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family. Britain in 2018 blamed Russia’s military intelligence for poisoning former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the same military-grade nerve agent, developed by the Soviet Union toward the end of the Cold War.
There is no reason to accuse Russia of poisoning prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin said Thursday, as the fallout from the case raises the threat of new Western sanctions against Moscow.
He added that the Kremlin sees no reason for sanctions to be imposed against Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing domestic pressure to abandon the $11 billion German-Russian Nord Stream 2 project in the wake of the Navalny poisoning. The Gazprom gas pipeline will double the capacity for natural gas pumped from Russia to Germany when completed.
Peskov said he doesn’t think that “anyone would benefit” from poisoning Navalny “if you take a sober look at what’s happening.”
He reiterated calls for Germany to share its findings on Navalny’s poisoning, saying it would help Russian investigators establish the causes of his sudden illness. Peskov pointed to this lack of information when asked whether the Kremlin still believes there are no grounds to open a criminal case into Navalny’s poisoning.
Navalny’s associates have launched legal proceedings in Russia over what they say is the authorities’ failure to investigate his poisoning.
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner fell violently ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on Aug. 20. He was treated in Russia for two days before being airlifted to Germany, where he remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator.
Doctors in Russia have reiterated their original claims over the past 48 hours, saying that they ran comprehensive tests and found no toxic substances in Navalny’s system. Peskov said no toxic substances were detected “before the patient was taken to Berlin.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel repeated her demand Thursday for Russia to answer questions over the Navalny poisoning. The United States, Britain, France, the European Union and NATO have joined her in expressing shock and dismay over the findings.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-03--Chemical Arms Watchdog Voices 'Grave Concern' Over Navalny Case

The head of the world chemical arms watchdog expressed `` grave concern '' on Thursday after Germany said Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok .
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) Director-General Fernando Arias added that the Hague-based body was ready to help any member country that asked for its assistance .
`` Under the Chemical Weapons Convention , any poisoning of an individual through the use of a nerve agent is considered a use of chemical weapons .
Such an allegation is a matter of grave concern , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The OPCW chief added that the `` use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances '' was `` reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community . ''
`` The OPCW continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to engage with and to assist any states parties that may request its assistance , '' Arias added .
Germany said on Wednesday that it was going to contact the OPCW about the case but did not say if it would seek its help , as it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The head of the world chemical arms watchdog expressed "grave concern" on Thursday after Germany said Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Fernando Arias added that the Hague-based body was ready to help any member country that asked for its assistance.
"Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, any poisoning of an individual through the use of a nerve agent is considered a use of chemical weapons. Such an allegation is a matter of grave concern," Arias said in a statement.
The OPCW chief added that the "use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances" was "reprehensible and wholly contrary to the legal norms established by the international community."
"The OPCW continues to monitor the situation and stands ready to engage with and to assist any states parties that may request its assistance," Arias added.
Germany said on Wednesday that it was going to contact the OPCW about the case but did not say if it would seek its help, as it is entitled to under the Chemical Weapons Convention.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--Belarus Leader Lukashenko to Avoid EU Sanctions Over Protest Crackdown – Die Welt

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is poised to escape personal sanctions the European Union is drafting in response to his post-election crackdown , the German daily Die Welt reported Friday .
EU foreign ministers agreed in mid-August to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a fresh round of asset freezes and travel bans expected in the coming weeks .
EU members Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania this week banned Lukashenko and 29 other high-ranking officials .
Lukashenko will not appear on the EU sanctions list because Germany , France and Italy “ made a strong case ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open , according to Die Welt .
Germany and France reportedly argued that the “ channels of communication with Lukashenko must be kept open under all circumstances , ” which would be impossible if he was blacklisted .
“ The informal talks have so far been ‘ clear ’ : the EU is letting the dictator from Minsk get away unscathed , ” the newspaper wrote .
“ The talks are extremely difficult because all member states have to decide every listing… unanimously , ” an unnamed EU diplomat told Die Welt .

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is poised to escape personal sanctions the European Union is drafting in response to his post-election crackdown, the German daily Die Welt reported Friday.
EU foreign ministers agreed in mid-August to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a fresh round of asset freezes and travel bans expected in the coming weeks. EU members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this week banned Lukashenko and 29 other high-ranking officials.
Lukashenko will not appear on the EU sanctions list because Germany, France and Italy “made a strong case” that lines of communications with him must stay open, according to Die Welt.
Germany and France reportedly argued that the “channels of communication with Lukashenko must be kept open under all circumstances,” which would be impossible if he was blacklisted.
“The informal talks have so far been ‘clear’: the EU is letting the dictator from Minsk get away unscathed,” the newspaper wrote.
“The talks are extremely difficult because all member states have to decide every listing… unanimously,” an unnamed EU diplomat told Die Welt.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--Russia Vaccine Passes Early Trial Test – The Lancet

Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with `` no serious adverse events '' , according to research published in The Lancet Friday , but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness .
Russia announced last month that its vaccine , named `` Sputnik V '' after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957 , had already received approval .
This raised concerns among Western scientists over a lack of safety data , with some warning that moving too quickly on a vaccine could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to undermine Moscow 's research .
In the Lancet study , Russian researchers reported on two small trials , each involving 38 healthy adults aged between 18 and 60 , who were given a two-part immunization .
Each participant was given a dose of the first part of the vaccine and then given a booster with the second part 21 days later .
They were monitored over 42 days and all developed antibodies within the first three weeks .
The report said the data showed that the vaccine was `` safe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adverse events in healthy adult volunteers '' .
The trials were open label and not randomized , meaning there was no placebo and the participants knew they were receiving the vaccine and were not randomly assigned to different treatment groups .
Researchers underlined that larger and longer trials -- including a placebo comparison -- would be needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing Covid-19 infection .
`` Showing safety will be crucial with Covid-19 vaccines , not only for vaccine acceptance but also for trust in vaccination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wrote in a commentary in the Lancet .
The report said the 76 participants of these trials would be monitored up to 180 days , adding that a more rigorous phase 3 clinical trial was planned with the involvement of 40,000 volunteers `` from different age and risk groups '' .

Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with "no serious adverse events", according to research published in The Lancet Friday, but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness.
Russia announced last month that its vaccine, named "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957, had already received approval.
This raised concerns among Western scientists over a lack of safety data, with some warning that moving too quickly on a vaccine could be dangerous.
Russia denounced criticism as an attempt to undermine Moscow's research.
In the Lancet study, Russian researchers reported on two small trials, each involving 38 healthy adults aged between 18 and 60, who were given a two-part immunization.
Each participant was given a dose of the first part of the vaccine and then given a booster with the second part 21 days later.
They were monitored over 42 days and all developed antibodies within the first three weeks.
The report said the data showed that the vaccine was "safe, well-tolerated, and does not cause serious adverse events in healthy adult volunteers".
The trials were open label and not randomized, meaning there was no placebo and the participants knew they were receiving the vaccine and were not randomly assigned to different treatment groups.
Researchers underlined that larger and longer trials -- including a placebo comparison -- would be needed to establish the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccine for preventing Covid-19 infection.
"Showing safety will be crucial with Covid-19 vaccines, not only for vaccine acceptance but also for trust in vaccination broadly," Naor Bar-Zeev of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health wrote in a commentary in the Lancet.
The report said the 76 participants of these trials would be monitored up to 180 days, adding that a more rigorous phase 3 clinical trial was planned with the involvement of 40,000 volunteers "from different age and risk groups".


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--Travel Ban, Oil Supplies on Russia-Belarus Agenda

Russia and Belarus are preparing to reopen borders that were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and are discussing rerouting @ @ @ @ @ , news outlets reported after high-level talks Thursday .
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Lukashenko and his government in Minsk amid continuing protests against his landslide victory in @ @ @ @ @ a rigged election .
Russia , which has been pushing for deeper integration with its @ @ @ @ @ quick to back Lukashenko after the Aug. 9 vote .
“ Moscow fully supports the @ @ @ @ @ integrity of Belarus , ” Mishustin said in televised remarks .
Lukashenko noted that “ @ @ @ @ @ significant progress in resolving pressing issues.
” Behind closed doors , the sides have made @ @ @ @ @ travel restrictions imposed since late March , the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported .
A final @ @ @ @ @ ’ s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in the next two weeks @ @ @ @ @ charge of ex-Soviet affairs told Izvestia .

Behind closed doors, the sides have made strides in agreeing to lift travel restrictions imposed since late March, the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported. A final decision is expected during Lukashenko’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in the next two weeks, senior Russian lawmakers in charge of ex-Soviet affairs told Izvestia.
Lukashenko noted that “Belarus and Russia have made significant progress in resolving pressing issues.”
“Moscow fully supports the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Belarus,” Mishustin said in televised remarks.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his delegation met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his government in Minsk amid continuing protests against his landslide victory in what the opposition says was a rigged election. Russia, which has been pushing for deeper integration with its smaller ex-Soviet neighbor, was quick to back Lukashenko after the Aug. 9 vote.
Russia and Belarus are preparing to reopen borders that were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and are discussing rerouting Belarusian oil exports through Russia, news outlets reported after high-level talks Thursday.
The Belarus transport ministry told Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency that it was ready to open borders with Russia “as soon as tomorrow,” but added that the decision was for Moscow to make.
Mishustin’s visit also renewed integration efforts under the auspices of a unified state, which are expected to begin next week, the outlet cited unnamed Russian parliamentary sources as saying. It did not provide further details.
Rerouting Belarusian petroleum product exports from the Baltics to Russian ports was also one of the few issues known to have been discussed in the talks, details of which were sparse, according to Russia’s business daily Kommersant.
The sides did not broach the subject of a possible common Russian-Belarusian currency, Russia’s ambassador in Minsk told Russia’s state broadcaster Rossiya 24.
Kommersant’s unnamed sources said the lack of details stemmed from the expectation that they will become publicly available after Lukashenko’s meeting with Putin, which they expect to take place on Sept. 14.
“Despite the lack of specifics and a lot of controversial subjects, the Russian government rates the discussions in Minsk as generally successful,” the newspaper said.
“Which is unsurprising: Alexander Lukashenko could hardly take a tough position in negotiations in the current political situation. None of Russia’s statements following the talks indicated an increase in subsidies for the Belarusian economy,” it added.
Before the election, Lukashenko rejected Russia’s push for closer integration, dismissed Russia’s advances to open an air base in Belarus and accused Russia of depriving his country of $700 million on a failed oil supply contract.
Lukashenko accused Russia of election meddling shortly before the Aug. 9 vote, and detained Russian private security contractors he claimed were sent to the country to foment a revolution.
Since the post-election protests broke out, the 65-year-old strongman has blamed Belarus’ western neighbors, including Poland, the Baltic states and Ukraine, for the unrest.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--Typhoon Maysak Batters Russia's Far East

At least three people died and dozens were injured when Typhoon Maysak hit Russia ’ s Far East on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ floating dry dock , causing it to slam into some of the vessels making up @ @ @ @ @ Regional prosecutors said two of nine crew members were killed when a floating crane beached @ @ @ @ @ regional administration said one man was killed by a falling tree in a nearby village @ @ @ @ @ of the damage .

Typhoon Maysak Batters Russia's Far East The storm killed at least three people and caused serious damage across the Primorye region.
At least three people died and dozens were injured when Typhoon Maysak hit Russia’s Far East on Thursday.
The storm unmoored a floating dry dock, causing it to slam into some of the vessels making up Russia's Pacific Fleet.
Regional prosecutors said two of nine crew members were killed when a floating crane beached onto Ussuri Bay. The regional administration said one man was killed by a falling tree in a nearby village.
Here's a snapshot of the damage.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--Russian Doctor Blames Diet, Stress for Navalny Coma

A Russian toxicologist said Friday that opposition leader Alexei Navalny 's health could have deteriorated due to dieting , stress or fatigue , insisting no poison had been found in his samples in Siberia .
Russia faces the threat of new sanctions after Germany said this week that President Vladimir Putin 's top foe had been targeted with Novichok , a banned warfare agent .
The 44-year-old opposition politician fell ill on a flight last month and was treated for two days in a clinic in the Siberian city of Omsk before being evacuated to Germany .
The Kremlin has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a coma .
In a statement by Omsk regional authorities carried by Russian news agencies , chief regional toxicologist Alexander Sabayev said Navalny had suffered from stomach problems before he fell ill. '' The patient used diets to lose weight , '' Sabayev told reporters .
`` This situation could have been provoked not only by diets , it could have also been provoked by possible instances of drinking to excess which we do n't know about .
It could have been provoked by stress and fatigue , '' he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sudden deterioration .
Even a simple lack of breakfast . ''
Sabayev said Navalny had been tested for poisonous substances including chemicals known as cholinesterase inhibitors as soon as he had been admitted .
The Omsk toxicologist said no poison had been found in Navalny 's samples and his kidneys , lungs and liver had no signs of damage .
`` Therefore we can say there were no toxic agents in the patient 's body , '' Sabayev said .
Contacted by AFP , the spokeswoman for Omsk governor Alina Atamanenko said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and could not provide further details .
Navalny 's poisoning has sparked a new crisis in ties between Russia and the West , and an urgent NATO meeting Friday is set to discuss Navalny 's case .
Pro-Kremlin figures have already wheeled out a number of eyebrow-raising theories including that Navalny might have been poisoned by Germans or have poisoned himself .
Russia has in the past denied responsibility for a Novichok attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018 as well as a litany of similar @ @

A Russian toxicologist said Friday that opposition leader Alexei Navalny's health could have deteriorated due to dieting, stress or fatigue, insisting no poison had been found in his samples in Siberia.
Russia faces the threat of new sanctions after Germany said this week that President Vladimir Putin's top foe had been targeted with Novichok, a banned warfare agent.
The 44-year-old opposition politician fell ill on a flight last month and was treated for two days in a clinic in the Siberian city of Omsk before being evacuated to Germany.
The Kremlin has denied targeting Navalny, who is still in a coma.
In a statement by Omsk regional authorities carried by Russian news agencies, chief regional toxicologist Alexander Sabayev said Navalny had suffered from stomach problems before he fell ill.
"The patient used diets to lose weight," Sabayev told reporters.
"This situation could have been provoked not only by diets, it could have also been provoked by possible instances of drinking to excess which we don't know about. It could have been provoked by stress and fatigue," he added.
"Any external factors could have triggered a sudden deterioration. Even a simple lack of breakfast."
Sabayev said Navalny had been tested for poisonous substances including chemicals known as cholinesterase inhibitors as soon as he had been admitted.
The Omsk toxicologist said no poison had been found in Navalny's samples and his kidneys, lungs and liver had no signs of damage.
"Therefore we can say there were no toxic agents in the patient's body," Sabayev said.
Contacted by AFP, the spokeswoman for Omsk governor Alina Atamanenko said she did not have Sabayev's statement and could not provide further details.
Navalny's poisoning has sparked a new crisis in ties between Russia and the West, and an urgent NATO meeting Friday is set to discuss Navalny's case.
Pro-Kremlin figures have already wheeled out a number of eyebrow-raising theories including that Navalny might have been poisoned by Germans or have poisoned himself.
Russia has in the past denied responsibility for a Novichok attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018 as well as a litany of similar incidents.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--The West Is Outraged By Navalny’s Novichok Poisoning. That’s No Guarantee of Tough Sanctions

Lawmakers across Europe and the U.S. are scrambling to respond to the revelation that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with Novichok — a lethal Soviet-era military nerve agent — with the possibility of fresh sanctions against Russia on the cards .
In Germany — where Navalny remains in a medically induced coma in intensive care after being transferred from a Siberian hospital in August — calls have grown for Chancellor Angela Merkel to drop her long-standing support for the almost-completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project , while both the EU and U.S. have pledged to punish those involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and stock markets have plunged in anticipation of a potentially tough western response .
Despite the shock and outrage , the most likely reaction , analysts say , is a new round of so-called “ personal sanctions ” against a handful of individuals seen as responsible for the poisoning .
“ Many countries could slap on asset freezes , visa bans and travel restrictions very easily .
They ’ re always available as an off-the-shelf option , ” Richard Connolly , director of the Center for Russian , European and Eurasian Studies at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
“ But that ’ s all at the very low-grade end of the scale .
We ’ re talking about sanctions that aren ’ t really going to have any impact beyond those specific individuals , ” he added .
The bigger question is whether the EU or the U.S. might mount a more stringent response through harder-hitting financial , economic , or so-called “ sectoral sanctions ” — the kind introduced in retaliation to Russia ’ s annexation of Crimea and interference in the 2016 U.S. election that restrict deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , energy and defense industries “ I am deeply skeptical that the Donald Trump administration will impose new sanctions on Russia of any significance over the Navalny poisoning , ” said Brian O ’ Toole , a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former adviser to the U.S. Treasury Department ’ s Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) , which administers and enforces U.S. sanctions around the world .
“ The U.S. is hugely distracted by the election at the moment , and with Trump unwilling to cede to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ malign actor for fear it will be a domestic political weakness , it 's hard to see him approving any sanctions , ” he added .
While the U.S. Congress — which has demonstrated bipartisan support for sanctions in the face of a reluctant White House — could pick-up one of the already-drafted sanctions bills currently stuck in the legislature , the EU is expected to be the driving force in the West ’ s response , with Washington D.C. following Brussels ’ lead .
And with under two months to go , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. election — the result of which will color the U.S. position , said Cyrus Newlin , associate fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
“ Trump has been reluctant to confront Russia on a range of alleged transgressions — he has yet to raise with Putin reports that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban for killing U.S. soldiers .
We should expect this pattern to hold if he wins a second term , ” Newlin said .
He added that sanctions would be much more likely under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case of Navalny a new administration would likely throw its weight behind an existing EU initiative rather than embark on a unilateral track .
The EU is also “ extremely unlikely ” to roll out tougher sectoral sanctions , said Connolly .
He pointed out that even the poisoning of Sergei Skripal — seen as a Russian attack on foreign soil that resulted in the death of a British citizen — did not push Europe to introduce new broad economic penalties on Russia .
And if there was any desire from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU ’ s 27 members are likely to thwart a more robust reply .
“ You ’ d need to have unanimity among the member states , and that ’ s not going to happen over a poisoning inside Russia , ” said Connolly , highlighting countries like Hungary and Greece which have taken a softer stance towards Moscow in recent years .
Europe could even face a challenge enforcing the more limited personal sanctions , says Maria Shagina , a fellow at the University of Zurich and member of the Geneva @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can impose travel bans and asset freezes on those deemed responsible for the poisoning , but the crux is to gather evidence .
As the poisoning happened on Russian territory , evidence gathering will be complicated and thus vulnerable to potential litigation that could undermine the credibility of EU sanctions , ” she said .
To aid that process , officials have called on Russia to launch a proper investigation to determine who is culpable — and , therefore , who it can sanction — but are not expecting results .
“ Navalny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a victim of such a cowardly and inhumane attack or assassination attempt , ” the EU ’ s foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said Thursday .
“ We have seen other people being killed in Russia , other opposition voices being silenced : Anna Politkovskaya , Sergei Magnitsky , Boris Nemtsov .
Did we have satisfactory results from the investigation of their assassinations ?
The track record is not very satisfactory.
” Another element of the west ’ s response is increasingly vocal opposition to Nord Stream 2 from the U.S. , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
“ It is unhelpful that this has become such a difficult issue between the U.S. and Germany .
It doesn ’ t make handling this easier , ” said Nigel Gould-Davies , a former British diplomat and senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies .
“ The paradox here is that the White House has been very concerned about Nord Stream 2 , but not on issues like Navalny .
And it 's Merkel who ’ s concerned about Navalny , but not about Nord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to keep the issue of Nord Stream 2 distinct from the rest of its Russia policy .
For instance , the existence of the project did not prevent Merkel from marshalling a tough European response to the downing of MH17 over eastern Ukraine or from backing widespread diplomatic expulsions after the Skripal poisonings .
“ Merkel reiterated just a few days ago that Nord Stream 2 should be considered a separate issue , but that was before we knew about the Novichok angle .
This makes it a live issue again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also increased in recent days , with opposition politicians and the Bild tabloid paper urging the chancellor to back out of the project , which is more than 90 % complete .
Another round of personal sanctions against a handful of Russian secret service or military figures is unlikely to alarm Moscow .
“ It ’ s a nice bit of virtue signalling , but that ’ s it .
It won ’ t have any tangible impact .
[ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry ] Peskov will shout ‘ don ’ t interfere in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Americans will say ‘ you ’ re a dreadfully-run authoritarian country.
’ Plus ça change , ” said Connolly .
“ This isn ’ t something that will fundamentally change relations between Russia and the west .
They ’ re bad already .
I don ’ t see Navalny being the issue that makes them worse .
This will be a minor blip in the recent history of Russian-western relations , ” he added .
But despite their limited scope , personal sanctions do have a wider role to play , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer under the illusion that sanctions will change Russia 's behavior .
However , it is important for Brussels to react to what happened to Navalny and send a clear message to the Kremlin .
This symbolic message of sanctions is equally important and a non-reaction is seen as unacceptable — and even detrimental to the EU as a global advocate of human rights.
” As the recent falls in the ruble and Russian stock markets have shown , the mere possibility of further sanctions — stricter restrictions on Russia ’ s energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — can be influential .
“ Russia knows there are steps that the West — particularly the U.S. — has not yet taken , but could .
And looking at the Russian press , there is concern that more pain could well follow , ” said Gould-Davies .
For Navalny , the symbolism and threats of western sanctions in recent years weren ’ t enough .
He urged governments to get tougher on corruption , and take a stricter approach to Russian oligarchs ’ “ dirty money ” in their own countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , Navalny ’ s chief aide Leonid Volkov called for the most traditional of symbolic gestures , stressing the moral and ethical elements of the case .
“ I really want the international community to make sure that nobody , under any circumstances , ever shakes hands with Vladimir Putin again .
”

Lawmakers across Europe and the U.S. are scrambling to respond to the revelation that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with Novichok — a lethal Soviet-era military nerve agent — with the possibility of fresh sanctions against Russia on the cards. In Germany — where Navalny remains in a medically induced coma in intensive care after being transferred from a Siberian hospital in August — calls have grown for Chancellor Angela Merkel to drop her long-standing support for the almost-completed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, while both the EU and U.S. have pledged to punish those involved in the attack.
The Russian ruble and stock markets have plunged in anticipation of a potentially tough western response. Asset freezes Despite the shock and outrage, the most likely reaction, analysts say, is a new round of so-called “personal sanctions” against a handful of individuals seen as responsible for the poisoning. “Many countries could slap on asset freezes, visa bans and travel restrictions very easily. They’re always available as an off-the-shelf option,” Richard Connolly, director of the Center for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies at the University of Birmingham told The Moscow Times. “But that’s all at the very low-grade end of the scale. We’re talking about sanctions that aren’t really going to have any impact beyond those specific individuals,” he added. The bigger question is whether the EU or the U.S. might mount a more stringent response through harder-hitting financial, economic, or so-called “sectoral sanctions” — the kind introduced in retaliation to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and interference in the 2016 U.S. election that restrict deals with parts of Russia’s financial, energy and defense industries Analysts are unconvinced. “I am deeply skeptical that the Donald Trump administration will impose new sanctions on Russia of any significance over the Navalny poisoning,” said Brian O’Toole, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former adviser to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which administers and enforces U.S. sanctions around the world. “The U.S. is hugely distracted by the election at the moment, and with Trump unwilling to cede to the real hints that the Kremlin is a malign actor for fear it will be a domestic political weakness, it's hard to see him approving any sanctions,” he added. European leadership While the U.S. Congress — which has demonstrated bipartisan support for sanctions in the face of a reluctant White House — could pick-up one of the already-drafted sanctions bills currently stuck in the legislature, the EU is expected to be the driving force in the West’s response, with Washington D.C. following Brussels’ lead. And with under two months to go, there might not be a decision before the U.S. election — the result of which will color the U.S. position, said Cyrus Newlin, associate fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Trump has been reluctant to confront Russia on a range of alleged transgressions — he has yet to raise with Putin reports that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban for killing U.S. soldiers. We should expect this pattern to hold if he wins a second term,” Newlin said. He added that sanctions would be much more likely under a Biden presidency, but said that in the case of Navalny a new administration would likely throw its weight behind an existing EU initiative rather than embark on a unilateral track. The EU is also “extremely unlikely” to roll out tougher sectoral sanctions, said Connolly. He pointed out that even the poisoning of Sergei Skripal — seen as a Russian attack on foreign soil that resulted in the death of a British citizen — did not push Europe to introduce new broad economic penalties on Russia.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel is likely to be the key figure in determining how the EU responds to the attack on Navalny. dpa
And if there was any desire from the more hardline European countries, dynamics among the EU’s 27 members are likely to thwart a more robust reply. “You’d need to have unanimity among the member states, and that’s not going to happen over a poisoning inside Russia,” said Connolly, highlighting countries like Hungary and Greece which have taken a softer stance towards Moscow in recent years. Europe could even face a challenge enforcing the more limited personal sanctions, says Maria Shagina, a fellow at the University of Zurich and member of the Geneva International Sanctions Network. “The EU can impose travel bans and asset freezes on those deemed responsible for the poisoning, but the crux is to gather evidence. As the poisoning happened on Russian territory, evidence gathering will be complicated and thus vulnerable to potential litigation that could undermine the credibility of EU sanctions,” she said. To aid that process, officials have called on Russia to launch a proper investigation to determine who is culpable — and, therefore, who it can sanction — but are not expecting results. “Navalny is not the first one who became a victim of such a cowardly and inhumane attack or assassination attempt,” the EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said Thursday. “We have seen other people being killed in Russia, other opposition voices being silenced: Anna Politkovskaya, Sergei Magnitsky, Boris Nemtsov. Did we have satisfactory results from the investigation of their assassinations? The track record is not very satisfactory.” U.S.-Germany relations Another element of the west’s response is increasingly vocal opposition to Nord Stream 2 from the U.S., a project which has Merkel’s high-profile support. “It is unhelpful that this has become such a difficult issue between the U.S. and Germany. It doesn’t make handling this easier,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British diplomat and senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “The paradox here is that the White House has been very concerned about Nord Stream 2, but not on issues like Navalny. And it's Merkel who’s concerned about Navalny, but not about Nord Stream 2.”


themoscowtimes--2020-09-04--Typhoon Maysak Kills 3, Unmoors Floating Dock in Russia

At least three people died and dozens were injured as Typhoon Maysak battered Russia ’ s Far East on Thursday , local authorities said .
Video footage also showed the storm unmooring a floating dry dock , causing it to slam into the Russian Navy ’ s warships and submarines in Russia ’ s Primorye region 6,500 kilometers east of Moscow .
Regional prosecutors said two of nine crew members were killed when a floating crane beached onto Ussuri Bay .
The regional administration said one man was killed by a falling tree in a nearby village , bringing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three .
At least 55 people sought medical attention , mostly for bruises and foreign objects in the eye , the Primorye administration said .
More than 150,000 of the region ’ s 1.9 million residents have been left without power , state media reported , as high winds reached speeds of up to 43 meters per second .
Dramatic eyewitness video footage showed winds tearing roofs off homes , bystanders being hit by debris and upturned eighteen-wheelers causing traffic congestion .
In addition to the free-floating dry dock , Typhoon Maysak was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of them , Russia ’ s state-run TASS news agency reported , was an arrested North Korean fishing boat whose 12-member crew is on trial in Russia for illegal fishing .
Typhoon Maysak smashed into the Korean Peninsula on Thursday , killing at least two people and canceling or delaying flights .
It was the ninth typhoon of the season and the fourth to hit the peninsula in 2020 , according to Reuters .
A 10th typhoon is expected to hit the Korean coast in the next few days , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Observatory as saying .
“ Extremely warm water of the tropical Western Pacific ” is believed to have caused the string of storms , NASA was quoted as saying .

At least three people died and dozens were injured as Typhoon Maysak battered Russia’s Far East on Thursday, local authorities said.
Video footage also showed the storm unmooring a floating dry dock, causing it to slam into the Russian Navy’s warships and submarines in Russia’s Primorye region 6,500 kilometers east of Moscow.
Regional prosecutors said two of nine crew members were killed when a floating crane beached onto Ussuri Bay. The regional administration said one man was killed by a falling tree in a nearby village, bringing the known death toll from the typhoon to three.
At least 55 people sought medical attention, mostly for bruises and foreign objects in the eye, the Primorye administration said.
More than 150,000 of the region’s 1.9 million residents have been left without power, state media reported, as high winds reached speeds of up to 43 meters per second.
Dramatic eyewitness video footage showed winds tearing roofs off homes, bystanders being hit by debris and upturned eighteen-wheelers causing traffic congestion.
In addition to the free-floating dry dock, Typhoon Maysak was reported to have unmoored several other ships. One of them, Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported, was an arrested North Korean fishing boat whose 12-member crew is on trial in Russia for illegal fishing.
Typhoon Maysak smashed into the Korean Peninsula on Thursday, killing at least two people and canceling or delaying flights.
It was the ninth typhoon of the season and the fourth to hit the peninsula in 2020, according to Reuters. A 10th typhoon is expected to hit the Korean coast in the next few days, the news agency cited NASA’s Earth Observatory as saying.
“Extremely warm water of the tropical Western Pacific” is believed to have caused the string of storms, NASA was quoted as saying.