themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

Russian police roughly detained 25 people at a protest Saturday backing a jailed former governor in the country 's Far East , the first harsh crackdown on the long-running demonstrations .
Police hit protesters with batons and one man was carried unconscious into a police van while a woman who fainted lay on the ground .
The detentions came as demonstrators held their 92nd daily protest in support of former governor Sergei Furgal in the city of Khabarovsk , more than 6,000 kilometers ( 3,700 miles ) east of Moscow .
A Russian-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accusing the other of intensive shelling of civilian areas and escalating two weeks of fierce clashes .
Renewed fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh , an ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan , has seen more than 450 people reported dead and thousands forced to flee their homes .
It has stoked fears of a full-blown war embroiling Turkey , which supports Azerbaijan , and Russia , which has a military treaty with Armenia .
Police deployed water cannon and stun grenades and detained nearly 600 opposition demonstrators in Belarus ' capital Minsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactics seen since a disputed election that handed President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office .
The crackdown came after the 66-year-old strongman , in power since 1994 , on Saturday took the unusual step of visiting a group of recently jailed opposition politicians .
Two of them have been reportedly released .
Lawmakers in Russia ’ s Central Asian ally Kyrgyzstan chose a populist recently freed by anti-government protesters from jail as prime minister Saturday , appearing to calm a week of violent post-election turmoil .
The president of neighboring Tajikistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 90.9 % of the vote following a presidential election Sunday in which he faced only token opposition .
Notorious Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov ( known as Vovan and Lexus ) said they duped Danish lawmakers into thinking that they spoke with Belarusian opposition Svetlana Tikhanovskaya leader by phone last week .
The foreign policy board , the highest ranking committee on foreign affairs in Denmark ’ s parliament , became suspicious 40 minutes into the classified remote meeting when the fake Tikhanovskaya said she could not turn on her camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that web traffic traced the call to Russia .

Far East crackdown Russian police roughly detained 25 people at a protest Saturday backing a jailed former governor in the country's Far East, the first harsh crackdown on the long-running demonstrations. Police hit protesters with batons and one man was carried unconscious into a police van while a woman who fainted lay on the ground. The detentions came as demonstrators held their 92nd daily protest in support of former governor Sergei Furgal in the city of Khabarovsk, more than 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) east of Moscow. Karabakh flare-up A Russian-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to hold on Sunday, with both sides accusing the other of intensive shelling of civilian areas and escalating two weeks of fierce clashes.
Aris Messinis / AFP
Renewed fighting over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave inside Azerbaijan, has seen more than 450 people reported dead and thousands forced to flee their homes. It has stoked fears of a full-blown war embroiling Turkey, which supports Azerbaijan, and Russia, which has a military treaty with Armenia. ‘March for Pride’ Police deployed water cannon and stun grenades and detained nearly 600 opposition demonstrators in Belarus' capital Minsk on Sunday, some of the harshest tactics seen since a disputed election that handed President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office.
Natalia Fedosenko / TASS


themoscowtimes--2020-10-11--Police Break Up Belarus Opposition Protest With Water Cannon, Stun Grenades

Police deployed water cannon and stun grenades against opposition demonstrators in Minsk Sunday after strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko raised hopes for change by meeting jailed opposition figures .
Large numbers of black-clad masked police , internal troops and men in plain clothes emerged from unmarked minibuses and ran towards protesters in the capital Minsk , pulling some to the ground and hitting them with batons , witness footage on independent news sites showed .
In one video , filmed by a reporter for the Nasha Niva independent newspaper , internal troops appear to run towards demonstrators while threatening them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , water cannon and stun grenades were used , '' interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told AFP .
She said that the number of detainees would only be released Monday , while the Viasna rights group , which monitors detentions at political protests , said at least 140 people had been detained in Minsk as well as around 30 in other cities .
Among those detained were journalists from Russia 's TASS state news agency , although they were later released , the agency reported .
Protesters have gathered every weekend since Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a popular opposition candidate , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who claims to have been the true winner .
The European Union and the United States have refused to recognize Lukashenko 's inauguration for a sixth term , saying the polls were not free and fair and condemning alleged abuse and torture of detained protesters .
The United States and the EU have also hit Belarus with sanctions for allegedly rigging the vote and orchestrating the crackdown on protesters , targeting key officials — but not Lukashenko himself .
Protesters came out with umbrellas on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of mass protests urging Lukashenko to step down , called the `` March of Pride '' .
Independent media reported that several thousand people were taking part in scattered demonstrations as police blocked roads in the city centre .
The protest came after the 66-year-old authoritarian leader , in power since 1994 , on Saturday took the unusual step of visiting a group of recently jailed opposition politicians .
Officially , the meetings were over Lukashenko 's plans for constitutional reforms , which he has presented as a response to public @ @ @ @

Police deployed water cannon and stun grenades against opposition demonstrators in Minsk Sunday after strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko raised hopes for change by meeting jailed opposition figures.
Large numbers of black-clad masked police, internal troops and men in plain clothes emerged from unmarked minibuses and ran towards protesters in the capital Minsk, pulling some to the ground and hitting them with batons, witness footage on independent news sites showed.
In one video, filmed by a reporter for the Nasha Niva independent newspaper, internal troops appear to run towards demonstrators while threatening them with guns.
"In Minsk at least, water cannon and stun grenades were used," interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told AFP.
She said that the number of detainees would only be released Monday, while the Viasna rights group, which monitors detentions at political protests, said at least 140 people had been detained in Minsk as well as around 30 in other cities.
Among those detained were journalists from Russia's TASS state news agency, although they were later released, the agency reported.
Protesters have gathered every weekend since Lukashenko claimed victory in Aug. 9 elections over a popular opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claims to have been the true winner.
The European Union and the United States have refused to recognize Lukashenko's inauguration for a sixth term, saying the polls were not free and fair and condemning alleged abuse and torture of detained protesters.
The United States and the EU have also hit Belarus with sanctions for allegedly rigging the vote and orchestrating the crackdown on protesters, targeting key officials — but not Lukashenko himself.
Protesters came out with umbrellas on a rainy afternoon for the latest in a series of mass protests urging Lukashenko to step down, called the "March of Pride".
Independent media reported that several thousand people were taking part in scattered demonstrations as police blocked roads in the city centre.
Protester's head bandaged
The protest came after the 66-year-old authoritarian leader, in power since 1994, on Saturday took the unusual step of visiting a group of recently jailed opposition politicians.
Officially, the meetings were over Lukashenko's plans for constitutional reforms, which he has presented as a response to public demands for change.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--Russia Shuns U.S. Lunar Program, as Space Cooperation Under Threat

Russia is unlikely to participate in the Moon-orbiting station planned by the United States , a Russian official said Monday , marking the probable end of the type of close cooperation seen for two decades on the International Space Station ( ISS ) .
The proposed new station , called the Gateway , `` is too U.S.-centric , so to speak , '' Dmitry Rogozin , the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos , said , adding Russia was `` likely to refrain from participating in it on a large scale . ''
Speaking by videolink to the 71st @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rogozin pointedly described the ISS as `` a truly international project '' — Russia is unlikely to participate in the Moon-orbiting station planned by the United States though it was built by the two nations and has been occupied by Russians and Americans since 2000 .
Europe , Canada and Japan also participate in the ISS .
The ISS has avoided the sharp deterioration of political relations between Moscow and Washington , with Roscosmos and Nasa operating the station hand-in-hand and American astronauts using Russian rockets to get there since 2011 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its life , probably by 2030 , and NASA has unilaterally launched a lunar exploration program without prior consultation with Russia and other partners .
The Gateway was announced under President Donald Trump as part of plans to return American astronauts to the Moon in 2024 — for the first time since 1972 — under a program dubbed Artemis .
NASA maintains that the project is an international collaboration , and is seeking to involve other nations after Canada , Japan and Italy signed agreements .
Rogozin , speaking in remarks that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some future cooperation .
He said Russia supported `` standardization of interfaces '' that could allow Russian craft to dock at the station .
`` A flight to the Moon is associated with a high risk ... this is why we need to have at least two transportation systems , '' he said .

Russia is unlikely to participate in the Moon-orbiting station planned by the United States, a Russian official said Monday, marking the probable end of the type of close cooperation seen for two decades on the International Space Station (ISS).
The proposed new station, called the Gateway, "is too U.S.-centric, so to speak," Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said, adding Russia was "likely to refrain from participating in it on a large scale."
Speaking by videolink to the 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Rogozin pointedly described the ISS as "a truly international project" — Russia is unlikely to participate in the Moon-orbiting station planned by the United States though it was built by the two nations and has been occupied by Russians and Americans since 2000.
Europe, Canada and Japan also participate in the ISS.
The ISS has avoided the sharp deterioration of political relations between Moscow and Washington, with Roscosmos and Nasa operating the station hand-in-hand and American astronauts using Russian rockets to get there since 2011.
But the ISS is nearing the end of its life, probably by 2030, and NASA has unilaterally launched a lunar exploration program without prior consultation with Russia and other partners.
The Gateway was announced under President Donald Trump as part of plans to return American astronauts to the Moon in 2024 — for the first time since 1972 — under a program dubbed Artemis.
NASA maintains that the project is an international collaboration, and is seeking to involve other nations after Canada, Japan and Italy signed agreements.
Rogozin, speaking in remarks that were translated live, left open the chance of some future cooperation.
He said Russia supported "standardization of interfaces" that could allow Russian craft to dock at the station.
"A flight to the Moon is associated with a high risk... this is why we need to have at least two transportation systems," he said.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--Kamchatka Marine Life Death Caused by Algae: Russian Scientist

The mass death of sea creatures in Russia 's Kamchatka region was caused by toxins from microalgae rather than man-made pollution , a senior Russian scientist said on Monday , citing preliminary findings of an investigation .
Locals on the volcanic peninsula in the Pacific raised the alarm in September as surfers experienced stinging eyes and sea creatures , including octopuses , seals and sea urchins , were found dead on the shore .
Scientists suggested that up to 95 % of marine life living along the seabed in the affected area had died .
Conservation activists had raised concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a Soviet-era storage ground for poisonous chemicals on Kamchatka that might have seeped out into the sea .
`` I am sure that we are facing a large-scale phenomenon , but not an uncommon one for Kamchatka , called harmful blooming algae , '' the vice president of Russia 's Academy of Sciences , Andrei Adrianov , told journalists Monday .
He said that water samples showed a `` high concentration only of Gymnodinium ( microalgae ) '' , which produces `` toxins that affect invertebrates '' .
Adrianov added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms experienced by divers and surfers .
Last week , scientists said the pollution had formed a 40-kilometre-long ( 25-mile ) slick which has been moving south towards Japan and the disputed Kuril Islands .
Activists of Russia 's Greenpeace branch have voiced concern that the `` situation is not improving '' and dead animals continue washing up on beaches .

The mass death of sea creatures in Russia's Kamchatka region was caused by toxins from microalgae rather than man-made pollution, a senior Russian scientist said on Monday, citing preliminary findings of an investigation.
Locals on the volcanic peninsula in the Pacific raised the alarm in September as surfers experienced stinging eyes and sea creatures, including octopuses, seals and sea urchins, were found dead on the shore.
Scientists suggested that up to 95% of marine life living along the seabed in the affected area had died.
Conservation activists had raised concern that the source of the pollution could be a Soviet-era storage ground for poisonous chemicals on Kamchatka that might have seeped out into the sea.
"I am sure that we are facing a large-scale phenomenon, but not an uncommon one for Kamchatka, called harmful blooming algae," the vice president of Russia's Academy of Sciences, Andrei Adrianov, told journalists Monday.
He said that water samples showed a "high concentration only of Gymnodinium (microalgae)", which produces "toxins that affect invertebrates".
Adrianov added that the same toxins could have also caused the symptoms experienced by divers and surfers.
Last week, scientists said the pollution had formed a 40-kilometre-long (25-mile) slick which has been moving south towards Japan and the disputed Kuril Islands.
Activists of Russia's Greenpeace branch have voiced concern that the "situation is not improving" and dead animals continue washing up on beaches.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--EU Ready to Sanction Russia Over Navalny Poisoning

The European Union on Monday agreed to move ahead with sanctions against Russian officials over the nerve agent poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny , further complicating already fraught ties with Moscow .
Foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed to sanctions proposals made last week by France and Germany , which said Russia was responsible for the poisoning of Navalny with Novichok , the chemical weapon also used in a 2018 attack on a Russian defector in England .
The ministers also said they were ready to sanction Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko , as the bloc seeks to step up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters .
Germany and France last week accused Moscow of responsibility for poisoning Navalny with Soviet-developed Novichok , saying `` no credible explanation has been provided by Russia '' .
`` I believe it is of paramount importance in the light of such a serious crime — a violation of international law and the chemical weapons convention — that the European Union shows unity , and it has done so today , '' he told reporters .
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said technical work would now begin , based on evidence provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sanctions listings , though he did not say how many people and entities would be targeted .
Paris and Berlin said last week they would push for sanctions targeting `` individuals deemed responsible for this crime and breach of international norms , based on their official function , as well as an entity involved in the Novichok programme '' .
Measures related to the Navalny case will be made under the EU 's chemical weapons sanctions framework , which ministers extended by a year on Monday .
Four members of Russian military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asset freezes under this framework for their role in the Novichok poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury , southwest England , in 2018 .
The framework has also been used against Syrian officials for carrying out chemical weapons attacks on their civil war foes .
The push for punitive action in the Navalny case came after UN chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed Germany , France and Sweden 's finding that he was poisoned by a nerve agent from the Novichok group .
On Belarus , Borrell said the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some members of his entourage had come in response to the `` evolving situation '' on the ground — and because the regime was refusing to negotiate with the opposition .
The EU has already imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 40 Lukashenko allies for rigging an election in August that returned him to power and then orchestrating a crackdown on the mass protests that have rocked the country since the vote .
Fresh clashes in Minsk on Sunday — police used water cannon and stun grenades on protesters and made hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tougher line .
`` The EU stands ready to take further restrictive measures , including against entities and high-ranking officials , including A. Lukashenko , '' the ministers said in their official conclusions .
The previous round of sanctions over the Belarus crisis was held up for three months by Cyprus , which refused to approve them until the EU took more action against Turkey over gas drilling , but Borrell said he was confident the latest measures will not take so long .

The European Union on Monday agreed to move ahead with sanctions against Russian officials over the nerve agent poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, further complicating already fraught ties with Moscow.
Foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg agreed to sanctions proposals made last week by France and Germany, which said Russia was responsible for the poisoning of Navalny with Novichok, the chemical weapon also used in a 2018 attack on a Russian defector in England.
The ministers also said they were ready to sanction Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, as the bloc seeks to step up pressure over his regime's crackdown on protesters.
Germany and France last week accused Moscow of responsibility for poisoning Navalny with Soviet-developed Novichok, saying "no credible explanation has been provided by Russia".
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas welcomed Monday's decision.
"I believe it is of paramount importance in the light of such a serious crime — a violation of international law and the chemical weapons convention — that the European Union shows unity, and it has done so today," he told reporters.
EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said technical work would now begin, based on evidence provided by France and Germany, to prepare the sanctions listings, though he did not say how many people and entities would be targeted.
Paris and Berlin said last week they would push for sanctions targeting "individuals deemed responsible for this crime and breach of international norms, based on their official function, as well as an entity involved in the Novichok programme".
Measures related to the Navalny case will be made under the EU's chemical weapons sanctions framework, which ministers extended by a year on Monday.
Four members of Russian military intelligence were hit with travel bans and asset freezes under this framework for their role in the Novichok poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, southwest England, in 2018.
The framework has also been used against Syrian officials for carrying out chemical weapons attacks on their civil war foes.
The push for punitive action in the Navalny case came after UN chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed Germany, France and Sweden's finding that he was poisoned by a nerve agent from the Novichok group.
Belarus sanctions
On Belarus, Borrell said the decision to line up sanctions against Lukashenko and some members of his entourage had come in response to the "evolving situation" on the ground — and because the regime was refusing to negotiate with the opposition.
The EU has already imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 40 Lukashenko allies for rigging an election in August that returned him to power and then orchestrating a crackdown on the mass protests that have rocked the country since the vote.
Fresh clashes in Minsk on Sunday — police used water cannon and stun grenades on protesters and made hundreds of arrests — prompted ministers to take a tougher line.
"The EU stands ready to take further restrictive measures, including against entities and high-ranking officials, including A. Lukashenko," the ministers said in their official conclusions.
The previous round of sanctions over the Belarus crisis was held up for three months by Cyprus, which refused to approve them until the EU took more action against Turkey over gas drilling, but Borrell said he was confident the latest measures will not take so long.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--Belarus Police Threaten to Use Firearms on Protesters

`` Law enforcement officers and internal troops will not leave the streets and will use riot control equipment and lethal weapons if need be , '' the interior ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messenger service .
Belarusian police on Monday threatened to fire live bullets at protesters , claiming that opposition demonstrations against strongman Alexander Lukashenko were becoming ever more radicalized .
Peaceful protests broke out after Lukashenko claimed victory in Aug. 9 elections over a popular opposition candidate , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who claims to be the true winner .
Police have so far only acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cannon , rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the protesters .
The Monday statement quoting the first deputy interior minister Gennady Kazakevich was the first time authorities explicitly threatened to use firearms against opposition demonstrators .
On Sunday , police deployed water cannon and stun grenades in Minsk and detained more than 700 people across the country , the interior ministry said .
EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to impose sanctions on Lukashenko , as the bloc seeks to step up pressure over his regime 's crackdown on protesters .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asset freezes on 40 Lukashenko allies for rigging the election in August that returned him to power and orchestrating a crackdown on mass protests .
The EU had held back from penalising Lukashenko , hoping to persuade him to engage in dialogue with opposition forces to resolve the crisis .

"Law enforcement officers and internal troops will not leave the streets and will use riot control equipment and lethal weapons if need be," the interior ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messenger service.
Belarusian police on Monday threatened to fire live bullets at protesters, claiming that opposition demonstrations against strongman Alexander Lukashenko were becoming ever more radicalized.
Peaceful protests broke out after Lukashenko claimed victory in Aug. 9 elections over a popular opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claims to be the true winner.
Police have so far only acknowledged using riot control equipment such as water cannon, rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the protesters.
The Monday statement quoting the first deputy interior minister Gennady Kazakevich was the first time authorities explicitly threatened to use firearms against opposition demonstrators.
On Sunday, police deployed water cannon and stun grenades in Minsk and detained more than 700 people across the country, the interior ministry said.
EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to impose sanctions on Lukashenko, as the bloc seeks to step up pressure over his regime's crackdown on protesters.
The EU has already imposed travel bans and asset freezes on 40 Lukashenko allies for rigging the election in August that returned him to power and orchestrating a crackdown on mass protests.
The EU had held back from penalising Lukashenko, hoping to persuade him to engage in dialogue with opposition forces to resolve the crisis.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--Russia Recruits Rare Dogs to Sniff Out Coronavirus as Second Wave Tightens Grip

In a yard filled with abandoned plane parts next to Moscow ’ s main Sheremetyevo Airport , handlers are putting a pack of energetic sniffer dogs through their paces .
The small , fox-like canines are Shalaikas , a cross between Arctic Nenets herding dogs known as Laikas and Southern Turkmen golden jackals .
Russia hopes it will soon be able to use them to detect Covid-19 in humans .
“ This is in many ways the perfect scent dog , ” Yelena Batayeva , head of Aeroflot ’ s dog training service , told The Moscow Times , holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a highly unusual mix of Arctic and Southern blood .
This gives them the unique skill of being able to pick up smells prevalent in both heavy warm air and light cold air particles that other dogs we have worked with couldn ’ t , ” she explained .
Batayeva added that dogs have previously been used to detect other illnesses , including cancer , making them an “ interesting solution ” when it comes to detecting the coronavirus .
The breed was developed in the 1970s by renowned Soviet biologist Klim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opium from Afghanistan to the Soviet Union .
By the late 90s Shalaikas were on the verge of dying out .
But in 2001 , Russia ’ s flagship airline Aeroflot decided to use them for security as their agility means they can search confined spaces like aircraft cabins .
Today , there are 69 of the dogs worldwide .
Aeroflot , together with Russia ’ s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor watchdog and the Gamaleya Research Institute , have chosen 15 of them to learn to detect Covid-19 .
The sniffer dogs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus by smelling urine samples from patients who have tested positive .
Batayeva said Aeroflot hopes that trials will be complete by December and the dogs working at Sheremetyevo early next year .
Russia hopes the Shalaikas will help to revive its suffering aviation industry , which is expected to lose up to $ 1.3 billion by the end of the year due to flight restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus .
The country is in the grip of a second wave of infection , and on Sunday broke its single-day record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pushing the world ’ s fourth-highest tally toward 1.3 million .
Russia is not the only nation attempting to use dogs in the battle against the coronavirus .
In September , Finland was the first to announce a trial at Helsinki airport offering voluntary coronavirus tests to passengers using specially trained dogs .
The New York Times reported that the first signs are good , with the animals being able to sniff out the virus people who are asymptomatic , or not yet showing symptoms , quicker than a standard PCR test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany concluded that dogs were able to detect saliva samples of people infected with the Covid-19 from noninfected samples with a 94 % success rate .
However , questions remain about how exactly the dogs detect the virus .
“ We know how dogs detect it — by smell — but we have no clue what they detect yet , ” Anna Hielm-Bjorkman , a researcher at the University of Helsinki who monitors the Finnish trial , told The New York Times .
“ If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of dogs across the world.
” There is also research being conducted on the impact and dangers of the coronavirus for animals .
Holland in June ordered the killing of over 10,000 mink after some of the animals were believed to have infected humans in fur farms in the country , while some studies have shown that domestic cats appear to be vulnerable to the virus .
Dogs , on the other hand , look to be immune to the virus , and there has been no evidence of them passing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the trials might harm the dogs .
Over time , she and the other 25 dog handlers have grown close to the Shalaikas , often adopting them after the animals become too old to continue their work at the airport .
“ We are in uncharted territory here and we don ’ t know yet how the trial will end .
But I believe the Shalaikas are up to the challenge .
”

In a yard filled with abandoned plane parts next to Moscow’s main Sheremetyevo Airport, handlers are putting a pack of energetic sniffer dogs through their paces. The small, fox-like canines are Shalaikas, a cross between Arctic Nenets herding dogs known as Laikas and Southern Turkmen golden jackals. Russia hopes it will soon be able to use them to detect Covid-19 in humans. “This is in many ways the perfect scent dog,” Yelena Batayeva, head of Aeroflot’s dog training service, told The Moscow Times, holding a pup called Kapriz. “They have a highly unusual mix of Arctic and Southern blood. This gives them the unique skill of being able to pick up smells prevalent in both heavy warm air and light cold air particles that other dogs we have worked with couldn’t,” she explained. Batayeva added that dogs have previously been used to detect other illnesses, including cancer, making them an “interesting solution” when it comes to detecting the coronavirus.
The breed was developed in the 1970s by renowned Soviet biologist Klim Sulimov to help combat the trafficking of opium from Afghanistan Pjotr Sauer / MT
The breed was developed in the 1970s by renowned Soviet biologist Klim Sulimov to help combat the trafficking of opium from Afghanistan to the Soviet Union. By the late 90s Shalaikas were on the verge of dying out. But in 2001, Russia’s flagship airline Aeroflot decided to use them for security as their agility means they can search confined spaces like aircraft cabins. Today, there are 69 of the dogs worldwide. Aeroflot, together with Russia’s consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor and the Gamaleya Research Institute, have chosen 15 of them to learn to detect Covid-19. The sniffer dogs are being trained to detect the scent of the virus by smelling urine samples from patients who have tested positive. Batayeva said Aeroflot hopes that trials will be complete by December and the dogs working at Sheremetyevo early next year. Russia hopes the Shalaikas will help to revive its suffering aviation industry, which is expected to lose up to $1.3 billion by the end of the year due to flight restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus. The country is in the grip of a second wave of infection, and on Sunday broke its single-day record for coronavirus cases for the straight day, pushing the world’s fourth-highest tally toward 1.3 million. Russia is not the only nation attempting to use dogs in the battle against the coronavirus. In September, Finland was the first to announce a trial at Helsinki airport offering voluntary coronavirus tests to passengers using specially trained dogs. The New York Times reported that the first signs are good, with the animals being able to sniff out the virus people who are asymptomatic, or not yet showing symptoms, quicker than a standard PCR test.
The sniffer dogs are being trained to detect the scent of the virus by smelling urine samples from patients who have tested positive. Pjotr Sauer / MT
In July, a study at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany concluded that dogs were able to detect saliva samples of people infected with the Covid-19 from noninfected samples with a 94% success rate. However, questions remain about how exactly the dogs detect the virus. “We know how dogs detect it — by smell — but we have no clue what they detect yet,” Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a researcher at the University of Helsinki who monitors the Finnish trial, told The New York Times. “If we find this out, we can train thousands of dogs across the world.” There is also research being conducted on the impact and dangers of the coronavirus for animals. Holland in June ordered the killing of over 10,000 mink after some of the animals were believed to have infected humans in fur farms in the country, while some studies have shown that domestic cats appear to be vulnerable to the virus. Dogs, on the other hand, look to be immune to the virus, and there has been no evidence of them passing it on to humans. Batayeva dismissed fears that the trials might harm the dogs. Over time, she and the other 25 dog handlers have grown close to the Shalaikas, often adopting them after the animals become too old to continue their work at the airport. “We are in uncharted territory here and we don’t know yet how the trial will end. But I believe the Shalaikas are up to the challenge.”


themoscowtimes--2020-10-12--Armenia, Azerbaijan Clash Over Karabakh as Russia Urges Halt

Armenia and Azerbaijan have for the last two weeks engaged in bitter clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh , a breakaway region of Azerbaijan controlled by Armenians after a 1990s war and whose independence is recognized by no other state .
Russia on Monday urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately start observing a ceasefire agreed over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region as intense fighting between the two Caucasus rivals cast fresh doubt over the accord .
The fighting , the worst since a 1994 ceasefire , has sparked fears of a regional conflict with Turkey backing Azerbaijan , Armenia seeking to pull ex-Soviet ally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking on warily .
After 11 hours of talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Moscow , the two sides agreed early Saturday to a humanitarian ceasefire .
But repeated clashes have so far made a mockery of the truce deal , with both sides Monday accusing the other of repeated violations .
`` We expect that the decisions that have been adopted will be rigorously observed by both parties , '' said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow after hosting his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange prisoners and the bodies of people killed — had to be implemented on the ground and work was underway to ensure verification mechanisms were in place .
Lavrov said he believed the `` all-night vigil '' that clinched the ceasefire would `` not be in vain '' and that the issue could be resolved on the ground `` in the nearest time . ''
An AFP correspondent in the Azerbaijani town of Barda not far from the front line heard thumping echoes of shelling Monday morning and the noise intensified further in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Stepanakert , an AFP photographer heard the sounds of shelling from the direction of the town of Hadrut .
`` Armenian armed forces , which did not comply with the humanitarian truce , repeatedly tried to attack the positions of the Azerbaijan army , '' the Azerbaijani defense ministry said .
It said a `` large number of enemy forces '' had been destroyed as well as one T-72 tank and three Grad multiple rocket launchers .
Armenian defense ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said Azerbaijan was `` now intensively shelling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces had shot down an Azerbaijani fighter jet but the claim was dismissed as `` nonsense '' by the Azerbaijani defense ministry .
The 1990s war — which ended with the 1994 ceasefire that did not present a long-term solution to the conflict — resulted in the deaths of about 30,000 people .
Nearly 500 people including more than 60 civilians , have been killed in the latest fighting since last month , according to a tally based on tolls given by both sides .
Analysts have long warned that Nagorno-Karabakh was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over after the fall of the Soviet Union , with Azerbaijan vowing to regain control of the territory and Armenians insisting they would never cede ground .
The EU 's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday he was concerned by `` reports of continued military activities , including against civilian targets , as well as civilian casualties '' in violation of the ceasefire .
The so far fruitless , decades-long search for a settlement over Karabakh has been overseen by the Minsk Group of world and regional powers chaired by senior diplomats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Mnatsakanyan was due to meet the Minsk Group co-chairs in Moscow after his discussions with Lavrov .
Renewed fighting has stoked fears of a full-blown war embroiling Turkey , which strongly backs Azerbaijan and has been accused by Paris and Moscow of sending pro-Ankara Syrian militiamen to help Baku .
Lavrov said Monday that his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu had in telephone talks expressed his support for the Moscow ceasefire deal .
Russia has a military base in Armenia and counts Yerevan as an ally in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin has kept its distance from Armenian encouragement to become involved , saying that the CSTO treaty does not extend to Karabakh .
Iran , which has warm relations with Armenia and is wary of Baku 's military cooperation with Israel , has also expressed alarm over the reports of Syrian militia being sent to Azerbaijan .
Iran 's foreign ministry expressed regret `` over the violation of the announced ceasefire , '' urging both sides to resume talks .

Armenia and Azerbaijan have for the last two weeks engaged in bitter clashes over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region of Azerbaijan controlled by Armenians after a 1990s war and whose independence is recognized by no other state.
Russia on Monday urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately start observing a ceasefire agreed over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region as intense fighting between the two Caucasus rivals cast fresh doubt over the accord.
The fighting, the worst since a 1994 ceasefire, has sparked fears of a regional conflict with Turkey backing Azerbaijan, Armenia seeking to pull ex-Soviet ally Russia in on its side and Iran looking on warily.
After 11 hours of talks between the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers in Moscow, the two sides agreed early Saturday to a humanitarian ceasefire.
But repeated clashes have so far made a mockery of the truce deal, with both sides Monday accusing the other of repeated violations.
"We expect that the decisions that have been adopted will be rigorously observed by both parties," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow after hosting his Armenian counterpart Zohrab Mnatsakanyan.
He said the truce — whose immediate aim was to exchange prisoners and the bodies of people killed — had to be implemented on the ground and work was underway to ensure verification mechanisms were in place.
Lavrov said he believed the "all-night vigil" that clinched the ceasefire would "not be in vain" and that the issue could be resolved on the ground "in the nearest time."
Mutual accusations
An AFP correspondent in the Azerbaijani town of Barda not far from the front line heard thumping echoes of shelling Monday morning and the noise intensified further in the afternoon.
In Karabakh's main city of Stepanakert, an AFP photographer heard the sounds of shelling from the direction of the town of Hadrut.
"Armenian armed forces, which did not comply with the humanitarian truce, repeatedly tried to attack the positions of the Azerbaijan army," the Azerbaijani defense ministry said.
It said a "large number of enemy forces" had been destroyed as well as one T-72 tank and three Grad multiple rocket launchers.
Armenian defense ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan said Azerbaijan was "now intensively shelling the southern front."
Armenia said Karabakh forces had shot down an Azerbaijani fighter jet but the claim was dismissed as "nonsense" by the Azerbaijani defense ministry.
The 1990s war — which ended with the 1994 ceasefire that did not present a long-term solution to the conflict — resulted in the deaths of about 30,000 people.
Nearly 500 people including more than 60 civilians, have been killed in the latest fighting since last month, according to a tally based on tolls given by both sides.
Analysts have long warned that Nagorno-Karabakh was the most combustible of the frozen conflicts left over after the fall of the Soviet Union, with Azerbaijan vowing to regain control of the territory and Armenians insisting they would never cede ground.
The EU's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday he was concerned by "reports of continued military activities, including against civilian targets, as well as civilian casualties" in violation of the ceasefire.
Turkish support?
The so far fruitless, decades-long search for a settlement over Karabakh has been overseen by the Minsk Group of world and regional powers chaired by senior diplomats from France, Russia and the United States.
Mnatsakanyan was due to meet the Minsk Group co-chairs in Moscow after his discussions with Lavrov.
Renewed fighting has stoked fears of a full-blown war embroiling Turkey, which strongly backs Azerbaijan and has been accused by Paris and Moscow of sending pro-Ankara Syrian militiamen to help Baku.
Lavrov said Monday that his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu had in telephone talks expressed his support for the Moscow ceasefire deal.
Russia has a military base in Armenia and counts Yerevan as an ally in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
However the Kremlin has kept its distance from Armenian encouragement to become involved, saying that the CSTO treaty does not extend to Karabakh.
Iran, which has warm relations with Armenia and is wary of Baku's military cooperation with Israel, has also expressed alarm over the reports of Syrian militia being sent to Azerbaijan.
Iran's foreign ministry expressed regret "over the violation of the announced ceasefire," urging both sides to resume talks.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-13--Siberian Cop Murders Transgender Girlfriend – Reports

Investigators said they have detained a 20-year-old traffic officer on suspicion of killing and disposing of the 24-year-old victim ’ s body .
He faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years if found guilty of murder .
A young police officer has allegedly strangled his transgender girlfriend to death in Russia ’ s third-largest city of Novosibirsk , media reported Tuesday .
The local ngs.ru news website identified the victim as Viktoria Basakovskaya , a transgender woman whose passport still classified her as male .
An unnamed law enforcement source told ngs.ru earlier that the suspect , identified as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of jealousy .
The Podyom news website said it spoke to the suspect ’ s sister , who confirmed that Denis K. and Basakovskaya were in a relationship .
The suspect was said to have choked Basakovskaya to death on Oct. 5 and then reported her missing before confessing and leading police to the scene of the crime .
He has since been dismissed from the police force , according to the reports .
Basakovskaya ’ s murder comes amid a rise in the number of hate crimes against members of Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The trend culminated with the stabbing death of LGBT activist Yelena Grigoriyeva in July 2019 after her personal details were leaked in an anti-LGBT group ’ s “ death list.
” On Monday , a St. Petersburg court found 29-year-old Alexei Volnyanko guilty of Grigoriyeva ’ s murder and sentenced him to eight years in prison .
The court said Volnyanko , who had confessed to the murder , acted out of “ sudden hostility ” instead of anti-LGBT sentiment .
The Russian LGBT Network advocacy group reacted to Basakovskaya ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grieve as a community and remind [ readers ] that Trans Lives Matter .
”

Investigators said they have detained a 20-year-old traffic officer on suspicion of killing and disposing of the 24-year-old victim’s body. He faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years if found guilty of murder.
A young police officer has allegedly strangled his transgender girlfriend to death in Russia’s third-largest city of Novosibirsk, media reported Tuesday.
The local ngs.ru news website identified the victim as Viktoria Basakovskaya, a transgender woman whose passport still classified her as male.
An unnamed law enforcement source told ngs.ru earlier that the suspect, identified as Denis K., allegedly strangled Basakovskaya out of jealousy.
The Podyom news website said it spoke to the suspect’s sister, who confirmed that Denis K. and Basakovskaya were in a relationship.
The suspect was said to have choked Basakovskaya to death on Oct. 5 and then reported her missing before confessing and leading police to the scene of the crime. He has since been dismissed from the police force, according to the reports.
Basakovskaya’s murder comes amid a rise in the number of hate crimes against members of Russia’s LGBT community seen in recent years. The trend culminated with the stabbing death of LGBT activist Yelena Grigoriyeva in July 2019 after her personal details were leaked in an anti-LGBT group’s “death list.”
On Monday, a St. Petersburg court found 29-year-old Alexei Volnyanko guilty of Grigoriyeva’s murder and sentenced him to eight years in prison. The court said Volnyanko, who had confessed to the murder, acted out of “sudden hostility” instead of anti-LGBT sentiment.
The Russian LGBT Network advocacy group reacted to Basakovskaya’s murder via Twitter, saying “we grieve as a community and remind [readers] that Trans Lives Matter.”


themoscowtimes--2020-10-13--4 Suspected Militants Killed in Chechen Counterterrorism Raid

The counterterrorism operation in the Chechen capital of Grozny was ordered by regional Federal Security Service ( FSB ) head Igor Kochnev in order to suppress `` possible terrorist acts , '' the NAC said .
It involved officers from the security forces , National Guard and police .
Four militants allegedly planning a series of terrorist attacks in the republic of Chechnya have been killed in a counterterrorism raid , Russia ’ s National Antiterrorism Committee ( NAC ) said Tuesday .
“ The criminals were barricaded inside a private residence .
In response to the security forces ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with automatic weapons , ” the NAC statement said .
Three law enforcement officers were killed in the shootout in addition to the four suspected terrorists .
Security forces have seized weapons , ammunition and communication equipment from the residence .
The suspected militants had arrived in Chechnya from abroad , Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on his official Telegram channel .
“ Security forces knew in advance that members of illegal armed groups had arrived in the region from abroad .
... Local residents also helped in uncovering the cell , informing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one of the residences , ” said Kadyrov .
Kadyrov later added that the four suspects were originally from Grozny and had been “ on the run ” in Syria and other countries before returning to Chechnya to “ plot terrorist attacks on orders from the West.
” The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in recent years in Chechnya , a predominately Muslim republic in Russia 's North Caucasus region .
An estimated 3,400 Russians fought in Syria and Iraq on the side of Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The counterterrorism operation in the Chechen capital of Grozny was ordered by regional Federal Security Service (FSB) head Igor Kochnev in order to suppress "possible terrorist acts," the NAC said. It involved officers from the security forces, National Guard and police.
Four militants allegedly planning a series of terrorist attacks in the republic of Chechnya have been killed in a counterterrorism raid, Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee (NAC) said Tuesday.
“The criminals were barricaded inside a private residence. In response to the security forces’ offer to surrender, they opened fire with automatic weapons,” the NAC statement said.
Three law enforcement officers were killed in the shootout in addition to the four suspected terrorists.
Security forces have seized weapons, ammunition and communication equipment from the residence.
The suspected militants had arrived in Chechnya from abroad, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov wrote on his official Telegram channel.
“Security forces knew in advance that members of illegal armed groups had arrived in the region from abroad. ... Local residents also helped in uncovering the cell, informing [security forces] of suspicious individuals in one of the residences,” said Kadyrov.
Kadyrov later added that the four suspects were originally from Grozny and had been “on the run” in Syria and other countries before returning to Chechnya to “plot terrorist attacks on orders from the West.”


themoscowtimes--2020-10-13--Russia’s Humanoid Space Robot Taken Off Twitter After Cosmonaut Spat

Russia ’ s humanoid space robot nicknamed FEDOR has been taken off Twitter after it insulted retired cosmonauts who criticized Russia ’ s space program for falling behind that of the United States .
FEDOR ’ s social media presence came to an abrupt halt this weekend following a barrage of tweets criticizing former cosmonauts Maxim Surayev and Alexander Samokutyayev , both currently lawmakers , of unprofessionalism and “ drunkenness.
” “ Robots , unlike Suraev and Samokutyaev , are not susceptible to weaknesses , do not violate the dry law at the orbital station , do not speak nonsense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its final tweets archived by users .
“ [ Robots ] complete the flight task completely and without comment.
” “ My opinion of people is low , ” the robonaut added .
Surayev had openly criticized Russia ’ s space program , which has been headed by former deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin since mid-2018 to repair its image as a notoriously corrupt industry .
Surayev 's tweets included memes drawing unfavorable comparisons between the cramped interior of Russia ’ s Soyuz carrier rocket and the comfortable seats at SpaceX ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mock Rogozin for scoffing at SpaceX CEO Elon Musk ’ s achievements .
The tech news website Ars Technica picked up on users ’ speculation that Russia ’ s space chief Rogozin may have hijacked FEDOR ’ s account to swipe back at the cosmonauts .
Rogozin ’ s personal Twitter account was taken over by Russia ’ s space agency Roscosmos this summer .
“ These tweets are consistent with the manner in which Rogozin used the social networking site , ” Ars Technica wrote .
Rogozin has denied links to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be tweeting on its own .
It was unclear whether Twitter banned FEDOR or the robonaut ’ s operators deactivated its account .
FEDOR ( Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research ) , or Skybot F-850 , was the first humanoid robot that Russia sent to space .
The 6-foot-tall robonaut carefully mimics human movements , uses power tools , steers vehicles and stands up after falling .
FEDOR ’ s developers retired it in the fall of 2019 after its return from a 12-day voyage to the International Space Station ( ISS @ @

Russia’s humanoid space robot nicknamed FEDOR has been taken off Twitter after it insulted retired cosmonauts who criticized Russia’s space program for falling behind that of the United States. FEDOR’s social media presence came to an abrupt halt this weekend following a barrage of tweets criticizing former cosmonauts Maxim Surayev and Alexander Samokutyayev, both currently lawmakers, of unprofessionalism and “drunkenness.”
“Robots, unlike Suraev and Samokutyaev, are not susceptible to weaknesses, do not violate the dry law at the orbital station, do not speak nonsense,” FEDOR wrote in one of its final tweets archived by users. “[Robots] complete the flight task completely and without comment.” “My opinion of people is low,” the robonaut added. Surayev had openly criticized Russia’s space program, which has been headed by former deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin since mid-2018 to repair its image as a notoriously corrupt industry. Surayev's tweets included memes drawing unfavorable comparisons between the cramped interior of Russia’s Soyuz carrier rocket and the comfortable seats at SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. Other tweets appeared to mock Rogozin for scoffing at SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s achievements.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-13--Russia Sets Single-Day Record for New Coronavirus Cases, Deaths

Russia confirmed 13,868 new Covid-19 cases Tuesday , bringing its official number of cases to 1,326,178 and setting a new record for daily infections .
Russia has set a new record for coronavirus deaths and cases , nearing 14,000 infections for the third time in a week , according to the national coronavirus information center .
The information center also confirmed 244 deaths caused by Covid-19 , the highest count since the start of the pandemic .
Russia ’ s previous highest number of fatalities stood at 232 people on May 29 .
Nearly 23,000 people have died from Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state statistics agency that publishes monthly data says is at least half the real number of fatalities .
Moscow , the epicenter of Russia ’ s Covid-19 outbreak with 4,618 new confirmed infections , has also recorded its highest number of coronavirus cases since mid-May .
Russia has seen its daily caseload double over the past month .
Officials in around 35 out of 85 regions have instituted various restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of the infection .
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the city ’ s restrictions as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take precautions before the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine .

Russia confirmed 13,868 new Covid-19 cases Tuesday, bringing its official number of cases to 1,326,178 and setting a new record for daily infections.
Russia has set a new record for coronavirus deaths and cases, nearing 14,000 infections for the third time in a week, according to the national coronavirus information center.
The information center also confirmed 244 deaths caused by Covid-19, the highest count since the start of the pandemic.
Russia’s previous highest number of fatalities stood at 232 people on May 29.
Nearly 23,000 people have died from Covid-19, a figure that Russia’s state statistics agency that publishes monthly data says is at least half the real number of fatalities.
Moscow, the epicenter of Russia’s Covid-19 outbreak with 4,618 new confirmed infections, has also recorded its highest number of coronavirus cases since mid-May.
Russia has seen its daily caseload double over the past month. Officials in around 35 out of 85 regions have instituted various restrictions in an attempt to slow the spread of the infection.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the city’s restrictions as “light” and urged residents to continue to take precautions before the rollout of a coronavirus vaccine.