themoscowtimes--2020-08-30--Tens of Thousands March in Belarus Capital Despite Massive Police Presence

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched through the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday calling for an end to strongman Alexander Lukashenko 's rule , despite heavily armed police and troops blocking streets and detaining dozens of demonstrators .
Protests have now entered a third week since the disputed presidential election on August 9 in which Lukashenko claimed victory , while opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said she was the true winner .
An AFP journalist and local media estimated that more than 100,000 people came to Sunday 's protest , equalling the scale of the rallies on previous weekends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen since independence from the U.S.S.R .
Some protesters gathered around Lukashenko 's official residence in the center of Minsk , the Palace of Independence , which was guarded by a cordon of riot police and special forces with helmets and anti-riot shields , equipped with water cannons .
Sunday 's rally fell on Lukashenko 's 66th birthday and online opposition messages urged people to bring flowers and `` creative '' handmade gifts reflecting their attitude to the authoritarian leader .
Some chanted `` Get out !
We 're coming for you on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items aloft including a cardboard model toilet with a sign urging Lukashenko to `` flush '' himself away .
Others carried a model coffin with `` Dictatorship '' written on the side and a picture of a giant cockroach , the nickname used by the opposition for Lukashenko .
There were chants of `` The rat is you and we 're the people , '' reported local news site Nasha Niva , after Lukashenko referred to protesters as `` rats . ''
Thousands also held similar rallies in other Belarusian cities , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Minsk Peace March started at 2pm local time ( 1100 GMT ) with police beginning to detain protesters minutes afterwards , as people headed for the central Independence Square .

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched through the Belarusian capital of Minsk on Sunday calling for an end to strongman Alexander Lukashenko's rule, despite heavily armed police and troops blocking streets and detaining dozens of demonstrators.
Protests have now entered a third week since the disputed presidential election on August 9 in which Lukashenko claimed victory, while opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said she was the true winner.
An AFP journalist and local media estimated that more than 100,000 people came to Sunday's protest, equalling the scale of the rallies on previous weekends, the largest demonstrations the country has seen since independence from the U.S.S.R.
Some protesters gathered around Lukashenko's official residence in the center of Minsk, the Palace of Independence, which was guarded by a cordon of riot police and special forces with helmets and anti-riot shields, equipped with water cannons.
Sunday's rally fell on Lukashenko's 66th birthday and online opposition messages urged people to bring flowers and "creative" handmade gifts reflecting their attitude to the authoritarian leader.
Some chanted "Get out! We're coming for you on your birthday!"
Others held quirky items aloft including a cardboard model toilet with a sign urging Lukashenko to "flush" himself away. Others carried a model coffin with "Dictatorship" written on the side and a picture of a giant cockroach, the nickname used by the opposition for Lukashenko.
There were chants of "The rat is you and we're the people," reported local news site Nasha Niva, after Lukashenko referred to protesters as "rats."
Thousands also held similar rallies in other Belarusian cities, including Brest and Grodno, local media reported.
Protesters face off against riot police
The Minsk Peace March started at 2pm local time (1100 GMT) with police beginning to detain protesters minutes afterwards, as people headed for the central Independence Square.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-31--Russia Expels 3 Slovak Diplomats in Tit-For-Tat Move

Russia said on Monday it was expelling three diplomats from the Slovak embassy in Moscow in a tit-for-tat move after @ @ @ @ @ amid a growing diplomatic spat with Europe .
`` The Russian side , guided by @ @ @ @ @ decided to expel ... three diplomatic staff of the Slovak Embassy in Moscow , '' @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
Slovakia announced on August 10 that it was removing three Russian @ @ @ @ @ said was `` serious crime , '' with local media citing a possible link with @ @ @ @ @ Chechen rebel in a Berlin park last year .
German prosecutors accused Russia of ordering @ @ @ @ @ , a 40-year-old Georgian national who was shot twice in the head at close range @ @ @

Russia said on Monday it was expelling three diplomats from the Slovak embassy in Moscow in a tit-for-tat move after Bratislava forced out three Russians amid a growing diplomatic spat with Europe.
"The Russian side, guided by the principle of reciprocity, decided to expel... three diplomatic staff of the Slovak Embassy in Moscow," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Slovakia announced on August 10 that it was removing three Russian embassy staff over what it said was "serious crime," with local media citing a possible link with the killing of a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park last year.
German prosecutors accused Russia of ordering the killing of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian national who was shot twice in the head at close range last year.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-31--Belarus Leader Proposes Vote on Constitution Reforms

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday discussed plans for a referendum on constitutional reforms as discontent with his 26-year rule @ @ @ @ @ The 66-year-old is facing his greatest challenge yet following three weekends of giant protests in @ @ @ @ @ 9 presidential poll where he claimed victory over a popular opposition candidate , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya @ @ @ @ @ held such referendums , pushing through changes that strengthened the role of the president .
@ @ @ @ @ the country 's `` somewhat authoritarian system . ''
Russia has backed constitutional reforms in @ @ @ @ @ after President Vladimir Putin in July pushed through reforms allowing him to serve more terms @

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday discussed plans for a referendum on constitutional reforms as discontent with his 26-year rule has fuelled huge protests. The 66-year-old is facing his greatest challenge yet following three weekends of giant protests in Minsk over a disputed August 9 presidential poll where he claimed victory over a popular opposition candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Lukashenko has twice before held such referendums, pushing through changes that strengthened the role of the president. On Monday, he acknowledged the country's "somewhat authoritarian system." Russia has backed constitutional reforms in neighbor and close ally Belarus after President Vladimir Putin in July pushed through reforms allowing him to serve more terms.
news Russian Troops Take Part in Belarus War Games Read more
Lukashenko's proposals on Monday focused on court reforms and rejected calls by the opposition to go back to the country's 1994 constitution that was later modified to give the president more powers. Lukashenko has sought to downplay the protest movement and depict himself as maintaining control and order. But he has appeared increasingly isolated and paranoid, booed by the blue-collar workers he viewed as his natural supporters and wearing a bullet-proof vest to helicopter into his official residence. Meeting the chairman of the Supreme Court, Lukashenko said that experts were discussing changes, including more independent courts, while he said this was not needed. "I'm ready to argue with anyone that the most independent court is in Belarus. No one should laugh." He said however the system needed to work "without being tied to a personality, including Lukashenko." He said members of the public would be able to "give their opinion: what they like, what they don't," while insisting that "those who yell about being for changes" were a minority.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-31--Russia to Start Mass Deliveries of Coronavirus Vaccine Next Month

“ First deliveries in large quantities will begin in September , ” Murashko was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency .
Russia has registered the Sputnik V adenoviral vector-based vaccine and is touting it as the world ’ s first despite it not having undergone large-scale trials to prove its safety and effectiveness .
Russia is one of several countries racing to develop a proven vaccine against the disease that has infected 25.4 million and killed more than 850,000 people worldwide .
Russia plans to begin the first mass deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine in September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The health minister said production was underway in parallel with post-registration monitoring of the vaccine ’ s effectiveness .
A mass vaccination campaign will begin among Russian volunteers in October , a month after industrial production is expected to launch , according to the head of the national sovereign fund paying for the vaccination project .
“ The vaccine will be first and foremost shipped to health workers and teachers , ” Murashko said , adding that the vaccination will be “ completely voluntary.
” Some 2,500 out of 40,000 volunteers have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine so far , he said .
“ Several more vaccines are going through registration .
We ’ ll reach maximum capacities in November-December , ” Murashko said .
Russia says more than 20 countries have requested over 1 billion doses of the Sputnik V vaccine despite safety concerns .
Western scientists have raised concerns over the speed of development of Russian vaccines , suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after coming under pressure from the authorities to deliver .
Russia has dismissed the criticism as an attempt to undermine its research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilian circulation on Jan. 1 , 2021 , according to a registration certificate on the Russian Health Ministry ’ s website .

“First deliveries in large quantities will begin in September,” Murashko was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency.
Russia has registered the Sputnik V adenoviral vector-based vaccine and is touting it as the world’s first despite it not having undergone large-scale trials to prove its safety and effectiveness. Russia is one of several countries racing to develop a proven vaccine against the disease that has infected 25.4 million and killed more than 850,000 people worldwide.
Russia plans to begin the first mass deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine in September, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said Monday.
The health minister said production was underway in parallel with post-registration monitoring of the vaccine’s effectiveness.
A mass vaccination campaign will begin among Russian volunteers in October, a month after industrial production is expected to launch, according to the head of the national sovereign fund paying for the vaccination project.
“The vaccine will be first and foremost shipped to health workers and teachers,” Murashko said, adding that the vaccination will be “completely voluntary.”
Some 2,500 out of 40,000 volunteers have been recruited for Phase 3 trials of the vaccine so far, he said.
“Several more vaccines are going through registration. We’ll reach maximum capacities in November-December,” Murashko said.
Russia says more than 20 countries have requested over 1 billion doses of the Sputnik V vaccine despite safety concerns.
Western scientists have raised concerns over the speed of development of Russian vaccines, suggesting that researchers might be cutting corners after coming under pressure from the authorities to deliver. Russia has dismissed the criticism as an attempt to undermine its research.
Sputnik V is expected to enter civilian circulation on Jan. 1, 2021, according to a registration certificate on the Russian Health Ministry’s website.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-31--Germany Urges More From Moscow to Probe Navalny Poisoning

Germany on Monday urged Moscow to step up its efforts to investigate the apparent poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny who is currently being treated at a Berlin hospital in a coma .
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a special address to French ambassadors in Paris that Europe needed `` constructive '' relations with Russia for the sake of the continent 's own security but it was clear now that `` dark clouds '' were hanging over bilateral ties .
`` Of course we have the expectation that Russia should contribute more to clearing up of the Navalny case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said alongside French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian .
Berlin 's renowned Charite hospital said on Friday there was `` some improvement '' in Navalny 's condition but the 44-year-old nevertheless remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator .
Navalny fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia earlier this month .
He was initially treated in a local hospital before being flown to Berlin for treatment .
Charite doctors said they believed the anti-corruption campaigner was poisoned with a substance that inhibits the cholinesterase enzyme , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies say he may have been poisoned by a cup of tea he drank at Tomsk airport in Siberia .
But the Russian doctors who first treated Navalny said their tests did not find any toxic substances , and the Kremlin has rejected international calls for an investigation .

Germany on Monday urged Moscow to step up its efforts to investigate the apparent poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny who is currently being treated at a Berlin hospital in a coma.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a special address to French ambassadors in Paris that Europe needed "constructive" relations with Russia for the sake of the continent's own security but it was clear now that "dark clouds" were hanging over bilateral ties.
"Of course we have the expectation that Russia should contribute more to clearing up of the Navalny case than it is doing at the moment," he said alongside French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Berlin's renowned Charite hospital said on Friday there was "some improvement" in Navalny's condition but the 44-year-old nevertheless remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator.
Navalny fell ill after boarding a plane in Siberia earlier this month. He was initially treated in a local hospital before being flown to Berlin for treatment.
Charite doctors said they believed the anti-corruption campaigner was poisoned with a substance that inhibits the cholinesterase enzyme, a feature of nerve agents.
Navalny's allies say he may have been poisoned by a cup of tea he drank at Tomsk airport in Siberia.
But the Russian doctors who first treated Navalny said their tests did not find any toxic substances, and the Kremlin has rejected international calls for an investigation.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-31--Navalny Had ‘Alarming’ Hypothermia in Russia – Airlift Charity

Prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny had “ alarming ” hypothermia while he was undergoing treatment in Siberia , according to @ @ @ @ @ evacuation to Germany .
Navalny , 44 , a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ of Russia ’ s opposition , remains in a coma after falling suddenly ill on @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 20 .
His supporters claim that Navalny was poisoned shortly before the flight .
@ @ @ @ @ Foundation told Russia ’ s state-run RIA Novosti news agency Sunday that German medics who @ @ @ @ @ Omsk , where Navalny was first being treated , to plan his evacuation , observed @ @ @ @ @ whole day of diplomatic efforts on every level and drafting our own medical report with @ @ @ @ @ of 34.2 degrees [ Celsius ] , we finally secured a decision to transport the @ @ @ @ @ Friday night , ” the foundation said .

Prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny had “alarming” hypothermia while he was undergoing treatment in Siberia, according to the NGO that organized his evacuation to Germany.
Navalny, 44, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin and the de facto leader of Russia’s opposition, remains in a coma after falling suddenly ill on a flight to Moscow on Aug. 20. His supporters claim that Navalny was poisoned shortly before the flight.
The Berlin-based Cinema for Peace Foundation told Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency Sunday that German medics who arrived in the city of Omsk, where Navalny was first being treated, to plan his evacuation, observed hypothermia.
“After a whole day of diplomatic efforts on every level and drafting our own medical report with an extremely alarming low temperature of 34.2 degrees [Celsius], we finally secured a decision to transport the patient at 22:00 local time Friday night,” the foundation said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-31--Russian Student Activist Zhukov Beaten

Russian Student Activist Zhukov Beaten

Prominent student activist Yegor Zhukov , who became a figurehead of the summer 2019 protests in Moscow , was briefly hospitalized after unknown men assaulted him outside his home late Sunday , his supporters said .
Zhukov , 22 , had said earlier in the day that Moscow ’ s prestigious Higher School of Economics ( HSE ) expelled him from a master ’ s degree program “ on orders from above ” less than two hours after accepting him .
“ The university leadership was unpleasantly surprised to learn that I got accepted , ” Zhukov said on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source at HSE .
HSE said on its website that it had closed down Zhukov ’ s program on the art of cinema because it had been unable to form a core team of instructors “ for reasons beyond the university ’ s control.
” Zhukov accused the HSE of following political orders .
“ Either the presidential administration or the FSB [ security service ] ordered after I was convicted that I could never become a master ’ s student at HSE or there would be consequences , ” Zhukov said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of Moscow ’ s protests last summer after authorities barred the opposition from fielding any candidates for city council and fellow students rallied in his support following his arrest .
In December , Zhukov was sentenced to three years probation and banned from using the internet on charges of calling for extremism online .
Photographs on a Telegram channel run by Zhukov ’ s supporters showed him outside his home and at a police station with a swollen and bloodied face .
He did not appear to have been incapacitated by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yegor remains calm and is even making jokes about the incident , ” said a post on the Telegram channel .
It added that eyewitnesses saw two men attacking Zhukov and fleeing on scooters .
Moscow police said they have opened a criminal case investigating battery after Zhukov filed charges .

Prominent student activist Yegor Zhukov, who became a figurehead of the summer 2019 protests in Moscow, was briefly hospitalized after unknown men assaulted him outside his home late Sunday, his supporters said. Zhukov, 22, had said earlier in the day that Moscow’s prestigious Higher School of Economics (HSE) expelled him from a master’s degree program “on orders from above” less than two hours after accepting him. “The university leadership was unpleasantly surprised to learn that I got accepted,” Zhukov said on his YouTube page, citing an unnamed high-level source at HSE.
HSE said on its website that it had closed down Zhukov’s program on the art of cinema because it had been unable to form a core team of instructors “for reasons beyond the university’s control.” Zhukov accused the HSE of following political orders. “Either the presidential administration or the FSB [security service] ordered after I was convicted that I could never become a master’s student at HSE or there would be consequences,” Zhukov said, citing unnamed sources.