themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--Early Voting Begins in Stormy Belarus Presidential Vote

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday vowed to protect his country from the opposition and Russia which he said were coordinating violent protests ahead of presidential elections this week .
The 65-year-old has ruled over the ex-Soviet country wedged between Russia and Europe with an authoritarian grip for 26 years and has cracked down on the country 's emboldened opposition in the lead-up to Sunday 's election .
During a televised address to the nation , Lukashenko slammed what he said were attempts by his opponents to organize `` a massacre '' on the streets of the capital Minsk , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` billion-dollar resources '' to create unrest .
`` Will Belarus survive ?
Will it survive this hybrid war ? ''
he said , sweating profusely and repeatedly mopping his brow .
`` We will not give the country to you .
Independence is expensive , but it is worth it , '' he said during his speech which lasted more than an hour and a half .
The former collective farm director turned Europe 's longest-serving ruler is seeking a sixth term in the upcoming ballot after barring his main rivals from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
He has accused European countries and Russia of meddling in the elections and last week the Belarussian security service , the KGB , arrested 33 Russian `` militants '' that the authorities said were plotting mass riots with the opposition .
Minsk says the detained men are members of the Wagner private military company that promotes Moscow 's interests in Syria , Libya and Ukraine and is reportedly controlled by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Lukashenko said during his address that on Tuesday he had received information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south , '' without giving details .
During the animated speech , he also accused an `` army of internet trolls and provocateurs '' of working day and night to destabilize the country before the vote .
The president 's leading rival , 37-year-old Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , is running in place of her jailed husband and has drawn massive crowds at rallies across Belarus in an unprecedented display of frustration with Lukashenko 's rule .
Tikhanovskaya has teamed up the with the wife and campaign chief of two other opposition activists who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large Belarus flags in an auditorium packed with government officials , church leaders in religious wear and military personnel in uniform , Lukashenko described the trio of women as `` these three poor girls . ''
`` They do n't understand what they are saying or what they are doing , '' Lukashenko said .
Early voting began on Tuesday and the election commission said that almost seven million eligible voters could cast ballots at more than 5,700 polling stations set up in public spaces including medical facilities and army barracks and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observers claim the authorities put pressure on public-sector employees to vote for Lukashenko or Lukashenko-friendly candidates during the early voting period and carry out widespread falsifications before the main election day .
Dmitry , a 33-year-old builder who declined to give his last name , said that Belarussians want `` to move forward , develop . ''
`` People are tired of living in this time of stagnation , '' he told AFP in central Minsk .
Tikhanovskaya has called on her supporters to vote on Sunday , the last day of polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to wear a white bracelet so independent monitors can easily identify them .
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , which carries out international election monitoring , has not recognised any elections in Belarus as free and fair since 1995 .
The OSCE said it will not send observers to the vote after Belarus failed to issue an invitation in time .
The organization also raised concerns over intimidation and arrests of the opposition .
The election commission has said that no more than three observers can be present at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the epidemic situation '' and only five will be permitted to oversee ballot boxes on Sunday .

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday vowed to protect his country from the opposition and Russia which he said were coordinating violent protests ahead of presidential elections this week. The 65-year-old has ruled over the ex-Soviet country wedged between Russia and Europe with an authoritarian grip for 26 years and has cracked down on the country's emboldened opposition in the lead-up to Sunday's election.
news Belarus Opposition Rallies Voters With Promise of Change Read more
During a televised address to the nation, Lukashenko slammed what he said were attempts by his opponents to organize "a massacre" on the streets of the capital Minsk, claiming his critics were being backed by "billion-dollar resources" to create unrest. "Will Belarus survive? Will it survive this hybrid war?" he said, sweating profusely and repeatedly mopping his brow. "We will not give the country to you. Independence is expensive, but it is worth it," he said during his speech which lasted more than an hour and a half. The former collective farm director turned Europe's longest-serving ruler is seeking a sixth term in the upcoming ballot after barring his main rivals from contesting the vote and jailing some of them. He has accused European countries and Russia of meddling in the elections and last week the Belarussian security service, the KGB, arrested 33 Russian "militants" that the authorities said were plotting mass riots with the opposition. 'Poor girls' Minsk says the detained men are members of the Wagner private military company that promotes Moscow's interests in Syria, Libya and Ukraine and is reportedly controlled by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lukashenko said during his address that on Tuesday he had received information about "another unit sent to the south," without giving details. During the animated speech, he also accused an "army of internet trolls and provocateurs" of working day and night to destabilize the country before the vote.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Rise By 5,100 Overnight

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow , the western Siberian region of Khanty-Mansiysk and Sverdlovsk in the @ @ @ @ @ rate has remained low compared to other badly-hit countries , raising speculation that Moscow could @ @ @ @ @ authorities began easing anti-virus measures in June ahead of a massive World War II military @ @ @ @ @ nationwide vote on constitutional reforms that now allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power @ @ @ @ @ were initially postponed due the epidemic .
Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 @ @ @ @ @ masks are mandatory in stores and on public transport but not in the streets .
@ @ @ @ @ working on a coronavirus vaccine .
The Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a @ @ @ @ @ clinical trials on a group of volunteers .
The trials are ongoing , and the @ @ @ @ @ to be fully completed in the coming weeks .

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


themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--Which Countries Are Open to Russians – and Vice Versa?

Russian authorities could resume all international flights with countries that grant reciprocity as early as Aug. 11 , the state-run @ @ @ @ @ industry sources as saying Saturday .
Most flights to and from Russia have been grounded @ @ @ @ @ effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic .
Russia also closed its borders @ @ @ @ @ with exceptions for diplomats , relatives of deceased people , high-demand workers and other categories @ @ @ @ @ to international travel , here ’ s a look at where it ’ s currently @ @ @ @ @ from Russia : These places are open to Russian citizens with a mandatory two-week quarantine @ @ @ @ @ are open to Russian citizens with no quarantine requirement : Russia is open to visitors @ @ @ @ @ a negative coronavirus test :

Russian authorities could resume all international flights with countries that grant reciprocity as early as Aug. 11, the state-run TASS news agency cited aviation industry sources as saying Saturday.
Most flights to and from Russia have been grounded since March 27 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Russia also closed its borders to most foreign citizens, with exceptions for diplomats, relatives of deceased people, high-demand workers and other categories.
As Russia eyes reopening to international travel, here’s a look at where it’s currently possible to travel to and from Russia:
These places are open to Russian citizens with a mandatory two-week quarantine upon arrival:
— Britain
These places are open to Russian citizens with no quarantine requirement:
— Turkey
— Tanzania
— Switzerland (from Aug. 15)
— Montenegro (from Aug. 7)
— The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia
Russia is open to visitors from these countries who present a negative coronavirus test:
— Britain
— Turkey
— Tanzania
— Switzerland (from Aug. 15)
— The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia


themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--Belarus Opposition Rallies Voters With Promise of Change

At a small-town campaign rally held by the rising star of Belarus 's political opposition , Elena stood among the unusually large crowd , wrapped in a red and white flag — the colors of the ex-Soviet country 's emboldened opposition .
Like many others at the gathering for opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , she preferred to give her first name only , for fear of drawing unwanted attention from the authorities .
`` I want to have freedom of expression .
To go out on the street and speak freely and not be afraid anymore , '' the 42-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand people filled a small stadium in Maladzechna , a city of some 100,000 people northwest of the capital Minsk , to listen to Tikhanovskaya — who has emerged as the leading opponent to strongman Alexander Lukashenko .
The crowd , packed with young people born after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and with no memory of the pre-Lukashenko era , waved flags and chanted `` change '' as 37-year-old Tikhanovskaya took to the stage in late July .
`` Now is the time when everyone must overcome their fear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think I 'm not scared ?
I 'm scared every day .
But I muster my courage , get over my fear and go to you and go for victory . ''
The stay-at-home mother launched her presidential bid after her husband and popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky was arrested and barred from challenging Lukashenko in the Aug. 9 polls .
Their five-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son have been taken abroad for their own safety .
Another leading rival , ex-banker Viktor Babaryko , was also imprisoned while a third , former diplomat Valery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest .
His fear is well-founded .
According to the Viasna rights group , at least 1,100 people have been arrested since May during pre-election rallies .
Despite the crackdown , Tikhanovskaya was allowed to run in her husband 's place , and her bid to remove 65-year-old Lukashenko has galvanized his opponents .
Tikhanovskaya has drawn massive crowds at her rallies throughout the country where she is accompanied by Maria Kolesnikova , Babaryko 's campaign director , and Veronika Tsepkalo , the wife of the self-exiled opponent .
The women wear T-shirts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Tikhanovskaya 's punched fist , Kolesnikova 's fingers in a heart shape and Tsepkalo 's victory sign .
`` What is important is that this is happening not only in the capital but also in small towns and villages , '' said Alesia Rudnik , a Belarussian political analyst .
Rudnik added that the trio of women are bringing together Belarussians who would not normally participate in anti-government demonstrations .
The day after the rally in Maladzechna , a large crowd gathered to see the women in Grodno , a city in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gomel in the southeast of Minsk came out to hear Tikhanovskaya speak in her husband 's hometown .
The open-air rally went long into the evening with bands playing and the crowd lit by cell phone flashlights .
The largest rally drew an estimated crowd of 63,000 in Minsk 's People 's Friendship Park on July 30 — despite concerns over reprisals after the authorities arrested 33 Russian `` militants '' supposedly planning mass riots with the opposition .
`` Tikhanovskaya is a symbol of the moment , that of the protest vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who does not want Lukashenko , '' political scientist Valery Karbalevich said .
Observers say Tikhanovskaya has leveraged widespread discontent with Lukashenko , who has been nicknamed `` Sasha 3 percent '' in a jibe at his supposedly low popular ratings .
The former collective farm director has come under fire for his handling of the economy , deteriorating relations with Russia , and his management of the coronavirus outbreak .
Even though health officials have registered tens of thousands of infections , Lukashenko has dismissed the pandemic as a hoax and refused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towns and cities across the country were forced to organize anti-virus measures among themselves , including wearing masks and working from home .

At a small-town campaign rally held by the rising star of Belarus's political opposition, Elena stood among the unusually large crowd, wrapped in a red and white flag — the colors of the ex-Soviet country's emboldened opposition. Like many others at the gathering for opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, she preferred to give her first name only, for fear of drawing unwanted attention from the authorities. "I want to have freedom of expression. To go out on the street and speak freely and not be afraid anymore," the 42-year-old bread factory worker told AFP. Several thousand people filled a small stadium in Maladzechna, a city of some 100,000 people northwest of the capital Minsk, to listen to Tikhanovskaya — who has emerged as the leading opponent to strongman Alexander Lukashenko.
The crowd, packed with young people born after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and with no memory of the pre-Lukashenko era, waved flags and chanted "change" as 37-year-old Tikhanovskaya took to the stage in late July. "Now is the time when everyone must overcome their fear," she said. "Do you think I'm not scared? I'm scared every day. But I muster my courage, get over my fear and go to you and go for victory." The stay-at-home mother launched her presidential bid after her husband and popular blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky was arrested and barred from challenging Lukashenko in the Aug. 9 polls. Their five-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son have been taken abroad for their own safety. Another leading rival, ex-banker Viktor Babaryko, was also imprisoned while a third, former diplomat Valery Tsepkalo, has fled the country fearing arrest.
news Barred Belarus Opposition Candidate Flees to Moscow Read more
His fear is well-founded. According to the Viasna rights group, at least 1,100 people have been arrested since May during pre-election rallies. Despite the crackdown, Tikhanovskaya was allowed to run in her husband's place, and her bid to remove 65-year-old Lukashenko has galvanized his opponents. A 'symbol' Tikhanovskaya has drawn massive crowds at her rallies throughout the country where she is accompanied by Maria Kolesnikova, Babaryko's campaign director, and Veronika Tsepkalo, the wife of the self-exiled opponent. The women wear T-shirts with a design featuring their signature gestures: Tikhanovskaya's punched fist, Kolesnikova's fingers in a heart shape and Tsepkalo's victory sign. "What is important is that this is happening not only in the capital but also in small towns and villages," said Alesia Rudnik, a Belarussian political analyst. Rudnik added that the trio of women are bringing together Belarussians who would not normally participate in anti-government demonstrations.
#Belarus.Up to 20k people gathered in support of Sviatlana #Tsikhanouskaya in #Brest. It’s the largest political rally in history of this city and the 2nd largest after #Minsk that Tsikhanouskaya held in recent weeks. Watch how people were singing “I want changes!”by Viktor Tsoi pic.twitter.com/rWVz9WW44V — Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) August 2, 2020
The day after the rally in Maladzechna, a large crowd gathered to see the women in Grodno, a city in northwest Belarus. Some 10,000 residents of Gomel in the southeast of Minsk came out to hear Tikhanovskaya speak in her husband's hometown. The open-air rally went long into the evening with bands playing and the crowd lit by cell phone flashlights. The largest rally drew an estimated crowd of 63,000 in Minsk's People's Friendship Park on July 30 — despite concerns over reprisals after the authorities arrested 33 Russian "militants" supposedly planning mass riots with the opposition. "Tikhanovskaya is a symbol of the moment, that of the protest vote against Lukashenko. She has attracted everyone who does not want Lukashenko," political scientist Valery Karbalevich said. 'Not afraid' Observers say Tikhanovskaya has leveraged widespread discontent with Lukashenko, who has been nicknamed "Sasha 3 percent" in a jibe at his supposedly low popular ratings. The former collective farm director has come under fire for his handling of the economy, deteriorating relations with Russia, and his management of the coronavirus outbreak. Even though health officials have registered tens of thousands of infections, Lukashenko has dismissed the pandemic as a hoax and refused to introduce a lockdown. Residents of towns and cities across the country were forced to organize anti-virus measures among themselves, including wearing masks and working from home.
В Гомеле все желающие даже не уместились на выделенной площадке pic.twitter.com/cQBA8tRxrn — Чай з варэннем (@belteanews) July 26, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--Siberia’s ‘Gateway to the Underworld’ Expands Amid Record-Smashing Heat Wave

Record-setting summer temperatures across Siberia are opening up the Batagaika megaslump , which locals call the “ gateway to the underworld , ” at an unprecedented pace , scientists say .
The Batagaika crater in the eastern Siberian republic of Sakha appeared in the 1960s after forest in the area was cleared , causing the land to sink .
Currently the world ’ s largest megaslump at about 1 kilometer in length and 100 meters deep , it continues to grow in size and depth as climate change melts the fast-heating region ’ s permafrost layer .
Batagaika ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 to 14 meters per year , Science magazine cited University of Potsdam permafrost researcher Frank Guenther as saying last week .
Before 2016 , it had advanced at 10 meters per year he said .
As the crater expands , scientists and archaeologists are discovering well-preserved remains of animals and plants that have been extinct since the Ice Age .
The site also offers insight into 200,000 years of climate data .
Kseniia Ashastina , a paleobotanist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History , told Science magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying “ it ’ s eating their land , swallowing up the trees and their sacred places.
” The news comes as Russia ’ s Arctic and Siberian regions , already warming at a faster rate than the rest of the world , face a historic summer heat wave accompanied by wildfires , fuel spills , crop failures and more .
The town of Verkhoyansk , located 75 kilometers from Batagaika and one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth , saw temperatures hit 38 Celsius , the hottest temperature ever recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In late May , a fuel tank owned by a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel leaked 21,000 metric tons of diesel fuel into a river near Norilsk in what has been described as the worst-ever fuel spill in the Arctiс .
The company has linked the spill to melting permafrost beneath the tank ’ s supporting pillars which caused the tank to crack .
As temperatures continue to rise , scientists say climate change-induced processes like the ever-expanding crater of Batagaika will grow even more intense .
Ice cover in the Arctic Ocean hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year on July 15 , according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center , with the coast of Siberia hit hardest .
The Northeast Passage , a sea shipping route connecting Europe with Asia , was free of ice as recently as two weeks ago .
Last year , it took until late August for the route ’ s ice cover to melt .
Devastating summer forest fires seen across eastern Siberia and the Russian Far East in recent summers , brought on by warm , dry winters , release “ dark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accelerate melting , ” Science magazine wrote .
And as permafrost melts , it also releases methane and other greenhouse gases , adding more fuel to the accelerating rise in temperatures .

Record-setting summer temperatures across Siberia are opening up the Batagaika megaslump, which locals call the “gateway to the underworld,” at an unprecedented pace, scientists say. The Batagaika crater in the eastern Siberian republic of Sakha appeared in the 1960s after forest in the area was cleared, causing the land to sink. Currently the world’s largest megaslump at about 1 kilometer in length and 100 meters deep, it continues to grow in size and depth as climate change melts the fast-heating region’s permafrost layer. Batagaika’s diameter is now advancing outward at roughly 12 to 14 meters per year, Science magazine cited University of Potsdam permafrost researcher Frank Guenther as saying last week. Before 2016, it had advanced at 10 meters per year, he said. As the crater expands, scientists and archaeologists are discovering well-preserved remains of animals and plants that have been extinct since the Ice Age. The site also offers insight into 200,000 years of climate data.
Extreme heat again on the fringe of Arctic.
We are looking at temperatures 15-20 °C warmer than normal in Northern Siberia for consecutive days.
Wildfires continue to rage and sea ice continues to deplete.
[1/5] pic.twitter.com/HGUWHZemvH — Scott From Scotland (@ScottDuncanWX) August 4, 2020
Kseniia Ashastina, a paleobotanist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, told Science magazine that local indigenous groups fear the crater, saying “it’s eating their land, swallowing up the trees and their sacred places.” The news comes as Russia’s Arctic and Siberian regions, already warming at a faster rate than the rest of the world, face a historic summer heat wave accompanied by wildfires, fuel spills, crop failures and more. The town of Verkhoyansk, located 75 kilometers from Batagaika and one of the coldest inhabited places on Earth, saw temperatures hit 38 Celsius, the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic, in June. In late May, a fuel tank owned by a subsidiary of Norilsk Nickel leaked 21,000 metric tons of diesel fuel into a river near Norilsk in what has been described as the worst-ever fuel spill in the Arctiс. The company has linked the spill to melting permafrost beneath the tank’s supporting pillars which caused the tank to crack.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-04--Belarus Leader Claims Opposition 'Massacre' Plot Before Vote


themoscowtimes--2020-08-05--Belarus Vote Threatens Rupture in 'Brotherly' Ties With Russia

The strongman leader of ex-Soviet Belarus has accused `` puppeteers '' and `` Telegram channels '' with ties to Moscow of meddling in the Aug. 9 elections in which he is expected to secure a sixth term .
Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko seems set on burning once `` brotherly '' bridges with the Kremlin during a volatile election campaign that has seen him arrest Russian citizens and raid a bank with links to Moscow .
His security services stormed Belgazprombank — a subsidiary of Russian energy giant Gazprom — which was once headed by a now jailed opposition candidate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management .
The 65-year-old authoritarian leader has also called for military exercises near the Russian border .
But the biggest upset came last week when his KGB security services arrested 33 Russians , calling them mercenaries who were dispatched over the frontier to stir unrest .
Belarus is more tightly linked to Russia than any other country and the two form a `` union state '' with an integrated economic zone , military alliance , and potential for even deeper unification .
But the partnership has come under strain in recent years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a final blow that ruptures the special relationship .
During a televised address to the nation this week , Lukashenko said Belarus was important to Russia because Moscow `` does not have any other close allies left . ''
He has raised the prospect of a `` point of no return , when relations between the two countries turn from brotherly and strategic into ordinary and practical , '' said Arseniy Sivitski , director of the Center of Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies in Minsk .
In Russia , official comments on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing the vote as a domestic issue in Belarus .
But the outspoken leader of the nationalist LDPR party Vladimir Zhirinovsky accused Lukashenko of being addicted to power after ruling over Belarus for 26 years .
`` Power ... is the scariest drug , Lukashenko ca n't get enough , '' Zhirinovksy said , calling on the Belarussian president to withdraw from the race so the polls could be `` beautiful . ''
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the vagaries of campaign politics alone could not threaten the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ties with Belarus .
But she added a veiled threat : '' Regarding the detained Russian citizens ... we will not let any harm come to them , and they know this very well in Minsk , '' she wrote on Facebook .
Valery Tsepkalo , a main rival Lukashenko in the upcoming vote who fled from Belarus fearing arrest , has said the Kremlin may be having second thoughts about backing Lukashenko .
`` Russia for the first time has not taken a pro-Lukashenko position in these elections , '' Tsepkalo told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of countries neighboring Belarus .
`` The Kremlin understands that supporting such an unpopular leader could have serious consequences in the future , '' he said .
Other Belarussians however have a more pessimistic outlook .
Moscow plans to use the elections to `` tame the shrew , '' — a reference to the Belarussian leader — or to `` change him '' for a better ally , said Alexander Milinkevich , an opposition member who ran against Lukashenko in 2006 .
Writing on Facebook , he said the Kremlin offered to bolster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchange for agreeing a roadmap for deeper integration , plans which sparked protests in Belarus .

The strongman leader of ex-Soviet Belarus has accused "puppeteers" and "Telegram channels" with ties to Moscow of meddling in the Aug. 9 elections in which he is expected to secure a sixth term.
Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko seems set on burning once "brotherly" bridges with the Kremlin during a volatile election campaign that has seen him arrest Russian citizens and raid a bank with links to Moscow.
His security services stormed Belgazprombank — a subsidiary of Russian energy giant Gazprom — which was once headed by a now jailed opposition candidate, and Gazprom criticized the installation of new management.
The 65-year-old authoritarian leader has also called for military exercises near the Russian border.
But the biggest upset came last week when his KGB security services arrested 33 Russians, calling them mercenaries who were dispatched over the frontier to stir unrest.
Belarus is more tightly linked to Russia than any other country and the two form a "union state" with an integrated economic zone, military alliance, and potential for even deeper unification.
But the partnership has come under strain in recent years, and Lukashenko's recent moves could act as a final blow that ruptures the special relationship.
During a televised address to the nation this week, Lukashenko said Belarus was important to Russia because Moscow "does not have any other close allies left."
He has raised the prospect of a "point of no return, when relations between the two countries turn from brotherly and strategic into ordinary and practical," said Arseniy Sivitski, director of the Center of Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies in Minsk.
Power trip
In Russia, official comments on the elections have been reserved, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov describing the vote as a domestic issue in Belarus.
But the outspoken leader of the nationalist LDPR party Vladimir Zhirinovsky accused Lukashenko of being addicted to power after ruling over Belarus for 26 years.
"Power... is the scariest drug, Lukashenko can't get enough," Zhirinovksy said, calling on the Belarussian president to withdraw from the race so the polls could be "beautiful."
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the vagaries of campaign politics alone could not threaten the "strong foundations" of Russia's ties with Belarus. But she added a veiled threat:
"Regarding the detained Russian citizens... we will not let any harm come to them, and they know this very well in Minsk," she wrote on Facebook.
Valery Tsepkalo, a main rival Lukashenko in the upcoming vote who fled from Belarus fearing arrest, has said the Kremlin may be having second thoughts about backing Lukashenko.
'Mutual fatigue'
"Russia for the first time has not taken a pro-Lukashenko position in these elections," Tsepkalo told Ukrainian television channel Hromadske during a tour of countries neighboring Belarus.
"The Kremlin understands that supporting such an unpopular leader could have serious consequences in the future," he said.
Other Belarussians however have a more pessimistic outlook.
Moscow plans to use the elections to "tame the shrew," — a reference to the Belarussian leader — or to "change him" for a better ally, said Alexander Milinkevich, an opposition member who ran against Lukashenko in 2006.
Writing on Facebook, he said the Kremlin offered to bolster Lukashenko's position late last year in exchange for agreeing a roadmap for deeper integration, plans which sparked protests in Belarus.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-05--Russia to Remove Hazardous Nuclear Objects Dumped in Its Arctic Waters

Russia 's state nuclear agency plans to remove several nuclear objects from the depths of Russia 's Arctic waters in an effort to reduce environmental hazards , Rosatom said this week as it presented a clean-up plan for the region .
From the late 1960s to the late 1980s , about 18,000 radioactive objects were dumped into Russia 's remote northern waters .
Most of them present little environmental risk .
But some are increasingly seen as a hazard to Arctic ecosystems .
`` Rosatom over the next eight years intends to lift from the bottom of Russia 's Arctic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of radioactive pollution , '' the company 's spokesperson told the state-run TASS news agency .
The company plans to lift the reactors from the K-11 , K-19 and K-140 submarines as well as spent nuclear fuel from the reactor that served the Lenin icebreaker .
In addition , two entire submarines will be lifted : the K-27 from the Kara Sea and K-159 from the Barents Sea .
While the former was deliberately dumped by Soviet authorities in 1982 , the latter sank during a towing operation in 2003 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ east of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago .
It has been described by experts as a potential radioactive `` time bomb . ''
The K-159 is located in 200-meter depths off the coast of the Kola Peninsula .
These six objects represent more than 90 % of radioactive sources dumped at sea , Rosatom said .

Russia's state nuclear agency plans to remove several nuclear objects from the depths of Russia's Arctic waters in an effort to reduce environmental hazards, Rosatom said this week as it presented a clean-up plan for the region.
From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, about 18,000 radioactive objects were dumped into Russia's remote northern waters. Most of them present little environmental risk. But some are increasingly seen as a hazard to Arctic ecosystems.
"Rosatom over the next eight years intends to lift from the bottom of Russia's Arctic waters six objects that are most dangerous in terms of radioactive pollution," the company's spokesperson told the state-run TASS news agency.
The company plans to lift the reactors from the K-11, K-19 and K-140 submarines as well as spent nuclear fuel from the reactor that served the Lenin icebreaker.
In addition, two entire submarines will be lifted: the K-27 from the Kara Sea and K-159 from the Barents Sea. While the former was deliberately dumped by Soviet authorities in 1982, the latter sank during a towing operation in 2003.
The K-27 is located in 33-meter depths east of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. It has been described by experts as a potential radioactive "time bomb." The K-159 is located in 200-meter depths off the coast of the Kola Peninsula.
These six objects represent more than 90% of radioactive sources dumped at sea, Rosatom said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-05--Migrants Clash With Russian Police Near Kazakh Border

Thousands of migrant workers , mostly from ex-Soviet states , have been stranded in Russia since late March , when @ @ @ @ @ halted international flights due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Makeshift camps have reportedly appeared along @ @ @ @ @ as they wait to go home .
About 500 migrants from Uzbekistan clashed with police @ @ @ @ @ tried to force their way toward the border into Kazakhstan , Russian media reported Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ Uzbek migrants and law enforcement broke out in the Samara region on Monday after a @ @ @ @ @ status was never announced .
“ They then ‘ attempted to break through ’ to @ @ @ @ @ region [ that borders Kazakhstan ] .
The security forces returned them to the territory @ @ @ @ @ ” Interfax cited a source as saying .
The source told Interfax that no one @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It was contained very quickly without the intervention of National Guard officers , @ @ @ @ @ Guard told the state-run TASS news agency .

Thousands of migrant workers, mostly from ex-Soviet states, have been stranded in Russia since late March, when countries closed their borders and halted international flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. Makeshift camps have reportedly appeared along Russia’s southern borders as they wait to go home.
About 500 migrants from Uzbekistan clashed with police in southern Russia as they tried to force their way toward the border into Kazakhstan, Russian media reported Tuesday.
The clashes between the Uzbek migrants and law enforcement broke out in the Samara region on Monday after a previously scheduled update on their status was never announced.
“They then ‘attempted to break through’ to the territory of the Orenburg region [that borders Kazakhstan]. The security forces returned them to the territory of the Samara region,” Interfax cited a source as saying.
The source told Interfax that no one was injured during the clashes.
“It was contained very quickly without the intervention of National Guard officers," the Samara region National Guard told the state-run TASS news agency.