themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--Russia Coronavirus Cases Surge Past One Million

Russia surpassed 1 million cases of Covid-19 nationwide on Tuesday , making it the fourth country after the United States , Brazil and India to reach the milestone .
On Monday , Russia ’ s Health Minister announced plans to begin the first mass deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine this month , as the country is racing to produce a vaccine against the disease that has infected 25.4 million and killed more than 850,000 .
Despite the high coronavirus infection numbers , Russia 's fatality rate has remained low compared with other badly hit countries , raising speculation that Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 24 hours 123 people have died , bringing the total official death toll to 17,299 .
However , separate figures recently published by Russia ’ s statistics agency Rosstat found that the number of deaths from the virus could be much higher than the official tally , which is updated daily by the country ’ s coronavirus task force .
Those figures show that almost 12,000 people with coronavirus died in June alone , with the virus confirmed or believed to be the main cause of death in more than 7,000 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only 4,880 for the same period .

Russia surpassed 1 million cases of Covid-19 nationwide on Tuesday, making it the fourth country after the United States, Brazil and India to reach the milestone.
On Monday, Russia’s Health Minister announced plans to begin the first mass deliveries of its coronavirus vaccine this month, as the country is racing to produce a vaccine against the disease that has infected 25.4 million and killed more than 850,000.
Despite the high coronavirus infection numbers, Russia's fatality rate has remained low compared with other badly hit countries, raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures. Over the past 24 hours 123 people have died, bringing the total official death toll to 17,299.
However, separate figures recently published by Russia’s statistics agency Rosstat found that the number of deaths from the virus could be much higher than the official tally, which is updated daily by the country’s coronavirus task force.
Those figures show that almost 12,000 people with coronavirus died in June alone, with the virus confirmed or believed to be the main cause of death in more than 7,000 cases, while the task force figures showed only 4,880 for the same period.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--Russian Schools Reopen as Coronavirus Cases Climb

In preparation for the reopening of schools , Moscow city authorities ran coronavirus tests on all 180,000 employees of the capital ’ s education system , including teachers , canteen workers , cleaners and other staff .
Some 3 % — or 5,500 — tested positive and will be temporarily kept away from schools , while another 13.3 % were found to have antibodies .
`` All [ coronavirus safety ] requirements will be taken into account in order to protect our children and teachers as much as possible , '' Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said last month when announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an uneasy Den Znanii , or Day of Knowledge as Sept. 1 is known in Russia , as the country continues to register nearly 5,000 new coronavirus cases per day , and doctors have sounded the alarm that reopening schools could lead to an “ explosion ” of the virus .
Students across Russia are heading back to school Tuesday for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic .
A set of guidelines sent to Russia ’ s regions by the Education Ministry and consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear face masks , but orders schools to provide hand sanitizer and install air disinfecting machines .
According to the guidelines , students should have their temperatures taken at the entrance to school each day .
If a student ’ s temperature is above 37.1 degrees Celsius , they must be isolated until a parent or an ambulance can pick them up .
Each class will also be assigned a designated classroom that only its students will use , the guidelines say .
Classes will only switch rooms for art and science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Students should be spaced at least 2.5 square meters apart , and the guidelines also recommend staggering breaks so large numbers of students don ’ t gather in hallways at one time .
Schools should be cleaned daily with disinfectant in addition to a more thorough weekly cleaning , the guidelines say .
Mass events involving multiple classes remain prohibited .
Switching to remote learning will be considered “ if the epidemiological situation worsens , ” the guidelines say .
During the height of Russia ’ s coronavirus outbreak in the spring , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning , which posed a major challenge to students living in parts of the country that lack adequate technology infrastructure .
Parents are trying to balance the risk to health with the desire to return to normal life .
“ I think there are risks , but not more than for those who commute to work in the metro , for example , ” Natalia Burlinova , whose daughter will attend a public kindergarten in Moscow , told The Moscow Times .
Many schools have started fundraising to purchase air disinfecting machines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the city of Chelyabinsk , several teachers reportedly quit after they were forced to ask parents to donate money toward the equipment .
Schools have also raised questions about the Education Ministry and Rospotrebnadzor ’ s spacing guidelines , arguing that they won ’ t have enough space in their classrooms to accommodate all students .
Teachers and healthcare workers will be first to be offered Russia ’ s highly touted Sputnik V vaccine while it continues to undergo clinical trials this month .
The Health Ministry has said that vaccinations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , parents and students are embracing Den Znanii 2020 .
“ People talk about a second wave , but everyone hopes that there will be no new quarantine .
People have gotten used to the idea that the coronavirus is near and can touch you , but life continues , you have to earn a living and children have to go to school and get an education , ” said Burlinova .

In preparation for the reopening of schools, Moscow city authorities ran coronavirus tests on all 180,000 employees of the capital’s education system, including teachers, canteen workers, cleaners and other staff. Some 3% — or 5,500 — tested positive and will be temporarily kept away from schools, while another 13.3% were found to have antibodies.
"All [coronavirus safety] requirements will be taken into account in order to protect our children and teachers as much as possible," Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said last month when announcing plans for schools to reopen.
It’s an uneasy Den Znanii, or Day of Knowledge as Sept. 1 is known in Russia, as the country continues to register nearly 5,000 new coronavirus cases per day, and doctors have sounded the alarm that reopening schools could lead to an “ explosion ” of the virus.
Students across Russia are heading back to school Tuesday for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
A set of guidelines sent to Russia’s regions by the Education Ministry and consumer protection watchdog Rospotrebnadzor says nothing about requiring teachers or students to wear face masks, but orders schools to provide hand sanitizer and install air disinfecting machines.
According to the guidelines, students should have their temperatures taken at the entrance to school each day. If a student’s temperature is above 37.1 degrees Celsius, they must be isolated until a parent or an ambulance can pick them up.
Each class will also be assigned a designated classroom that only its students will use, the guidelines say. Classes will only switch rooms for art and science classes as they require special equipment. Students should be spaced at least 2.5 square meters apart, and the guidelines also recommend staggering breaks so large numbers of students don’t gather in hallways at one time.
Schools should be cleaned daily with disinfectant in addition to a more thorough weekly cleaning, the guidelines say. Mass events involving multiple classes remain prohibited.
Switching to remote learning will be considered “if the epidemiological situation worsens,” the guidelines say. During the height of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak in the spring, schools nationwide closed and switched to online learning, which posed a major challenge to students living in parts of the country that lack adequate technology infrastructure.
Parents are trying to balance the risk to health with the desire to return to normal life.
“I think there are risks, but not more than for those who commute to work in the metro, for example,” a Moscow woman whose daughter will attend a public kindergarten told The Moscow Times.
Many schools have started fundraising to purchase air disinfecting machines for their classrooms, BBC Russia has reported. In the city of Chelyabinsk, several teachers reportedly quit after they were forced to ask parents to donate money toward the equipment.
Schools have also raised questions about the Education Ministry and Rospotrebnadzor’s spacing guidelines, arguing that they won’t have enough space in their classrooms to accommodate all students.
Teachers and healthcare workers will be first to be offered Russia’s highly touted Sputnik V vaccine while it continues to undergo clinical trials this month. The Health Ministry has said that vaccinations will be voluntary.
For now, though, parents and students are embracing Den Znanii 2020.
“People talk about a second wave, but everyone hopes that there will be no new quarantine. People have gotten used to the idea that the coronavirus is near and can touch you, but life continues, you have to earn a living and children have to go to school and get an education,” the Moscow mother said.
Jake Cordell contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--Facebook Nabs Russia-linked Campaign to Fuel US Chaos

Facebook on Tuesday said that it caught a budding Russia-linked campaign to fuel political chaos in the US , working off a tip from the FBI in its latest take-down of coordinated inauthentic behavior at the leading social network .
The network of 13 Facebook accounts and two pages posing as journalists and targeting left-wing progressives was removed for violating a policy against `` foreign interference '' at the platform .
The investigation that uncovered the covert operation , which was linked to the Internet Research Agency in Russia ( IRA ) , started with a tip from the Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher .
The network was in the early stages of building an audience , with little engagement from users , Facebook said .
`` They put substantial effort into creating elaborate fictitious personas , trying to make fake accounts look as real as possible , '' Gleicher said while briefing reporters .
The list of topics in posts included `` social and racial justice in the US and UK , NATO and EU politics , alleged Western war crimes and corruption , environmental issues , the founder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus pandemic , criticism of fracking , French influence in Africa , the Biden-Harris campaign , QAnon , President Trump and his policies , and the US military policies in Africa. ''
.
Unwitting freelance writers were recruited to write material to be posted online , according to Facebook .
The Facebook pages were said to be crafted to drive viewers to websites of the social network , and their operators were working diligently to get approval to run targeted ads .
`` It follows a steady pattern where particularly Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are , but their impact is smaller and smaller and they are getting caught earlier , '' Gleicher said .
`` These actors are caught between a rock and hard place : run a large network that gets caught quickly or run a small network that has limited reach . ''
The campaign targeted its audience with English-language content focused heavily on a small number of political groups , including Democratic Socialists , environmentalists , and disgruntled Democrats in the US , according to an analysis by Graphika .
A consistent target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain and the US with the potential to be dissuaded from supporting centrist leadership of the Democratic and Labour parties , Graphika determined .
The network worked to amplify a PeaceData website that posed as an independent news outlet , the analysis found .
Only about five percent of the English-language articles on the website dealt primarily with the US election or candidates , but they appeared oriented to build a left-wing audience and steer it away from Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s campaign , in the same way that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Hillary Clinton in 2016 , according to Graphika .
The operation had a presence on Twitter and LinkedIn as well as on Facebook , according to the social network analysis specialist .
Twitter said it suspended five accounts linked to Russia for `` platform manipulation . ''
The accounts appeared to be associated with the PeaceData website and appeared to gain little traction on Twitter before being removed , according to the one-to-many messaging platform .
`` Regardless of the low-level impact in this case , governments around the world must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tweet .
Twitter is blocking links to content from the PeaceData website , which could still be accessed online Tuesday .
The website began publishing in December , and the Facebook accounts were set up in May , according to Graphika .
`` The network was in its infancy when it was taken down , '' Graphika concluded .

Facebook on Tuesday said that it caught a budding Russia-linked campaign to fuel political chaos in the U.S., working off a tip from the FBI in its latest take-down of coordinated inauthentic behavior at the leading social network. The network of 13 Facebook accounts and two pages posing as journalists and targeting left-wing progressives was removed for violating a policy against "foreign interference" at the platform. The investigation that uncovered the covert operation, which was linked to the Internet Research Agency in Russia (IRA), started with a tip from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to Facebook head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher. The network was in the early stages of building an audience, with little engagement from users, Facebook said.
"They put substantial effort into creating elaborate fictitious personas, trying to make fake accounts look as real as possible," Gleicher said while briefing reporters. The list of topics in posts included "social and racial justice in the U.S. and Britain, NATO and EU politics, alleged Western war crimes and corruption, environmental issues, the founder of Wikileaks, tensions between Israel and Palestine, the coronavirus pandemic, criticism of fracking, French influence in Africa, the Biden-Harris campaign, QAnon, President Trump and his policies, and the U.S. military policies in Africa.". Unwitting freelance writers were recruited to write material to be posted online, according to Facebook. The Facebook pages were said to be crafted to drive viewers to websites of the social network, and their operators were working diligently to get approval to run targeted ads. "It follows a steady pattern where particularly Russian actors have gotten better at hiding who they are, but their impact is smaller and smaller and they are getting caught earlier," Gleicher said. "These actors are caught between a rock and hard place: run a large network that gets caught quickly or run a small network that has limited reach."
Beyond Facebook


themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--Belarus Detains Students Marking New Term With Protests

Police in Belarus detained several dozen university students on Tuesday as they marked the first day of school with protests against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko .
Hundreds of students took to the streets of the capital Minsk for the latest in three weeks of rallies rejecting the strongman 's claim to have won a sixth term in elections last month and demanding he resign .
Students from several universities chanted `` Fascists ! ''
and `` This is our city ! ''
Some attempted to form a human chain but were detained by riot police , with rights group Viasna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thousands of Belarusians have been taking part in unprecedented protests since the August 9 election , which Lukashenko says he won with 80 percent of the vote but critics say was rigged .
More than 100,000 people have flooded the streets of Minsk for three straight weekends to demand the resignation of the 66-year-old strongman , who has ruled the ex-Soviet country since 1994 .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the possibility of sending military support if Belarus `` starts to get out of control '' and Lukashenko has been pictured brandishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has dismissed the calls to resign , brushed off the idea of holding new elections and instead detained protesters and members of the opposition .
On Tuesday , Lukashenko vowed to punish EU members Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania after they banned him and 29 other high-ranking officials over the election and subsequent crackdown .
`` We will simply try to solve this problem with economic methods , '' Lukashenko said on a visit to the western city of Baranovichi , suggesting he could re-rout Belarusian cargo from Baltic ports and send it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be a little bit disadvantageous for us .
But we can agree with Russians on tariffs . ''
Lukashenko also accused the opposition of wanting to cut the country `` into pieces '' and claimed that if his critics came to power `` it will be massacre '' .
`` What happened in Ukraine will be just a walk in the park '' in comparison , he said , in an apparent reference to a Kiev uprising and the outbreak of a separatist insurgency in Ukraine in 2014 .
Lukashenko has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms , in what appears to be an attempt at compromise .
His election rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rejected the proposal on Tuesday , accusing Lukashenko of playing for time .
`` Citizens ' demands come first , then reforms that are only possible after honest elections , '' she wrote on her Telegram channel .
Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran in the election after her husband was jailed and barred from the vote , insists she won the vote .
She left the country and was granted refuge in Lithuania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday voiced support for Lukashenko 's proposal of constitutional reforms and denounced sanctions against Belarus as `` unacceptable '' .
Lavrov said Western countries were `` delivering verdicts '' on events in Belarus , which Moscow considered `` to be unacceptable in the modern world . ''
During the first days of demonstrations , Lukashenko 's security forces detained thousands of protesters , many of whom accused police of beatings and torture .
On Tuesday , the UN 's special rapporteur on torture said Belarus must `` stop torturing protesters '' and bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beaten them with impunity .
Nils Melzer and 14 other UN human rights experts said they had received reports of 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty in the mass protests and arrests .
`` We are extremely alarmed at the hundreds of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in police custody , '' they said .

Police in Belarus detained several dozen university students on Tuesday as they marked the first day of school with protests against strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko. Hundreds of students took to the streets of the capital Minsk for the latest in three weeks of rallies rejecting the strongman's claim to have won a sixth term in elections last month and demanding he resign. Students from several universities chanted "Fascists!" and "This is our city!" Some attempted to form a human chain but were detained by riot police, with rights group Viasna saying more than 40 were arrested. Thousands of Belarusians have been taking part in unprecedented protests since the August 9 election, which Lukashenko says he won with 80 percent of the vote but critics say was rigged.
More than 100,000 people have flooded the streets of Minsk for three straight weekends to demand the resignation of the 66-year-old strongman, who has ruled the ex-Soviet country since 1994. Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the possibility of sending military support if Belarus "starts to get out of control" and Lukashenko has been pictured brandishing an assault rifle during protests. Lukashenko has dismissed the calls to resign, brushed off the idea of holding new elections and instead detained protesters and members of the opposition. On Tuesday, Lukashenko vowed to punish EU members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania after they banned him and 29 other high-ranking officials over the election and subsequent crackdown.
"We will simply try to solve this problem with economic methods," Lukashenko said on a visit to the western city of Baranovichi, suggesting he could re-rout Belarusian cargo from Baltic ports and send it via Russia. "Of course, it would be a little bit disadvantageous for us. But we can agree with Russians on tariffs." Lukashenko also accused the opposition of wanting to cut the country "into pieces" and claimed that if his critics came to power "it will be massacre". "What happened in Ukraine will be just a walk in the park" in comparison, he said, in an apparent reference to a Kiev uprising and the outbreak of a separatist insurgency in Ukraine in 2014.
UN Calls For Torture Probe


themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--Denmark Summons Russian Envoy Over Airspace Violation

Denmark said Tuesday it had summoned the Russian ambassador for talks after a Russian jet fighter violated the Scandinavian country @ @ @ @ @ exercise last week .
`` I take very seriously Russia 's unacceptable violation of Danish @ @ @ @ @ essential that everybody -- including Russia -- respects the ground rules and international principles , @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
`` That message has been relayed to the Russian ambassador @ @ @ @ @ made clear that this must not happen again . ''

Denmark said Tuesday it had summoned the Russian ambassador for talks after a Russian jet fighter violated the Scandinavian country's airspace during a NATO exercise last week.
"I take very seriously Russia's unacceptable violation of Danish airspace. It is absolutely essential that everybody -- including Russia -- respects the ground rules and international principles," Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod said in a statement.
"That message has been relayed to the Russian ambassador today. It has been made clear that this must not happen again."
NATO also denounced Russia's aggressive behavior.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-01--'Stop Torturing Protesters,' UN Experts Tell Belarus

`` We are extremely alarmed at the hundreds of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in police custody , '' they said .
Nils Melzer and 14 other UN human rights experts said in a statement they had received reports of 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty in the mass protests and arrests following the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko .
The UN 's special rapporteur on torture told Belarus on Tuesday that it must `` stop torturing protesters '' and bring to justice any police officers who have beaten them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , among others , by Anais Marin , special rapporteur on human rights in Belarus , and Clement Nyaletsossi Voule , special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression .
The experts do not speak for the United Nations but report their findings to it .
They said torture `` can not be justified for any reason '' , nor could political instability be invoked to practice enforced disappearances .
`` Authorities in Belarus must immediately put an end to all human rights violations and combat impunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said 6,700 people had been detained since the August 9 election — inlcuding journalists or passers-by `` arbitrarily arrested and hastily sentenced . ''
`` No person should be criminally charged for their peaceful participation in a demonstration , '' said the experts .
`` We are also concerned that indiscriminate arrests continued over the weekend at a peaceful women 's march in the capital , Minsk , on Saturday and at peaceful protests in many cities on Sunday , '' they added .
The experts said they would continue to monitor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus authorities .

"We are extremely alarmed at the hundreds of allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in police custody," they said.
Nils Melzer and 14 other UN human rights experts said in a statement they had received reports of 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of people deprived of their liberty in the mass protests and arrests following the disputed re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko.
The UN's special rapporteur on torture told Belarus on Tuesday that it must "stop torturing protesters" and bring to justice any police officers who have beaten them with impunity.
The joint statement was signed, among others, by Anais Marin, special rapporteur on human rights in Belarus, and Clement Nyaletsossi Voule, special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression.
The experts do not speak for the United Nations but report their findings to it.
They said torture "cannot be justified for any reason", nor could political instability be invoked to practice enforced disappearances.
"Authorities in Belarus must immediately put an end to all human rights violations and combat impunity," they said.
The experts said 6,700 people had been detained since the August 9 election — inlcuding journalists or passers-by "arbitrarily arrested and hastily sentenced."
"No person should be criminally charged for their peaceful participation in a demonstration," said the experts.
"We are also concerned that indiscriminate arrests continued over the weekend at a peaceful women's march in the capital, Minsk, on Saturday and at peaceful protests in many cities on Sunday," they added.
The experts said they would continue to monitor the situation and attempt to engage with the Belarus authorities.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Russia’s Constitutional Reforms Prevent Disputed Islands’ Transfer to Japan – Ex-PM Medvedev

Russia ’ s controversial constitutional reforms will make discussions with Japan on the dispute over a set of Pacific islands easier for Moscow , former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday .
Russia and Japan are attempting to strike a formal peace treaty , which Tokyo insists on for the return of the Russian-held Kuril Islands .
A set of constitutional changes that Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted in July includes a clause banning territorial concessions , which is viewed as being designed to allow Russia to keep the Kurils and Crimea .
“ Future and ongoing conversations with our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they should proceed from the fact that the current Constitution contains a norm on the protection of Russia ’ s sovereignty and territorial integrity , ” Medvedev said at a youth forum , according to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency .
Russia ’ s relationship with Japan “ developed quite well ” under outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe , Medvedev said , “ but the fate of the peace treaty has a significant impact on our relations.
” “ We ’ ve always been in favor of [ signing ] this treaty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving up Russian territories , ” said the former prime minister and current deputy head of Russia ’ s Security Council .
Observers have described Abe ’ s efforts to resolve the territorial dispute as a fiasco , partly because Putin ratified the constitutional amendments despite Abe ’ s willingness to settle for 7 % of the total disputed landmass .

Russia’s controversial constitutional reforms will make discussions with Japan on the dispute over a set of Pacific islands easier for Moscow, former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday.
Russia and Japan are attempting to strike a formal peace treaty, which Tokyo insists on for the return of the Russian-held Kuril Islands. A set of constitutional changes that Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted in July includes a clause banning territorial concessions, which is viewed as being designed to allow Russia to keep the Kurils and Crimea.
“Future and ongoing conversations with our Japanese partners are made even easier because they should proceed from the fact that the current Constitution contains a norm on the protection of Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Medvedev said at a youth forum, according to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency.
Russia’s relationship with Japan “developed quite well” under outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Medvedev said, “but the fate of the peace treaty has a significant impact on our relations.”
“We’ve always been in favor of [signing] this treaty, but not as a result of giving up Russian territories,” said the former prime minister and current deputy head of Russia’s Security Council.
Observers have described Abe’s efforts to resolve the territorial dispute as a fiasco, partly because Putin ratified the constitutional amendments despite Abe’s willingness to settle for 7% of the total disputed landmass.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Belarus Strongman Thanks RT for 'Support'

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko has thanked Russian television channel RT for providing `` support '' after some staff and presenters at Belarus 's state broadcaster quit in protest over his disputed re-election .
`` I am grateful to you for this support , '' Lukashenko told an RT journalist in a video released by the channel .
`` This is worth a lot , '' he said in the clip released on Tuesday .
`` You understand how important you 've been for us in this difficult period , '' Lukashenko said , thanking technical staff , journalists and top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking to Lukashenko rushed to interject , insisting that RT staff were not replacing anyone in Belarus .
Unprecedented protests broke out in Belarus after Lukashenko , who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years , claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote in an August 9 election .
Critics say the election was rigged but the 66-year-old has refused to give in to protesters ' demands to quit .
Last month around 300 Belarusian state television and radio workers staged strikes in a gesture of support for the protesters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ top presenters have also quit .
Russian business daily RBC reported on Monday that at least two teams of technical staff from RT had arrived at the studios of state television since August 18 to provide assistance .
It said one of the teams had since left .
Belarusian state TV has used RT footage and an RT team is following Lukashenko during his travels around the country .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Lukashenko and raised the possibility of sending military support if Belarus `` starts to get out of control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accreditation of a number of journalists with foreign media , including from AFP , and detained local reporters .

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko has thanked Russian television channel RT for providing "support" after some staff and presenters at Belarus's state broadcaster quit in protest over his disputed re-election.
"I am grateful to you for this support," Lukashenko told an RT journalist in a video released by the channel.
"This is worth a lot," he said in the clip released on Tuesday.
"You understand how important you've been for us in this difficult period," Lukashenko said, thanking technical staff, journalists and top management at state-controlled RT.
The journalist speaking to Lukashenko rushed to interject, insisting that RT staff were not replacing anyone in Belarus.
Unprecedented protests broke out in Belarus after Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years, claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote in an August 9 election.
Critics say the election was rigged but the 66-year-old has refused to give in to protesters' demands to quit.
Last month around 300 Belarusian state television and radio workers staged strikes in a gesture of support for the protesters. Dozens of employees including a number of top presenters have also quit.
Russian business daily RBC reported on Monday that at least two teams of technical staff from RT had arrived at the studios of state television since August 18 to provide assistance. It said one of the teams had since left.
Belarusian state TV has used RT footage and an RT team is following Lukashenko during his travels around the country.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has backed Lukashenko and raised the possibility of sending military support if Belarus "starts to get out of control".
Belarusian authorities have withdrawn the accreditation of a number of journalists with foreign media, including from AFP, and detained local reporters.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-02--Russia Predicts Highest Population Decline Since 2006 Amid Pandemic

Russia ’ s population could see its biggest decline in 14 years in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic has raised @ @ @ @ @ rate amid falling birth rates , according to government forecasts reported by the RBC news @ @ @ @ @ outbreak will also push Russia ’ s poverty rate up from 12.3 % in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ , according to the same preliminary forecasts .
The predictions upset Russia ’ s ambitious @ @ @ @ @ slash poverty by half and reverse the demographic crisis by the end of President Vladimir @ @ @ @ @ in 2024 .
Russia ’ s government believes that the population will decrease by 158,000 @ @ @ @ @ totaling 146.6 million by the end of 2020 .
It ’ s the highest loss @ @ @ @ @ decline totaled almost 374,000 with an overall population of 142.2 million .

Russia’s population could see its biggest decline in 14 years in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic has raised the country’s death rate amid falling birth rates, according to government forecasts reported by the RBC news website Tuesday.
The Covid-19 outbreak will also push Russia’s poverty rate up from 12.3% in 2019 to 13.3% this year, according to the same preliminary forecasts. The predictions upset Russia’s ambitious National Projects that aim to slash poverty by half and reverse the demographic crisis by the end of President Vladimir Putin’s fourth term in 2024.
Russia’s government believes that the population will decrease by 158,000 people, RBC reported, totaling 146.6 million by the end of 2020. It’s the highest loss since 2006, when the decline totaled almost 374,000 with an overall population of 142.2 million.