themoscowtimes--2020-07-13--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Pass 730K as Moscow Lifts Mask Requirement

Starting July 13 , Moscow will no longer require people to wear masks outdoors as the number of new coronavirus cases has dwindled in the Russian capital in recent weeks .
Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8 , a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks .
Many other regions lifted lockdown restrictions ahead of a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic .
Critics have cast doubt on Russia 's low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting to play down the scale of the crisis .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass testing which has identified many cases with mild or no coronavirus symptoms .
The Health Ministry is now adjusting how it reports numbers to include all deaths believed to be related to the virus even if the direct cause of death was another condition or the patient tested negative .
Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin , a liberal politician known for his outspoken comments , said Russia 's health system requires more funds and modernization in many regions .
`` Medicine is significantly underfunded even according to the current norms and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kudrin , who heads the Audit Chamber that examines government spending , said in an interview with the state-run TASS state news agency .
`` We will carry out a check and show these figures , '' he added .
Nevertheless the economist said Russia `` is not doing a bad job with the pandemic , '' crediting the role of the military , which has built emergency facilities .

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--2020-07-13--New Fuel Leak Hits Russia’s Arctic Weeks After Disastrous Diesel Spill

According to Norilsktransgaz , the July 12 leak near the village of Tukhard lasted 15 minutes .
The village is located near the Bolshaya Kheta , a tributary to the Yenisei River which flows into the Arctic Ocean .
Around 45 metric tons of aviation fuel have leaked from a depressurized pipeline operated by Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel ’ s Norilsktransgaz , the latest leak to hit the fast-warming Arctic region since 21,000 tons of diesel leaked from a Nornickel plant in late May .
Nornickel said it has informed the emergency ministry and that it was conducting an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials declared a state of emergency and regional investigators opened a criminal case into environmental violations .
The accident happened weeks after another subsidiary of Nornickel , the Norilsk-Taymyr Energy Company , saw more than 20,000 metric tons of diesel oil leak into local soil and waters .
That spill happened after the ground beneath a major fuel reservoir sunk , damaging its foundation .
Melting permafrost caused by climate change is believed to be the underlying reason for the catastrophe .
Russia 's federal nature protection agency Rosprirodnadzor in early July estimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 148 billion rubles ( $ 2.1 billion ) .
Nornickel subsequently disputed the magnitude of the damage .
In addition to the two oil spills , Nornickel in late June also admitted that industrial waste waters had been dumped into local waterways .

According to Norilsktransgaz, the July 12 leak near the village of Tukhard lasted 15 minutes. The village is located near the Bolshaya Kheta, a tributary to the Yenisei River which flows into the Arctic Ocean.
Around 45 metric tons of aviation fuel have leaked from a depressurized pipeline operated by Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel’s Norilsktransgaz, the latest leak to hit the fast-warming Arctic region since 21,000 tons of diesel leaked from a Nornickel plant in late May.
Nornickel said it has informed the emergency ministry and that it was conducting an internal investigation into the leak. Local officials declared a state of emergency and regional investigators opened a criminal case into environmental violations.
The accident happened weeks after another subsidiary of Nornickel, the Norilsk-Taymyr Energy Company, saw more than 20,000 metric tons of diesel oil leak into local soil and waters.
That spill happened after the ground beneath a major fuel reservoir sunk, damaging its foundation. Melting permafrost caused by climate change is believed to be the underlying reason for the catastrophe.
Russia's federal nature protection agency Rosprirodnadzor in early July estimated the cost of the environmental damage at about 148 billion rubles ($2.1 billion).
Nornickel subsequently disputed the magnitude of the damage.
In addition to the two oil spills, Nornickel in late June also admitted that industrial waste waters had been dumped into local waterways.


themoscowtimes--2020-07-13--News From Russia: What You Missed Over the Weekend

Massive protests swept through the Far East Russian city of Khabarovsk in support of a popular local governor who was arrested last week for allegedly ordering the murders of several businessmen .
Sergei Furgal ’ s arrest over crimes allegedly committed 15 years ago triggered a mass demonstration joined by up to 40,000 people on Saturday and several hundred on Sunday .
A medical university in Moscow says it has completed clinical trials of the world ’ s first coronavirus vaccine using human volunteers .
Yelena Smolyarchuk , who heads Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University ’ s center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vaccine would enter commercial production .
Around 45 metric tons of aviation fuel have leaked from a depressurized pipeline operated by Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel ’ s Norilsktransgaz , the latest leak to hit the fast-warming Arctic region since 21,000 tons of diesel leaked from a Nornickel plant in late May .
Nornickel said it has informed the emergency ministry and that it was conducting an internal investigation into the leak .
Local officials declared a state of emergency and regional investigators opened a criminal case into environmental violations .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 wildfires blazing across the vast country 's northern wilderness on Saturday , as it attempted to contain them with methods including explosives and cloud seeding .

Regional unrest
Massive protests swept through the Far East Russian city of Khabarovsk in support of a popular local governor who was arrested last week for allegedly ordering the murders of several businessmen.
Sergei Furgal’s arrest over crimes allegedly committed 15 years ago triggered a mass demonstration joined by up to 40,000 people on Saturday and several hundred on Sunday.
First vaccine?
A medical university in Moscow says it has completed clinical trials of the world’s first coronavirus vaccine using human volunteers.
Yelena Smolyarchuk, who heads Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University’s center for clinical research, did not disclose when the vaccine would enter commercial production.
New leak
Around 45 metric tons of aviation fuel have leaked from a depressurized pipeline operated by Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel’s Norilsktransgaz, the latest leak to hit the fast-warming Arctic region since 21,000 tons of diesel leaked from a Nornickel plant in late May.
Nornickel said it has informed the emergency ministry and that it was conducting an internal investigation into the leak. Local officials declared a state of emergency and regional investigators opened a criminal case into environmental violations.
Blazing Siberia
Russia's forest service said there were nearly 300 wildfires blazing across the vast country's northern wilderness on Saturday, as it attempted to contain them with methods including explosives and cloud seeding.


themoscowtimes--2020-07-08--'Solidarity is Always the Best Answer'

'Solidarity is Always the Best Answer'

Oksana and her two-year-old daughter Sophia sit in a small lounge in Vnukovo Airport in Moscow .
They are one of several families with young children waiting together .
Sophia , like the other children there , has retinoblastoma , an aggressive and rare form of retinal cancer that can render a child blind and cause death within a matter of weeks if left untreated .
Sophia has had cancer since October 2019 and has already lost sight in one eye .
She struggles to see , often navigating by touch , grabbing the chairs and remotes spread out around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first came to Moscow from Novosibirsk to treat Sophia ’ s cancer , doctors told them that their only option was to remove the eye completely .
Oksana , unable to accept this , looked for other options .
Through a social media page for parents of children with retinoblastoma , Oksana learned about a course of treatment at the Jules-Gonin clinic in Lausanne Switzerland .
The treatment , begun in 2012 by Professor Francis Munier , head of the Department of pediatric eye oncology at the clinic , allows the tumor to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s eye .
It is the only clinic in the world equipped to perform this treatment .
But then came coronavirus .
Due to the pandemic , all commercial flights between Russia and Switzerland were canceled .
But Oksana and Sophia , along with the several other families , were on their way to Switzerland despite the travel ban .
They were about to board a private jet organized by the Swiss Embassy and paid for by private donors .
The program to transport the children first began in April when the father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rossier about getting to the clinic in Switzerland to treat Tair ’ s cancer .
Due to the cancer ’ s aggressive nature , missing or postponing even one treatment could be too late for the child .
With help from his French colleagues , Rossier got Tair and his parents on a flight to Paris , where a military bus from the defense ministry transported them to the clinic in Lausanne .
Before their flight to Paris , Tair and his family stayed at the Swiss embassy residence in Moscow and celebrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a cake and candles .
“ For me , the matter was settled .
But two days later on Friday , I got ten emails .
All these parents of children with this cancer are in contact with each other ...
I thought : What do I do ?
” Rossier spent the entire weekend making phone calls .
Realizing that repatriation flights were unreliable and that these children could not risk waiting , Rossier realized that the only viable option was private jets .
With the sponsorship of Swiss Olympic ski @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first two flights to Switzerland in May , each transporting between 10-12 children and their accompanying parents .
The flights in June were sponsored by Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg , and flights in July were paid by Gennady Timchenko .
Every month Rossier now prepares the flights for the next month , organizing the flights and finding donors for the 100,000-euro trips .
He will continue to do so until commercial flights are resumed , whenever that might happen .
“ There is solidarity in Switzerland .
Solidarity in Russia .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidarity for the flight .
So , it ’ s really a chain of solidarity between those parents , between everybody helping them in Russia , between the social support they get in Switzerland — the embassy is just there to create the chain .
So yeah , I think it ’ s quite cool , ” Rossier said .
As Oksana and Sophia prepared to board the private jet along with the other families , a flight landed with parents and their children who had just finished a round of cancer treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , returning after a week at the clinic with her daughter .
“ Everything went amazingly well and was of the very highest quality .
The organization , preparation , and flight were great ... Now we only just to return in September for the next course of treatment .
”

Oksana and her two-year-old daughter Sophia sit in a small lounge in Vnukovo Airport in Moscow. They are one of several families with young children waiting together. Sophia, like the other children there, has retinoblastoma, an aggressive and rare form of retinal cancer that can render a child blind and cause death within a matter of weeks if left untreated. Sophia has had cancer since October 2019 and has already lost sight in one eye. She struggles to see, often navigating by touch, grabbing the chairs and remotes spread out around the lounge. When Oksana and Sophia first came to Moscow from Novosibirsk to treat Sophia’s cancer, doctors told them that their only option was to remove the eye completely. Oksana, unable to accept this, looked for other options.
Through a social media page for parents of children with retinoblastoma, Oksana learned about a course of treatment at the Jules-Gonin clinic in Lausanne Switzerland. The treatment, begun in 2012 by Professor Francis Munier, head of the Department of pediatric eye oncology at the clinic, allows the tumor to be treated while preserving the patient’s eye. It is the only clinic in the world equipped to perform this treatment. But then came coronavirus. Due to the pandemic, all commercial flights between Russia and Switzerland were canceled. But Oksana and Sophia, along with the several other families, were on their way to Switzerland despite the travel ban. They were about to board a private jet organized by the Swiss Embassy and paid for by private donors.
The mothers of sick children wait to board the private jet at Vnukovo airport in Moscow for a chance to save their children's eyesight and lives. Sonia Kopelev/ The Moscow Times
“There is a whole network of solidarity around these children,” Yves Rossier, Swiss Ambassador to Russia and the main organizer of the program, told The Moscow Times.
The program to transport the children first began in April when the father of a young boy named Tair contacted Rossier about getting to the clinic in Switzerland to treat Tair’s cancer. Due to the cancer’s aggressive nature, missing or postponing even one treatment could be too late for the child. With help from his French colleagues, Rossier got Tair and his parents on a flight to Paris, where a military bus from the defense ministry transported them to the clinic in Lausanne. Before their flight to Paris, Tair and his family stayed at the Swiss embassy residence in Moscow and celebrated Tair’s second birthday with Rossier with a cake and candles. “For me, the matter was settled. But two days later on Friday, I got ten emails. All these parents of children with this cancer are in contact with each other...I thought: What do I do?”
Rossier spent the entire weekend making phone calls. Realizing that repatriation flights were unreliable and that these children could not risk waiting, Rossier realized that the only viable option was private jets. With the sponsorship of Swiss Olympic ski champion Jean-Claude Killy, Rossier organized the first two flights to Switzerland in May, each transporting between 10-12 children and their accompanying parents. The flights in June were sponsored by Russian businessman Viktor Vekselberg, and flights in July were paid by Gennady Timchenko. Every month Rossier now prepares the flights for the next month, organizing the flights and finding donors for the 100,000-euro trips. He will continue to do so until commercial flights are resumed, whenever that might happen. “There is solidarity in Switzerland. Solidarity in Russia. We are inserting ourselves into this long chain of solidarity for the flight. So, it’s really a chain of solidarity between those parents, between everybody helping them in Russia, between the social support they get in Switzerland — the embassy is just there to create the chain. So yeah, I think it’s quite cool,” Rossier said.
“In times of crisis, you have two reactions. Either you go it alone and do not care about the others, or there is solidarity. And I think solidarity is always the best answer.”


themoscowtimes--2020-07-13--Kremlin Envoy in Far East as More Protest Governor's Arrest

Protesters in Russia 's Far East rallied again Monday in support of a popular regional governor arrested on murder charges , as a Kremlin envoy looked to ease tensions .
Several hundred supporters of governor Sergei Furgal demonstrated in the center of the city of Khabarovsk , chanting `` Furgal ! ''
and `` Freedom ! ''
as passing cars honked their horns in support .
Local activists said between 500 and 700 people took part , after weekend protests that saw thousands on the streets of Khabarovsk , a city of nearly 600,000 near the border with China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was detained last week , flown to Moscow and is to be held in custody until early September on charges of ordering the killings of businessmen 15 years ago .
His supporters say the charges are political , after Furgal won the governor 's seat from a representative of the ruling United Russia party in 2018 .
A massive rally on Saturday saw tens of thousands pour onto the streets of Khabarovsk to protest his arrest , with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 demonstrators .
Several thousand more rallied again on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of defiance against authorities in Moscow and came just days after President Vladimir Putin oversaw a constitutional vote that allows him to extend his hold on power until 2036 .
Putin 's envoy to the Far East , Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev , reportedly flew in to the city at the weekend .
`` People have the right to express their opinion ... .
( Furgal ) was and is supported by a large number of people , '' the state-run news agency RIA Novosti quoted Trutnev as saying on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials for what he called the region 's poor investment climate and other issues .
`` I believe that the work of the Khabarovsk regional leadership has been poorly organized , '' he said .
The 50-year-old Furgal 's arrest on Thursday sparked an outcry from members of the LDPR , whose outspoken leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky accused authorities of using `` Stalin-era methods . ''
Russia 's Investigative Committee , which probes major crimes , said Furgal was charged with ordering the murders and attempted murders of several businessmen in 2004 and 2005 @

Protesters in Russia's Far East rallied again Monday in support of a popular regional governor arrested on murder charges, as a Kremlin envoy looked to ease tensions. Several hundred supporters of governor Sergei Furgal demonstrated in the center of the city of Khabarovsk, chanting "Furgal!" and "Freedom!" as passing cars honked their horns in support.
Напоминаем, это ВЕЧЕР ПОНЕДЕЛЬНИКА pic.twitter.com/Ep2IocuxSX — Штаб Навального в Хабаровске (@teamnavalnykhv) July 13, 2020
Local activists said between 500 and 700 people took part, after weekend protests that saw thousands on the streets of Khabarovsk, a city of nearly 600,000 near the border with China. Furgal, of the nationalist LDPR party, was detained last week, flown to Moscow and is to be held in custody until early September on charges of ordering the killings of businessmen 15 years ago. His supporters say the charges are political, after Furgal won the governor's seat from a representative of the ruling United Russia party in 2018. A massive rally on Saturday saw tens of thousands pour onto the streets of Khabarovsk to protest his arrest, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 40,000 demonstrators. Several thousand more rallied again on Sunday.


themoscowtimes--2020-07-14--Bike Lanes to Encircle Central Moscow in ‘New Habits’ Campaign

Transportation authorities plan to install bike lanes along the roadway that encircles central Moscow , deputy mayor Maxim Liksutov said Monday as the Russian capital looks to use the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to drastically reshape its transportation system .
The Mayor ’ s Office announced plans last month to “ help residents form new habits ” like walking and cycling to ease crowding on public transport and reduce Moscow ’ s notorious traffic congestion .
The efforts echo pedestrianization efforts seen in major world cities like Paris , Milan , Sydney , Dublin , Athens and more as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forced social distancing .
“ In the future , we plan to place a bike lane along the entire length of the Garden Ring and install bicycle traffic lights there , ” Liksutov said in a social media post detailing the placement of new bike lanes across Moscow .
The deputy mayor and transportation chief did not provide a timeframe for the Garden Ring bike lane .
Some of the cyclist-friendly proposals are subject to public discussions and votes , Liksutov said .
Others will go into effect as soon as this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow Mayor ’ s Office said its reconstruction and beautification efforts have doubled pedestrian spaces and led to a tenfold increase in spaces for cyclists since 2015 .
Moscow currently boasts 850 kilometers of bike and public transportation lanes , as well as 550 bike rental stations and 2,700 docking spots .

Transportation authorities plan to install bike lanes along the roadway that encircles central Moscow, deputy mayor Maxim Liksutov said Monday as the Russian capital looks to use the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to drastically reshape its transportation system. The Mayor’s Office announced plans last month to “help residents form new habits” like walking and cycling to ease crowding on public transport and reduce Moscow’s notorious traffic congestion. The efforts echo pedestrianization efforts seen in major world cities like Paris, Milan, Sydney, Dublin, Athens and more as the coronavirus has emptied streets of traffic and forced social distancing.
“In the future, we plan to place a bike lane along the entire length of the Garden Ring and install bicycle traffic lights there,” Liksutov said in a social media post detailing the placement of new bike lanes across Moscow. The deputy mayor and transportation chief did not provide a timeframe for the Garden Ring bike lane. Some of the cyclist-friendly proposals are subject to public discussions and votes, Liksutov said. Others will go into effect as soon as this month and later in 2020.


themoscowtimes--2020-07-14--Kremlin Urges 'Restraint' After Armenia-Azerbaijan Clashes

`` We are deeply concerned about the exchange of fire on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov @ @ @ @ @ Moscow was calling on `` both sides to show restraint . ''
Russia on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ show restraint after a deadly escalation in fighting along their shared border .
The ex-Soviet @ @ @ @ @ a decades-long conflict over Azerbaijan 's southwestern separatist region of Nagorny Karabakh , which was @ @ @ @ @ in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives .
Peace talks mediated by the `` @ @ @ @ @ from France , Russia and the United States have been going on since the 1994 @ @ @ @ @ that Russia was `` ready to provide mediation efforts as a co-chair of the Minsk @ @ @ @ @ flare-up .
Eleven Azerbaijani military personnel have died since border clashes on Sunday reignited , @ @ @ @ @ denied any losses .

"We are deeply concerned about the exchange of fire on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Moscow was calling on "both sides to show restraint."
Russia on Tuesday urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to show restraint after a deadly escalation in fighting along their shared border.
The ex-Soviet Caucasus nations have been in a decades-long conflict over Azerbaijan's southwestern separatist region of Nagorny Karabakh, which was seized by ethnic Armenian separatists in a 1990s war that claimed 30,000 lives.
Peace talks mediated by the "Minsk Group" of diplomats from France, Russia and the United States have been going on since the 1994 ceasefire.
Peskov told reporters that Russia was "ready to provide mediation efforts as a co-chair of the Minsk Group" after the latest flare-up.
Eleven Azerbaijani military personnel have died since border clashes on Sunday reignited, while Yerevan has so far denied any losses.


themoscowtimes--2020-07-14--Russian Opposition Media Editor Quits Amid Wave of Harassment Claims

Sergei Prostakov was among several high-ranking media and banking executives to face claims of sexual assault , harassment and rape posted on Twitter by former employees and interns this week .
The editor-in-chief of the MBKh Media news website announced his resignation Monday amid the latest spate of sexual harassment allegations to hit Russia 's independent media sector .
“ I apologize to my readers , colleagues , friends and everyone I let down , ” Prostakov wrote in his social media post announcing he was stepping down as the opposition news website ’ s chief editor .
Prostakov ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rape , catalyzed the slew of Twitter threads alleging sexual harassment by men in media and other industries .
Several other users accused Prostakov of groping and harassing them at work meetings and parties .
At least one post alleged that Prostakov and MBKh Media ’ s photo editor were in involved in a gang rape at a party about five years ago .
The photo editor apologized for his past behavior but characterized the alleged gang rape as “ group sex by mutual consent.
” Prostakov said he had no recollection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the influence of alcohol .
MBKh Media has not yet addressed the allegations .
The claims are the latest in a string of harassment allegations at some of Russia 's main liberal media outlets in recent years .
In 2018 , the Meduza news website ’ s chief editor briefly resigned following claims of groping a colleague ’ s wife at a party .
This year , the longtime chief editor of the Ekho Moskvy radio station faced accusations of making unwanted advancements — claims he apologized for but denied wrongdoing .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 2018 campaign to boycott State Duma lawmaker Leonid Slutsky , who was accused of sexually harassing at least five female journalists .
A parliamentary ethics commission dismissed the claims and Slutsky continues to serve in Russian parliament .

Sergei Prostakov was among several high-ranking media and banking executives to face claims of sexual assault, harassment and rape posted on Twitter by former employees and interns this week.
The editor-in-chief of the MBKh Media news website announced his resignation Monday amid the latest spate of sexual harassment allegations to hit Russia's independent media sector.
“I apologize to my readers, colleagues, friends and everyone I let down,” Prostakov wrote in his social media post announcing he was stepping down as the opposition news website’s chief editor.
Prostakov’s ex-girlfriend, who accused him of rape, catalyzed the slew of Twitter threads alleging sexual harassment by men in media and other industries. Several other users accused Prostakov of groping and harassing them at work meetings and parties.
At least one post alleged that Prostakov and MBKh Media’s photo editor were in involved in a gang rape at a party about five years ago.
The photo editor apologized for his past behavior but characterized the alleged gang rape as “group sex by mutual consent.” Prostakov said he had no recollection of that night, saying he was under the influence of alcohol.
MBKh Media has not yet addressed the allegations.
The claims are the latest in a string of harassment allegations at some of Russia's main liberal media outlets in recent years. In 2018, the Meduza news website’s chief editor briefly resigned following claims of groping a colleague’s wife at a party. This year, the longtime chief editor of the Ekho Moskvy radio station faced accusations of making unwanted advancements — claims he apologized for but denied wrongdoing.
All three of the outlets were instrumental in a 2018 campaign to boycott State Duma lawmaker Leonid Slutsky, who was accused of sexually harassing at least five female journalists. A parliamentary ethics commission dismissed the claims and Slutsky continues to serve in Russian parliament.


themoscowtimes--2020-07-14--Belarus Bars Jailed Lukashenko Rival From Contesting Vote

A new wave of opposition candidates are seeking to unseat the 65-year-old strongman leader of the authoritarian ex-Soviet state that borders the European Union .
The Belarussian central electoral commission on Tuesday refused to register the imprisoned main rival to President Alexander Lukashenko as a candidate for the country 's presidential election in August .
Lukashenko , a former collective farm chief , is seeking his sixth term as president of Belarus in the election scheduled for Aug. 9 .
The poll is going ahead despite the country of 9 million people confirming more than 65,000 coronavirus cases .
Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His strongest election rival Viktor Babaryko , a 56-year-old former banker , was arrested last month over suspected financial crimes and is incarcerated in the prison of the KGB security service .
He has been recognized by rights group Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience .
The electoral commission unanimously voted against Babaryko 's candidacy on chairwoman Lidiya Yermoshina 's recommendation , after she read out allegations that he failed to declare all his earnings and his campaign used financing from a foreign organization .
A senior official has claimed Babaryko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russia 's Gazprombank , is in cahoots with `` puppeteers '' from Moscow .
His candidacy was rejected despite his campaign team gathering the necessary 100,000 valid signatures from supporters .
A Babaryko representative said that the accusations were part of a criminal case that has not yet been heard .
The commission also rejected the candidacy of Valery Tsepkalo , 55 , another popular opposition figure and a former ambassador to Washington , over a lack of valid signatures .
Belarus has seen a turbulent summer of protests and arrests of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twist , the commission allowed the candidacy of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , the wife of a jailed vlogger who submitted herself as a candidate after her husband was barred .
Her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky , 41 , nicknamed Lukashenko the `` cockroach '' and his campaign slogan was `` Stop the cockroach . ''
His supporters waved slippers — often used to kill the insects — at protests .
Tikhanovsky has been charged with organising a gross breach of public order and barred from running .
He is in a police jail and faces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , an international election and war monitor , has not recognized any elections in Belarus as free and fair since 1995 .

A new wave of opposition candidates are seeking to unseat the 65-year-old strongman leader of the authoritarian ex-Soviet state that borders the European Union.
The Belarussian central electoral commission on Tuesday refused to register the imprisoned main rival to President Alexander Lukashenko as a candidate for the country's presidential election in August.
Lukashenko, a former collective farm chief, is seeking his sixth term as president of Belarus in the election scheduled for Aug. 9.
The poll is going ahead despite the country of 9 million people confirming more than 65,000 coronavirus cases. Lukashenko has refused to impose a strict lockdown.
His strongest election rival Viktor Babaryko, a 56-year-old former banker, was arrested last month over suspected financial crimes and is incarcerated in the prison of the KGB security service.
He has been recognized by rights group Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience.
The electoral commission unanimously voted against Babaryko's candidacy on chairwoman Lidiya Yermoshina's recommendation, after she read out allegations that he failed to declare all his earnings and his campaign used financing from a foreign organization.
A senior official has claimed Babaryko, who formerly headed the Belarusian subsidiary of Russia's Gazprombank, is in cahoots with "puppeteers" from Moscow.
His candidacy was rejected despite his campaign team gathering the necessary 100,000 valid signatures from supporters.
A Babaryko representative said that the accusations were part of a criminal case that has not yet been heard.
The commission also rejected the candidacy of Valery Tsepkalo, 55, another popular opposition figure and a former ambassador to Washington, over a lack of valid signatures.
Belarus has seen a turbulent summer of protests and arrests of would-be opposition candidates.
In a surprise twist, the commission allowed the candidacy of Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the wife of a jailed vlogger who submitted herself as a candidate after her husband was barred.
Her husband Sergei Tikhanovsky, 41, nicknamed Lukashenko the "cockroach" and his campaign slogan was "Stop the cockroach." His supporters waved slippers — often used to kill the insects — at protests.
Tikhanovsky has been charged with organising a gross breach of public order and barred from running. He is in a police jail and faces a possible prison term if convicted.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an international election and war monitor, has not recognized any elections in Belarus as free and fair since 1995.