themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--EU Leaders Urge Putin to Push for Talks in Belarus Over Disputed Vote

European leaders urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for dialogue in neighbouring Belarus on Tuesday , as opposition supporters protested President Alexander Lukashenko 's disputed election win for a 10th day .
Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Independence Square in central Minsk on Tuesday evening waving the red-and-white flags of the opposition and calling on Lukashenko to resign , the latest in a wave of protests after the president claimed he had won a sixth term in the August 9 ballot .
EU chief Charles Michel said on Twitter he had spoken to Putin and added that `` only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis in Belarus . ''
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with the Russian leader , whose country has close economic and military ties with its neighbor .
Merkel told Putin that authorities in Minsk must `` enter into a national dialogue with the opposition and society to overcome the crisis , '' while Macron urged the Russian leader to foster `` calm and dialogue . ''
In Kremlin readouts of the two calls , Putin emphasized that interfering in Belarus and putting pressure on its authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Union moves to impose sanctions over the vote and a brutal police crackdown on protesters .
The flurry of calls came ahead of an emergency video summit of European Union leaders to discuss Belarus on Wednesday .
Belarusian state news agency Belta said Putin and Lukashenko had also spoken by phone to discuss the Russian president 's calls with European leaders .
Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday urged Western governments not to recognize Lukashenko as president and both the United States and Britain this week voiced concerns over the elections and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to step in if necessary in Belarus through the CSTO military alliance between six ex-Soviet states .
But it is unclear how much support Putin is willing to give to Lukashenko , who in recent years has often played off Moscow against the West .
Lukashenko has defied calls to hold a new election and on Tuesday handed out awards to 300 members of the security services , who have been accused of abusing arrested protesters .
During a meeting of his security council , Lukashenko accused the opposition of attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minsk 's economic and military ties with its powerful ally Russia .
`` They demand nothing more and nothing less : to transfer power to them , '' Lukashenko said of the opposition .
Earlier on Tuesday , several hundred people gathered outside the walls of a detention center to mark the 42nd birthday of Sergei Tikhanovsky , a popular blogger who was imprisoned alongside other Lukashenko rivals ahead of the election .
Tikhanovsky 's wife , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , was allowed to run in his place but fled to neighbouring Lithuania after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure his official 80 percent of the vote .
Tikhanovskaya , 37 , has said she will organize new elections if Lukashenko steps down and her allies have formed a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power .
On Tuesday evening , the council convened its first press conference and announced members — including Nobel Prize-winning author and ardent Lukashenko critic Svetlana Alexievich .
`` We are just starting to feel like an independent nation , '' Maria Kolesnikova , the campaign manager of a jailed opposition candidate , told journalists during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's claims that the opposition wanted to cut ties with Moscow and vowed that new leaders in Minsk would `` maintain friendly , mutually beneficial , pragmatic , '' ties with Russia and EU countries .
In a video message , Tikhanovskaya said her husband was spending his birthday in prison accused of `` a crime he did not commit . ''
`` All of this blatant lawlessness and injustice shows how this rotting system works , in which one person controls everything , one person who has kept the country in fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ robbed Belarusians of their choice , '' she said .
Belarus over the weekend saw its largest street demonstrations since it gained independence from the Soviet Union , with more than 100,000 people taking to the streets of the capital to demand Lukashenko stand down after 26 years in power .
The police crackdown on post-election demonstrations last week saw more than 6,700 people arrested , hundreds wounded and left two people dead .
Authorities gradually released detainees — many emerging with horrific accounts of beatings and torture .
The Interior Ministry reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a young man hit by a car while demonstrating .
The first Belarusian diplomat to publicly support the protesters , Minsk 's ambassador to Slovakia Igor Leshchenya , announced his resignation earlier on Tuesday in an interview with the Tut.by news website .

European leaders urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for dialogue in neighbouring Belarus on Tuesday, as opposition supporters protested President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed election win for a 10th day. Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Independence Square in central Minsk on Tuesday evening waving the red-and-white flags of the opposition and calling on Lukashenko to resign, the latest in a wave of protests after the president claimed he had won a sixth term in the August 9 ballot. EU chief Charles Michel said on Twitter he had spoken to Putin and added that "only peaceful and truly inclusive dialogue can resolve the crisis in Belarus."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke with the Russian leader, whose country has close economic and military ties with its neighbor. Merkel told Putin that authorities in Minsk must "enter into a national dialogue with the opposition and society to overcome the crisis," while Macron urged the Russian leader to foster "calm and dialogue." In Kremlin readouts of the two calls, Putin emphasized that interfering in Belarus and putting pressure on its authorities would be "unacceptable", as the European Union moves to impose sanctions over the vote and a brutal police crackdown on protesters. The flurry of calls came ahead of an emergency video summit of European Union leaders to discuss Belarus on Wednesday. Belarusian state news agency Belta said Putin and Lukashenko had also spoken by phone to discuss the Russian president's calls with European leaders.
'Lawlessness and injustice' Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday urged Western governments not to recognize Lukashenko as president and both the United States and Britain this week voiced concerns over the elections and the crackdown. Moscow has said it is ready to step in if necessary in Belarus through the CSTO military alliance between six ex-Soviet states. But it is unclear how much support Putin is willing to give to Lukashenko, who in recent years has often played off Moscow against the West. Lukashenko has defied calls to hold a new election and on Tuesday handed out awards to 300 members of the security services, who have been accused of abusing arrested protesters.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Tens of Thousands Rally in Minsk, Heckle Lukashenko as Protest Sentiment Grows

Belarus ’ s largest protest rally in recent history was held on Aug. 16 as tens of thousands of Belarusians @ @ @ @ @ of Minsk .
Protests against the country ’ s disputed presidential election and a bloody @ @ @ @ @ taken place every day since the Aug. 9 vote .

Belarus’s largest protest rally in recent history was held on Aug. 16 as tens of thousands of Belarusians rallied in the capital city of Minsk.
Protests against the country’s disputed presidential election and a bloody crackdown on the opposition have taken place every day since the Aug. 9 vote.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Belarus Leader Accuses Opposition of Trying to 'Seize Power'

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday accused the opposition of attempting to seize power in the wake of mass protests @ @ @ @ @ which he claimed victory and a sixth term .
During a meeting of his security @ @ @ @ @ opposition 's creation of a Coordination Council was `` an attempt to seize power , @ @ @ @ @ Belta news agency .
`` They demand nothing more and nothing less : to transfer @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko said .
Belarus 's security forces brutally dispersed massive street demonstrations that erupted in @ @ @ @ @ 9 presidential vote which the opposition said was rigged to ensure Lukashenko 's victory .
@ @ @ @ @ rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania after declaring victory in the vote and announced @ @ @ @ @ Council to ensure the transfer of power .
Lukashenko warned that the authorities would take @ @ @ @ @ opposition figures who participated in the council , saying that any response would be taken @ @ @ @ @ law .

Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Tuesday accused the opposition of attempting to seize power in the wake of mass protests against disputed presidential elections in which he claimed victory and a sixth term.
During a meeting of his security council, Lukashenko said the opposition's creation of a Coordination Council was "an attempt to seize power," according to the state-run Belta news agency.
"They demand nothing more and nothing less: to transfer power to them," Lukashenko said.
Belarus's security forces brutally dispersed massive street demonstrations that erupted in the wake of the August 9 presidential vote which the opposition said was rigged to ensure Lukashenko's victory.
The authoritarian leader's closest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya fled to neighboring Lithuania after declaring victory in the vote and announced the creation of the Coordination Council to ensure the transfer of power.
Lukashenko warned that the authorities would take "adequate measures" against opposition figures who participated in the council, saying that any response would be taken within the limits of the law.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Council of Europe Urges Russia to Up Anti-Corruption Efforts

The Council of Europe 's anti-corruption council on Tuesday urged Russia to boost efforts against graft among members of its @ @ @ @ @ .
The European rights watchdog 's GRECO anti-corruption body said there had been some progress @ @ @ @ @ still needed . ''
`` The transparency of the legislative process still needs strengthening , @ @ @ @ @ becoming the general rule rather than an option , '' GRECO said in its latest @ @ @ @ @ the executive power still has the possibility of initiating its own control of MPs ' @ @ @ @ @ a concern for the separation of powers . ''

The Council of Europe's anti-corruption council on Tuesday urged Russia to boost efforts against graft among members of its parliament, judges and prosecutors.
The European rights watchdog's GRECO anti-corruption body said there had been some progress, but "work is still needed."
"The transparency of the legislative process still needs strengthening, with public consultations on bills becoming the general rule rather than an option," GRECO said in its latest report.
It added "the executive power still has the possibility of initiating its own control of MPs' asset declarations, which remains a concern for the separation of powers."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Russian General Killed by 'Explosive Device' in Syria: Agencies

A Russian major general was killed and two servicemen wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near a Russian @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , news agencies quoted the defense ministry as saying .
The ministry said the @ @ @ @ @ convoy was returning from a humanitarian operation near the city of Deir Ezzor .
The @ @ @ @ @ Interfax , RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies , said the three servicemen were wounded @ @ @ @ @ a `` senior military advisor with the rank of major general '' died while being @ @ @ @ @ assistance .

A Russian major general was killed and two servicemen wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near a Russian convoy in eastern Syria on Tuesday, news agencies quoted the defense ministry as saying.
The ministry said the device went off while the convoy was returning from a humanitarian operation near the city of Deir Ezzor.
The statement, released to the Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS news agencies, said the three servicemen were wounded in the blast and that a "senior military advisor with the rank of major general" died while being evacuated and provided with medical assistance.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-18--Belarus State News Circulates Misleading Anti-Opposition Video

Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta has circulated a video on social media slamming protests against President Alexander Lukashenko that uses @ @ @ @ @ to depict violence .
The minute-long video set to sinister music calls protesters “ bought-out @ @ @ @ @ “ animals , ” and includes an image of demonstrators walking in front of street @ @ @ @ @ shows Catalan independence protests .
Thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets over the @ @ @ @ @ results of an Aug. 9 presidential election declaring Lukashenko the winner with 80 % of @ @ @ @ @ challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
Though it ’ s not immediately clear who ’ s behind @ @ @ @ @ card suggests that it was made by a group calling itself the “ Patriots of @ @ @ @ @ The Meduza news website notes that a similarly named community of 14 members exists on @ @ @ @ @ network , though it has not been updated since mid-2019 .

Belarusian state-owned news agency Belta has circulated a video on social media slamming protests against President Alexander Lukashenko that uses a 2019 photograph from Spain to depict violence.
The minute-long video set to sinister music calls protesters “bought-out and sold-out scum” and “animals,” and includes an image of demonstrators walking in front of street fires at night that actually shows Catalan independence protests.
Thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets over the past week to challenge the results of an Aug. 9 presidential election declaring Lukashenko the winner with 80% of the vote over his main challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
Though it’s not immediately clear who’s behind the video, a title card suggests that it was made by a group calling itself the “Patriots of the Republic of Belarus.” The Meduza news website notes that a similarly named community of 14 members exists on Russia’s VK social network, though it has not been updated since mid-2019.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--Norway Expels Russian Diplomat After Spying Arrest

The country 's PST intelligence agency on Monday said the Norwegian man was `` formally suspected of providing information to a foreign country , '' which it later confirmed was Russia .
Norway said Wednesday it had expelled a Russian diplomat , just days after arresting a Norwegian man suspected of passing sensitive information to Moscow .
`` We have informed the Russian ambassador that an employee of the Russian embassy is undesirable as a diplomat and will be asked to leave Norway , '' said a foreign ministry spokeswoman , Siri Svendsen .
She said the person had engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ status as a diplomat . ''
The diplomat , who works in the embassy 's trade section , has until the end of the week to leave the country .
It was not immediately clear if the diplomat was the same person who was with the Norwegian arrested at an Oslo restaurant on Saturday .
The 50-year-old Norwegian worked at DNV GL , a company that provides certification for insurance purposes for the shipping , oil and gas and renewables industries .
The company said the employee was in the `` oil and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have security clearance and has therefore not worked on projects for the defense industry , the Norwegian Armed Forces or other governmental agencies where security clearance is a prerequisite . ''
`` At the time of his arrest , he led a joint industry project on 3D printing , '' it said in a statement .
A judge on Monday ordered him held in custody for four weeks , the first two in isolation .
Court documents show that the man , identified as Harsharn Singh Tathgar , told investigators he had handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insignificant sums in cash , '' but had insisted the information was not harmful to the nation 's interests .
The Russian embassy in Oslo did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
In its annual report published in February , PST warned of the risk of espionage in several sectors of society — political , financial , defense and research circles , among others — singling out Russia , China and Iran as particular threats .
In recent decades several spy cases have marred ties between NATO member Norway and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arctic Circle .

The country's PST intelligence agency on Monday said the Norwegian man was "formally suspected of providing information to a foreign country," which it later confirmed was Russia.
Norway said Wednesday it had expelled a Russian diplomat, just days after arresting a Norwegian man suspected of passing sensitive information to Moscow.
"We have informed the Russian ambassador that an employee of the Russian embassy is undesirable as a diplomat and will be asked to leave Norway," said a foreign ministry spokeswoman, Siri Svendsen.
She said the person had engaged in acts "not compatible with his status as a diplomat."
The diplomat, who works in the embassy's trade section, has until the end of the week to leave the country.
It was not immediately clear if the diplomat was the same person who was with the Norwegian arrested at an Oslo restaurant on Saturday.
The 50-year-old Norwegian worked at DNV GL, a company that provides certification for insurance purposes for the shipping, oil and gas and renewables industries.
The company said the employee was in the "oil and gas sector" but "did not have security clearance and has therefore not worked on projects for the defense industry, the Norwegian Armed Forces or other governmental agencies where security clearance is a prerequisite."
"At the time of his arrest, he led a joint industry project on 3D printing," it said in a statement.
A judge on Monday ordered him held in custody for four weeks, the first two in isolation.
Court documents show that the man, identified as Harsharn Singh Tathgar, told investigators he had handed over information in exchange for "not insignificant sums in cash," but had insisted the information was not harmful to the nation's interests.
The Russian embassy in Oslo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In its annual report published in February, PST warned of the risk of espionage in several sectors of society — political, financial, defense and research circles, among others — singling out Russia, China and Iran as particular threats.
In recent decades several spy cases have marred ties between NATO member Norway and Russia, which share a border in the Arctic Circle.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--Belarus Opposition Urges EU To Reject Vote as Leaders Hold Emergency Talks

The European Council convened to discuss the fallout from the vote that saw security services in ex-Soviet Belarus brutally disperse peaceful demonstrators demanding that their authoritarian leader resign .
The exiled head of Belarus 's opposition urged European leaders to reject President Alexander Lukashenko 's `` fraudulent '' re-election on Wednesday as the EU held an emergency summit on the country 's political crisis .
Protesters gathered for a 10th night of demonstrations on Tuesday , with thousands rallying in central Minsk waving the red-and-white flags of the opposition and calling on Lukashenko to step down .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighboring Lithuania after claiming victory in the vote , called on EU leaders `` not to recognize these fraudulent elections . ''
`` Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world , '' she said in the video appeal .
As the EU meeting began , Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the bloc `` can not accept the result of these elections '' called for dialogue to find `` a solution that reflects the vote of the people . ''
Ahead of the summit , European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Lukashenko 's close ally Russia to foster talks between authorities and the opposition .
EU ministers agreed last week to draw up a list of targets for new sanctions and Germany has said even stronger penalties should be considered .
The Kremlin on Wednesday described foreign interference in Belarus as `` unacceptable '' and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned what he said were attempts from abroad to take advantage of unrest in Belarus .
`` No one is making a secret of the fact that this is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space , '' he said in a televised interview .
Yet Minsk 's ties with Moscow have cooled in recent years after Lukashenko resisted Putin 's efforts to integrate the two countries .
Ahead of the vote , the Belarusian leader accused the Kremlin of dispatching mercenaries to Minsk to stir unrest with the opposition .
Europe 's longest-serving leader , Lukashenko has resisted calls to resign or hold new elections .
On Tuesday , he said the opposition was planning to seize power and vowed to take `` adequate measures '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teacher who said she never planned to enter politics , contested the vote after her husband was jailed and barred from running against Lukashenko .
She has vowed to hold new elections and a Coordination Council which her allies created to oversee the transfer of power was due to convene on Wednesday .

The European Council convened to discuss the fallout from the vote that saw security services in ex-Soviet Belarus brutally disperse peaceful demonstrators demanding that their authoritarian leader resign.
The exiled head of Belarus's opposition urged European leaders to reject President Alexander Lukashenko's "fraudulent" re-election on Wednesday as the EU held an emergency summit on the country's political crisis.
Protesters gathered for a 10th night of demonstrations on Tuesday, with thousands rallying in central Minsk waving the red-and-white flags of the opposition and calling on Lukashenko to step down.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who fled to neighboring Lithuania after claiming victory in the vote, called on EU leaders "not to recognize these fraudulent elections."
"Lukashenko has lost all legitimacy in the eyes of our nation and the world," she said in the video appeal.
As the EU meeting began, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the bloc "cannot accept the result of these elections" called for dialogue to find "a solution that reflects the vote of the people."
Ahead of the summit, European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Lukashenko's close ally Russia to foster talks between authorities and the opposition.
EU ministers agreed last week to draw up a list of targets for new sanctions and Germany has said even stronger penalties should be considered.
'Fight for post-Soviet space'
The Kremlin on Wednesday described foreign interference in Belarus as "unacceptable" and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned what he said were attempts from abroad to take advantage of unrest in Belarus.
"No one is making a secret of the fact that this is about geopolitics, the fight for the post-Soviet space," he said in a televised interview.
Yet Minsk's ties with Moscow have cooled in recent years after Lukashenko resisted Putin's efforts to integrate the two countries. Ahead of the vote, the Belarusian leader accused the Kremlin of dispatching mercenaries to Minsk to stir unrest with the opposition.
Europe's longest-serving leader, Lukashenko has resisted calls to resign or hold new elections. On Tuesday, he said the opposition was planning to seize power and vowed to take "adequate measures" in response.
Tikhanovskaya, a trained English teacher who said she never planned to enter politics, contested the vote after her husband was jailed and barred from running against Lukashenko.
She has vowed to hold new elections and a Coordination Council which her allies created to oversee the transfer of power was due to convene on Wednesday.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--Belarus Resumes Dispersing Protests as Lukashenko Decries ‘Gestapo’ Opposition

Riot police dispersed a Minsk Tractor Works ( MTZ ) strike and a state-run media demonstration , according to the reports .
Protesters were reportedly denied entry into offices , while the national theater building whose entire troupe threatened to resign was closed for “ sanitation.
” Belarusian authorities resumed breaking up protests and employees were denied entry into offices for joining the opposition in the second week of demonstrations against the country ’ s disputed election , Belarusian media reported Wednesday .
The Belarus interior ministry said two people were detained at the MTZ strike .
Lukashenko compared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , the state-run news agency Belta reported Wednesday .
“ The workers and managers pass through a corridor of an aggressive crowd before and after work , like the gestapo , ” Lukashenko said during a national security council videoconference .
“ You , the workers , are the bosses at the factory .
We ’ ll deal with these demonstrators that meet you at the entrance , ” he warned .
The latest dispersals put an end to several days of relative calm that followed the 7,000 detentions , hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of the Aug. 9 polls .
Election officials said Lukashenko won 80 % of the Aug. 9 vote , while opponents maintain that the election was rigged and his main challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was the actual winner .
Workers ’ strikes at major state plants , which broke out last week following the harsh crackdown on protesters , gave a major boost to the opposition movement .
The opposition has called for a general strike from Monday after hundreds of workers at state-run factories laid down tools on Friday in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base was turning against him .
Observers noted , however , that pressure from employers and a lack of clarity about the opposition ’ s next steps threaten to undermine the anti-Lukashenko movement .
BBC wrote that “ there are signs suggesting that the momentum for factory strikes could be winding down , ” citing a 20-to-80 share of MTZ workers who are on strike .
“ Our ranks are thinning out due to unprecedented pressure , ” Andrei Bokun , head of the striking committee at major state-owned potash producer Belaruskali , @ @ @

Riot police dispersed a Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) strike and a state-run media demonstration, according to the reports. Protesters were reportedly denied entry into offices, while the national theater building whose entire troupe threatened to resign was closed for “sanitation.”
Belarusian authorities resumed breaking up protests and employees were denied entry into offices for joining the opposition in the second week of demonstrations against the country’s disputed election, Belarusian media reported Wednesday.
The Belarus interior ministry said two people were detained at the MTZ strike.
Lukashenko compared the protesters outside factories to the Nazi secret police, the state-run news agency Belta reported Wednesday.
“The workers and managers pass through a corridor of an aggressive crowd before and after work, like the gestapo,” Lukashenko said during a national security council videoconference.
“You, the workers, are the bosses at the factory. We’ll deal with these demonstrators that meet you at the entrance,” he warned.
The latest dispersals put an end to several days of relative calm that followed the 7,000 detentions, hundreds of injuries and at least three deaths in the wake of the Aug. 9 polls.
Election officials said Lukashenko won 80% of the Aug. 9 vote, while opponents maintain that the election was rigged and his main challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was the actual winner.
Workers’ strikes at major state plants, which broke out last week following the harsh crackdown on protesters, gave a major boost to the opposition movement. The opposition has called for a general strike from Monday after hundreds of workers at state-run factories laid down tools on Friday in a sign that Lukashenko’s traditional support base was turning against him.
Observers noted, however, that pressure from employers and a lack of clarity about the opposition’s next steps threaten to undermine the anti-Lukashenko movement.
BBC wrote that “there are signs suggesting that the momentum for factory strikes could be winding down,” citing a 20-to-80 share of MTZ workers who are on strike.
“Our ranks are thinning out due to unprecedented pressure,” Andrei Bokun, head of the striking committee at major state-owned potash producer Belaruskali, told Interfax.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--Russian YouTuber Accused of Taking Moscow ‘Metro-2’ Secrets to Ukraine – Reports

Russian-Ukrainian citizen Andrei Pyzh was arrested on Aug. 6 on charges of obtaining and spreading state secrets .
Pyzh has uploaded hundreds of videos showing his explorations of abandoned bunkers and industrial sites to his “ urbanturizm ” YouTube channel , which has about 800,000 subscribers .
A popular urban exploration YouTuber from Russia is suspected of sending secret information about the Moscow metro to Ukraine , the state-run TASS news agency reported weeks after his arrest .
“ He ’ s charged with transporting data related to metro lines in Moscow to Ukraine , ” TASS reported Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pyzh is also suspected of taking information related to Metro-2 , an alleged secret underground metro system , the source said .
The authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the existence of Metro-2 .
“ This information is treated as a state secret , ” they said .
Investigators seized the information on a USB flash drive that Pyzh had apparently taken with him to Ukraine , his attorney Alexei Khalzov told the Open Media investigative website last week .
“ He didn ’ t have the goal of selling it .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of his blog to make a good video , ” Khalzov said .
Pyzh faces between three and eight years in jail if found guilty of illegally obtaining and disseminating state secrets .
A Moscow court ruled to place Pyzh in pre-trial custody until Oct. 6 .
Pyzh does not admit his guilt , a prison monitoring commission member told TASS .
His attorney Khalzov previously said that Pyzh made a partial admission in fear of facing a harsher charge of espionage .
A second unnamed source told TASS that Pyzh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ for a long time.
” The obtained information is currently under expert examination to determine whether it contains state secrets , the source said .
Russian authorities have accused or tried a wide range of people , including journalists and scientists , of disclosing state secrets or high treason in recent years .
Critics have called the charges manifestations of the state ’ s paranoia .

Russian-Ukrainian citizen Andrei Pyzh was arrested on Aug. 6 on charges of obtaining and spreading state secrets. Pyzh has uploaded hundreds of videos showing his explorations of abandoned bunkers and industrial sites to his “urbanturizm” YouTube channel, which has about 800,000 subscribers.
A popular urban exploration YouTuber from Russia is suspected of sending secret information about the Moscow metro to Ukraine, the state-run TASS news agency reported weeks after his arrest.
“He’s charged with transporting data related to metro lines in Moscow to Ukraine,” TASS reported Wednesday, citing an unnamed law enforcement source.
Pyzh is also suspected of taking information related to Metro-2, an alleged secret underground metro system, the source said. The authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the existence of Metro-2.
“This information is treated as a state secret,” they said.
Investigators seized the information on a USB flash drive that Pyzh had apparently taken with him to Ukraine, his attorney Alexei Khalzov told the Open Media investigative website last week.
“He didn’t have the goal of selling it. He wanted to use it for personal reasons as part of his blog to make a good video,” Khalzov said.
Pyzh faces between three and eight years in jail if found guilty of illegally obtaining and disseminating state secrets.
A Moscow court ruled to place Pyzh in pre-trial custody until Oct. 6.
Pyzh does not admit his guilt, a prison monitoring commission member told TASS. His attorney Khalzov previously said that Pyzh made a partial admission in fear of facing a harsher charge of espionage.
A second unnamed source told TASS that Pyzh had been under surveillance by the authorities “for a long time.” The obtained information is currently under expert examination to determine whether it contains state secrets, the source said.
Russian authorities have accused or tried a wide range of people, including journalists and scientists, of disclosing state secrets or high treason in recent years. Critics have called the charges manifestations of the state’s paranoia.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-19--Russia Approaches 940K Coronavirus Cases as Deaths Near 16K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and St. Petersburg .
Russia 's fatality rate has remained low @ @ @ @ @ , raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures .
Russian authorities began easing anti-virus @ @ @ @ @ a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote on constitutional @ @ @ @ @ Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Both events were initially postponed due @ @ @ @ @ cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 .
In the capital , masks are mandatory in @ @ @ @ @ but not in the streets .
Several institutes in Russia are working on a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Ministry has said it developed a `` safe '' vaccine following clinical trials on a @ @ @ @ @ trials are ongoing , and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be fully completed @ @ @ @ @

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.