themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--1 in 2 Russian Doctors Distrust New Coronavirus Vaccine – Poll

President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that the newly approved Sputnik V inoculation conferred “ sustainable immunity ” to volunteers including one of his daughters .
Western public health officials questioned the vaccine ’ s safety and effectiveness , warning against mass production before completing large-scale trials .
More than half of Russian doctors aren ’ t ready to get the country ’ s highly touted coronavirus vaccine , according to an online survey of more than 3,000 healthcare professionals obtained by the RBC news website Friday .
About one in two Russian medics — 52 % — surveyed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t take the new vaccine .
Only 24.5 % of healthcare workers surveyed said they ’ d be willing to get vaccinated , according to RBC .
Out of the 52 % of Russian medics who said they won ’ t get vaccinated , 66 % cited insufficient data proving its effectiveness and 48 % said it was developed too fast .
Twenty percent of the medics who wo n't get vaccinated told the Doctor ’ s Handbook that they ’ d still recommend the Sputnik V to patients , colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll , Deputy Health Minister Oleg Salagay said the results are par for the course and that “ it ’ s normal for trust to be earned through years of application.
” “ But one shouldn ’ t confuse trust with the official assessment of safety and efficiency .
These results allow experts to conclude that the vaccine can be used , ” he wrote on Telegram .
Russian officials have said that frontline healthcare workers and teachers would be the first to get vaccinated with the state-run Gamaleya institute ’ s shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral vector vaccine is an injection solution based on the adenovirus , or the common cold , and distributed in two doses .
Gamaleya has said that the Sputnik V confers two years of immunity to Covid-19 .
The Sputnik V entered Phase 3 trials involving several thousand participants in parallel with its registration Tuesday .
Russia has the world ’ s fourth-highest caseload with more than 900,000 infections confirmed since March .

President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that the newly approved Sputnik V inoculation conferred “sustainable immunity” to volunteers including one of his daughters. Western public health officials questioned the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness, warning against mass production before completing large-scale trials.
More than half of Russian doctors aren’t ready to get the country’s highly touted coronavirus vaccine, according to an online survey of more than 3,000 healthcare professionals obtained by the RBC news website Friday.
About one in two Russian medics — 52% — surveyed by the Doctor’s Handbook app said they won’t take the new vaccine.
Only 24.5% of healthcare workers surveyed said they’d be willing to get vaccinated, according to RBC.
Out of the 52% of Russian medics who said they won’t get vaccinated, 66% cited insufficient data proving its effectiveness and 48% said it was developed too fast.
Twenty percent of the medics who won't get vaccinated told the Doctor’s Handbook that they’d still recommend the Sputnik V to patients, colleagues and friends.
In response to the poll, Deputy Health Minister Oleg Salagay said the results are par for the course and that “it’s normal for trust to be earned through years of application.”
“But one shouldn’t confuse trust with the official assessment of safety and efficiency. These results allow experts to conclude that the vaccine can be used,” he wrote on Telegram.
Russian officials have said that frontline healthcare workers and teachers would be the first to get vaccinated with the state-run Gamaleya institute’s shot as early as late August.
The viral vector vaccine is an injection solution based on the adenovirus, or the common cold, and distributed in two doses. Gamaleya has said that the Sputnik V confers two years of immunity to Covid-19.
The Sputnik V entered Phase 3 trials involving several thousand participants in parallel with its registration Tuesday.
The Doctor’s Handbook app polled 3,040 Russian medical professionals on Aug. 12-13, RBC reported.
Russia has the world’s fourth-highest caseload with more than 900,000 infections confirmed since March.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Russian Media Responds to Belarus Protest Crackdown

Belarusians formed human chains in cities including Minsk , many wearing white and holding flowers , to protest against police brutality during the four nights of unrest after Sunday ’ s vote .
Official statements Thursday suggested a more conciliatory approach following the public outrage toward extreme police violence , which included shootings and beatings .
Tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators in Belarus have gathered in recent days to protest President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s disputed victory and the violent police crackdown that followed .
Russian media have also taken an increasingly sympathetic tone toward protesters , even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed `` clear attempts at outside interference . ''
Here ’ s a look at how columnists for Russia 's widely read pro-Kremlin press have covered the recent nights of protests : “ There were no slogans or cheers today .
Besides being pointedly peaceful , the demonstration was also quiet .
...
There was no cause for concern , there were no police cars along the entirety of the procession route.
” “ Violence has noticeably decreased at the night protests .
Security forces also adopted a new strategy and stopped noticing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helmets hid them , but I ’ m sure there were smiles underneath .
The riot police are tired of nights of protest too.
” — Argumenty i Fakty , “ Demonstrators ID 'd as Parasites .
How Did the Latest Protests in Minsk Go ?
`` : “ The country has begun to return to normal life .
There were almost no violent confrontations with security forces on the streets at night , the protesters did not erect barricades and did not shoot fireworks at police .
Detentions were surgical.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say that the protests have completely ended .
The actions are continuing , but in a new format.
” — Komsomolskaya Pravda , “ Lukashenko ’ s Salvation Is New Polls .
Otherwise , It ’ s Only the Beginning ” : “ The protests speak to one thing : we need repeat elections .
If they aren ’ t held ( and I ’ m not sure Lukashenko will go for it ) , then the situation won ’ t be resolved .
...
I predict an escalation in Minsk this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people being simply snatched from bus stops .
... Today , the situation has changed drastically and the people think one thing : it means we held out , we endured .
...
If the government thinks that the people will relent and go home , that ’ s not what will happen.
” “ If the Central Election Commission says there are too many violations and we ’ ll cancel the elections , that would be most lifesaving for Lukashenko .
...
It ’ s better that he participates in the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ...
If Lukashenko continues to live the old way , then the situation will again meet a dead end.
” — Moskovsky Komsomolets , “ Russian Observers as Accomplices to the Lukashenko Regime ” : “ If we call Russian parliamentarians who monitored the Belarus presidential elections accomplices of the Belarusian authorities , it ’ s not offensive .
What offense can there be if they participated in a good , noble , worthy cause and not a crime ?
That is , if they ’ re to be believed.
” “ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then the protests broke out and are breaking out over nothing .
Not believing them means recognizing them as cynical unprincipled politicians who are ready to call an outright dictatorship a pure democracy for opportunistic or careerist reasons .
”

Belarusians formed human chains in cities including Minsk, many wearing white and holding flowers, to protest against police brutality during the four nights of unrest after Sunday’s vote. Official statements Thursday suggested a more conciliatory approach following the public outrage toward extreme police violence, which included shootings and beatings.
Tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators in Belarus have gathered in recent days to protest President Alexander Lukashenko’s disputed victory and the violent police crackdown that followed.
Russian media have also taken an increasingly sympathetic tone toward protesters, even as the Russian Foreign Ministry said the protests showed "clear attempts at outside interference."
Here’s a look at how columnists for Russia's widely read pro-Kremlin press have covered the recent nights of protests:
— Izvestia, “How Women Seized the Belarusian Protests”:
“There were no slogans or cheers today. Besides being pointedly peaceful, the demonstration was also quiet. ... There was no cause for concern, there were no police cars along the entirety of the procession route.”
“Violence has noticeably decreased at the night protests. Security forces also adopted a new strategy and stopped noticing small clusters of people.”
“The helmets hid them, but I’m sure there were smiles underneath. The riot police are tired of nights of protest too.”
— Argumenty i Fakty, “Demonstrators ID'd as Parasites. How Did the Latest Protests in Minsk Go?":
“The country has begun to return to normal life. There were almost no violent confrontations with security forces on the streets at night, the protesters did not erect barricades and did not shoot fireworks at police. Detentions were surgical.”
“Still, it’s clearly premature to say that the protests have completely ended. The actions are continuing, but in a new format.”
— Komsomolskaya Pravda, “Lukashenko’s Salvation Is New Polls. Otherwise, It’s Only the Beginning”:
“The protests speak to one thing: we need repeat elections. If they aren’t held (and I’m not sure Lukashenko will go for it), then the situation won’t be resolved. ... I predict an escalation in Minsk this weekend.”
“Yesterday, I saw people being simply snatched from bus stops. ... Today, the situation has changed drastically and the people think one thing: it means we held out, we endured. ... If the government thinks that the people will relent and go home, that’s not what will happen.”
“If the Central Election Commission says there are too many violations and we’ll cancel the elections, that would be most lifesaving for Lukashenko. ... It’s better that he participates in the next elections than remain without them whatsoever. ... If Lukashenko continues to live the old way, then the situation will again meet a dead end.”
— Moskovsky Komsomolets, “Russian Observers as Accomplices to the Lukashenko Regime”:
“If we call Russian parliamentarians who monitored the Belarus presidential elections accomplices of the Belarusian authorities, it’s not offensive. What offense can there be if they participated in a good, noble, worthy cause and not a crime? That is, if they’re to be believed.”
“If these respected gentlemen are to be believed, then the protests broke out and are breaking out over nothing. Not believing them means recognizing them as cynical unprincipled politicians who are ready to call an outright dictatorship a pure democracy for opportunistic or careerist reasons.”
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Belarus Vote Challenger Calls for 'Peaceful' Protests in All Cities

The main challenger in Belarus 's disputed presidential election called Friday for mass weekend rallies across the country in support of her claim to have defeated strongman Alexander Lukashenko .
`` Belarusians will never want to live with the previous government again .
The majority do not believe in his victory , '' Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said in a video address .
`` I ask the mayors of all cities to organize peaceful mass gatherings in every city on Aug. 15 and 16 . ''
Tikhanovskaya , who left the country for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday , said Belarus had undergone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on protests that has seen thousands of people arrested , hundreds wounded and at least two dead .
`` Six months ago , no one believed that Belarusians would be able to unite and say 'no ' to the old government .
But it happened , '' she said .
`` The government turned the peaceful demonstration of citizens in the streets into a bloody massacre , '' Tikhanovskaya said .
`` The situation is critical .
We need to stop the violence on the streets of Belarus 's cities .
I call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start a dialogue . ''

The main challenger in Belarus's disputed presidential election called Friday for mass weekend rallies across the country in support of her claim to have defeated strongman Alexander Lukashenko. "Belarusians will never want to live with the previous government again. The majority do not believe in his victory," Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said in a video address.
"I ask the mayors of all cities to organize peaceful mass gatherings in every city on Aug. 15 and 16." Tikhanovskaya, who left the country for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday, said Belarus had undergone momentous change and condemned a police crackdown on protests that has seen thousands of people arrested, hundreds wounded and at least two dead.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Belarusian Artist Embroiders Her Country's Historic Protests

Rufina Bazlova is a Belarusian artist who has lived in the Czech Republic for 12 years .
She is an @ @ @ @ @ has responded to events in her homeland through the medium of embroidery .
She said @ @ @ @ @ kind of `` code '' for the country 's history , with red as the @ @ @ @ @ original flag of the Democratic Republic of Belarus in 1918 was red and white , @ @ @ @ @ today 's post-Soviet flag is green and red with some traditional Belarusian ornamentation .
The @ @ @ @ @ flag have been adopted by protesters opposing President Alexander Lukashenko 's re-election .

Rufina Bazlova is a Belarusian artist who has lived in the Czech Republic for 12 years. She is an illustrator and theater scenographer who has responded to events in her homeland through the medium of embroidery.
She said that the embroidery is a kind of "code" for the country's history, with red as the symbol for life.
The original flag of the Democratic Republic of Belarus in 1918 was red and white, but the Soviet-era flag and today's post-Soviet flag is green and red with some traditional Belarusian ornamentation. The red and white colors and flag have been adopted by protesters opposing President Alexander Lukashenko's re-election.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 910K

Russia's Coronavirus Cases Surpass 910K

The highest number of new cases were in Moscow and Sverdlovsk in the Urals .
Russia 's fatality rate has @ @ @ @ @ badly-hit countries , raising speculation that Moscow could be underreporting figures .
Russian authorities began @ @ @ @ @ ahead of a massive World War II military parade in Moscow and a nationwide vote @ @ @ @ @ allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036 .
Both events were initially @ @ @ @ @ Moscow opened cinemas and theaters on Aug. 1 .
In the capital , masks are @ @ @ @ @ public transport but not in the streets .
Several institutes in Russia are working on @ @ @ @ @ Russian Defense Ministry has said it developed a `` safe '' vaccine following clinical trials @ @ @ @ @ .
The trials are ongoing , and the Defense Ministry expects clinical trials to be @ @ @ @ @ weeks .

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


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Belarus: Symbols of the Opposition

Belarus: Symbols of the Opposition

White bracelets , flowers , a punched fist and a Soviet-era song : all have become symbols of opposition to the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to serve a sixth term .
The color white has become central in the protests sparked by Sunday 's vote , which have massed behind Lukashenko 's presidential challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old English teacher by training who until recently was a stay-at-home mother .
Often dressed in white , she has called on supporters to wear white bracelets , which have become one of the key symbols of the anti-government demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of women clad in white dresses or shirts have formed human chains in the capital Minsk and other cities to denounce the violent police crackdown on the protests against Lukashenko , who has been ruled Belarus with an iron fist for 26 years .
Protesters say white symbolizes peace .
Along with red it is also the color of the Belarusian flag in the period before the Soviet Union and in the years between the bloc 's collapse and Lukashenko taking power in 1995 .
Women taking part in the protests often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some have offered their flowers to the riot police , who have clashed violently with protesters , kicking them and beating them with batons .
Since Sunday evening some 6,700 demonstrators have been arrested and Belarus has confirmed the deaths of two protesters .
Tikhanovskaya heads a trio of women that has rallied protesters to defy the 65-year-old moustachioed president with a macho image .
In posters and at rallies , each woman has adopted a signature gesture .
Tikhanovskaya , who decided to run for president after her blogger husband Sergei Tikhanovsky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has become known for her punched fist .
Maria Kolesnikova , the campaign chief of ex-banker Viktor Babaryko who was dropped from the polls and is in jail , curls her fingers in a heart shape .
Veronika Tsepkalo , whose ex-diplomat husband Valery Tsepkalo was also barred from standing , shows a victory sign .
These gestures have been adopted by demonstrators on the streets of Minsk and elsewhere .
The famous Soviet perestroika-era song `` Peremen ! ''
( Changes ) blasts out everywhere during demonstrations — from smartphones in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violinist in front of the Belarusian consulate in Moscow .
Opponents to Lukashenko 's regime have , like previous protest movements , adopted as an anthem and rallying cry this song , performed by Russian 1980s rock star Viktor Tsoi and his band Kino shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union .
The song was even in evidence on the run-up to Sunday 's election : on Aug. 6 , two DJs who support the opposition sneaked the song , considered subversive by the authorities , onto the playlist of a pro-government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the crowd .
The DJs were arrested and sentenced to 10 days in prison .

White bracelets, flowers, a punched fist and a Soviet-era song: all have become symbols of opposition to the re-election of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to serve a sixth term. White The color white has become central in the protests sparked by Sunday's vote, which have massed behind Lukashenko's presidential challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old English teacher by training who until recently was a stay-at-home mother. Often dressed in white, she has called on supporters to wear white bracelets, which have become one of the key symbols of the anti-government demonstrations.
Sergei Gapon / AFP
In the last two days, thousands of women clad in white dresses or shirts have formed human chains in the capital Minsk and other cities to denounce the violent police crackdown on the protests against Lukashenko, who has been ruled Belarus with an iron fist for 26 years. Protesters say white symbolizes peace. Along with red it is also the color of the Belarusian flag in the period before the Soviet Union and in the years between the bloc's collapse and Lukashenko taking power in 1995. Flowers Women taking part in the protests often carry a white or red flower. Some have offered their flowers to the riot police, who have clashed violently with protesters, kicking them and beating them with batons. Since Sunday evening some 6,700 demonstrators have been arrested and Belarus has confirmed the deaths of two protesters.
Sergei Gapon / AFP
Signature gestures Tikhanovskaya heads a trio of women that has rallied protesters to defy the 65-year-old moustachioed president with a macho image. In posters and at rallies, each woman has adopted a signature gesture. Tikhanovskaya, who decided to run for president after her blogger husband Sergei Tikhanovsky was jailed and barred from contesting, has become known for her punched fist. Maria Kolesnikova, the campaign chief of ex-banker Viktor Babaryko who was dropped from the polls and is in jail, curls her fingers in a heart shape. Veronika Tsepkalo, whose ex-diplomat husband Valery Tsepkalo was also barred from standing, shows a victory sign. These gestures have been adopted by demonstrators on the streets of Minsk and elsewhere.
Sergei Gapon / AFP
Soviet-era song The famous Soviet perestroika-era song "Peremen!" (Changes) blasts out everywhere during demonstrations — from smartphones in the crowds, or even performed by a violinist in front of the Belarusian consulate in Moscow.
Около посольства Беларуси в Москве сейчас так: играют «Перемен» Цоя на скрипке
Видео: Эдуард Бурмистров / Дождь pic.twitter.com/hQbYvb6o5A — Дождь (@tvrain) August 9, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Tens of Thousands Rally in Belarus Against Post-Vote Crackdown

In apparent concessions , Belarus announced the release of more than 1,000 detained protesters and the interior minister apologized to injured bystanders .
Tens of thousands of Belarusians staged a wave of peaceful protests on Thursday against President Alexander Lukashenko 's disputed re-election and an ensuing brutal police crackdown .
European countries condemned the police violence , with the European Union set to discuss possible sanctions on Friday .
Crowds stood on central streets in the capital Minsk waving lit-up phones and flowers , and cheering as cars drove past honking horns in support .
Earlier tens of thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many wearing white and holding flowers and balloons , to protest against police brutality during four nights of unrest since Sunday 's vote .
Official statements suggested a more conciliatory approach following public outrage at extreme police violence including shootings and beatings .
Senate Speaker Natalya Kochanova said on television that Lukashenko had ordered officials to review detentions and more than 1,000 people taken into custody at protests had been released .
AFP journalists saw men and women emerge from a Minsk detention center .
The interior ministry has said it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday .
Interior Minister Yury Karayev said on state television : `` I apologize for the injuries of random people at protests who got caught in the middle . ''
Lukashenko 's opponents accuse him of rigging the election to defeat his main rival , popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who has left the ex-Soviet country for neighboring Lithuania .
People came out to contest the election results and police used stun grenades , rubber bullets , tear gas , water cannon and , in at least one case , live fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the violence while nearly 7,000 have been arrested .
Outside Minsk 's Okrestina detention center , women detainees emerged first in small groups then male detainees , as hundreds of friends and relatives waited .
Many of the detainees looked tired and tearful but some raised V signs and punched the air .
Volunteers handed out food and blankets and offered rides home .
The constitutional court has so far released 569 names of people sentenced to brief jail terms , usually 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testified that they received severe beatings and threats of rape .
Those detained have said they were held in overcrowded cells with insufficient food and water .
On Thursday , demonstrators held placards reading `` Change ! ''
and `` No violence '' and wore white bracelets , one of the symbols of the opposition movement .
`` We want to show that we , the women of our country , are against violence , '' said Yekaterina , a 38-year-old hairdresser wearing a white sweater and jacket and holding a bunch of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at several major factories staged walk-outs , local media reported .
Russia 's Foreign Ministry on Thursday claimed protests showed `` clear attempts at outside interference . ''
But leaders of neighboring Poland and the Baltic states urged Lukashenko to `` terminate the use of force against your people immediately . ''
European Union foreign ministers were set to discuss possible new sanctions on Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday .
Prominent Belarusians have condemned the violence and urged Lukashenko , who has ruled Belarus with an iron grip since 1994 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with RFE/RL , writer Svetlana Alexievich , winner of the 2015 Nobel literature prize , spoke of her shock at the `` inhumane , satanic '' actions of riot police and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully .
The interior ministry on Wednesday acknowledged that police deliberately fired on a group of protesters , wounding one .
Officials have confirmed the deaths of two protesters .
Police said the first died on Monday when an explosive device went off in his hand , while his widow told local media he was unarmed .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes , on Wednesday said a 25-year-old man died after being detained and sentenced to 10 days in prison in the southeastern city of Gomel .
His mother told local media he had heart problems and had gone out to see his girlfriend , not to take part in protests .
The protests broke out after authorities said Lukashenko won 80 % of the vote in Sunday 's election to secure a sixth term .
Lukashenko , 65 , has dismissed the demonstrators as foreign-controlled `` sheep . ''
The protest movement arose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political novice who ran for president after potential opposition candidates including her husband were jailed .
The official results gave her 10 % of the vote , but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory , demanding that Lukashenko hand over power .
She left for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure .

In apparent concessions, Belarus announced the release of more than 1,000 detained protesters and the interior minister apologized to injured bystanders.
Tens of thousands of Belarusians staged a wave of peaceful protests on Thursday against President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election and an ensuing brutal police crackdown.
European countries condemned the police violence, with the European Union set to discuss possible sanctions on Friday.
Crowds stood on central streets in the capital Minsk waving lit-up phones and flowers, and cheering as cars drove past honking horns in support.
Earlier tens of thousands of people formed human chains in the city, many wearing white and holding flowers and balloons, to protest against police brutality during four nights of unrest since Sunday's vote.
Similar human chains formed in half a dozen other cities, local media reported.
Official statements suggested a more conciliatory approach following public outrage at extreme police violence including shootings and beatings.
Senate Speaker Natalya Kochanova said on television that Lukashenko had ordered officials to review detentions and more than 1,000 people taken into custody at protests had been released.
AFP journalists saw men and women emerge from a Minsk detention center.
The interior ministry has said it has detained some 6,700 people at protests since Sunday.
Interior Minister Yury Karayev said on state television: "I apologize for the injuries of random people at protests who got caught in the middle."
Lukashenko's opponents accuse him of rigging the election to defeat his main rival, popular opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has left the ex-Soviet country for neighboring Lithuania.
People came out to contest the election results and police used stun grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and, in at least one case, live fire to disperse the crowds.
At least two people have died and hundreds have been wounded in the violence while nearly 7,000 have been arrested.
V signs as women freed
Outside Minsk's Okrestina detention center, women detainees emerged first in small groups then male detainees, as hundreds of friends and relatives waited.
Many of the detainees looked tired and tearful but some raised V signs and punched the air.
Volunteers handed out food and blankets and offered rides home.
The constitutional court has so far released 569 names of people sentenced to brief jail terms, usually 15 days.
Amnesty International said detainees had testified that they received severe beatings and threats of rape.
Those detained have said they were held in overcrowded cells with insufficient food and water.
'Change!'
On Thursday, demonstrators held placards reading "Change!" and "No violence" and wore white bracelets, one of the symbols of the opposition movement.
"We want to show that we, the women of our country, are against violence," said Yekaterina, a 38-year-old hairdresser wearing a white sweater and jacket and holding a bunch of white flowers.
Large groups of workers at several major factories staged walk-outs, local media reported.
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Thursday claimed protests showed "clear attempts at outside interference."
But leaders of neighboring Poland and the Baltic states urged Lukashenko to "terminate the use of force against your people immediately."
European Union foreign ministers were set to discuss possible new sanctions on Belarus at an extraordinary meeting on Friday.
Prominent Belarusians have condemned the violence and urged Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron grip since 1994, to step down.
In an interview with RFE/RL, writer Svetlana Alexievich, winner of the 2015 Nobel literature prize, spoke of her shock at the "inhumane, satanic" actions of riot police and urged Lukashenko to go peacefully.
'Inhumane actions'
The interior ministry on Wednesday acknowledged that police deliberately fired on a group of protesters, wounding one.
Officials have confirmed the deaths of two protesters.
Police said the first died on Monday when an explosive device went off in his hand, while his widow told local media he was unarmed.
The Belarusian Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, on Wednesday said a 25-year-old man died after being detained and sentenced to 10 days in prison in the southeastern city of Gomel.
His mother told local media he had heart problems and had gone out to see his girlfriend, not to take part in protests.
Foreign-controlled 'sheep'
The protests broke out after authorities said Lukashenko won 80% of the vote in Sunday's election to secure a sixth term.
Lukashenko, 65, has dismissed the demonstrators as foreign-controlled "sheep."
The protest movement arose in support of Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran for president after potential opposition candidates including her husband were jailed.
The official results gave her 10% of the vote, but Tikhanovskaya said the election was rigged and claimed victory, demanding that Lukashenko hand over power.
She left for neighboring Lithuania on Tuesday as allies said she came under official pressure.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Spent Nuclear Fuel Removed From Abandoned Soviet-Era Ship in ‘Major Milestone’

The Lepse served the Soviet Union ’ s nuclear icebreaker fleet from 1934 until the 1980s , when it encountered rough seas and spilled highly radioactive waste inside its cargo hold .
Decommissioning of the ship began in 2012 .
An international cleanup effort has helped remove spent nuclear fuel from a service ship abandoned after an accident in northwestern Russia , the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona announced Wednesday .
The nuclear fuel posed “ a serious danger to the people and the environment of the Barents Sea region , ” said the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Lepse held 639 damaged and distorted spent nuclear fuel assemblies when it was taken out of service .
Bellona and the EBRD ’ s Northern Dimension Environment Partnership ( NDEP ) fund hailed the removal of spent fuel from the Lepse last month as a critical milestone in dismantling the decommissioned vessel .
“ The successful final shipment of fuel is the culmination of over a decade of international collaboration to address the legacy of the Lepse , ” EBRD ’ s director for nuclear safety Balthasar Lindauer said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a technically complex and challenging task given the uncertainties associated with both the conditions of the old storage facility and spent nuclear fuel , ” Lindauer said .
The EBRD said the spent fuels will be transferred to the Mayak nuclear facility in the Chelyabinsk region 3,500 kilometers to the southeast of the Arctic city of Murmansk .
The EBRD ’ s NDEP manages six other nuclear decommissioning funds , including the Chernobyl Shelter Fund .
The fund draws contributions from the European Union , Britain and Canada , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Germany , the Netherlands and Norway .

The Lepse served the Soviet Union’s nuclear icebreaker fleet from 1934 until the 1980s, when it encountered rough seas and spilled highly radioactive waste inside its cargo hold. Decommissioning of the ship began in 2012.
An international cleanup effort has helped remove spent nuclear fuel from a service ship abandoned after an accident in northwestern Russia, the Norwegian environmental organization Bellona announced Wednesday.
The nuclear fuel posed “a serious danger to the people and the environment of the Barents Sea region,” said the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which funds the effort.
The Lepse held 639 damaged and distorted spent nuclear fuel assemblies when it was taken out of service.
Bellona and the EBRD’s Northern Dimension Environment Partnership (NDEP) fund hailed the removal of spent fuel from the Lepse last month as a critical milestone in dismantling the decommissioned vessel.
“The successful final shipment of fuel is the culmination of over a decade of international collaboration to address the legacy of the Lepse,” EBRD’s director for nuclear safety Balthasar Lindauer said in a July 22 statement.
“This has been a technically complex and challenging task given the uncertainties associated with both the conditions of the old storage facility and spent nuclear fuel,” Lindauer said.
The EBRD said the spent fuels will be transferred to the Mayak nuclear facility in the Chelyabinsk region 3,500 kilometers to the southeast of the Arctic city of Murmansk.
The EBRD’s NDEP manages six other nuclear decommissioning funds, including the Chernobyl Shelter Fund.
The fund draws contributions from the European Union, Britain and Canada, as well as Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--EU Approves Belarus Sanctions

EU Approves Belarus Sanctions

At a videoconference hosted by Brussels ' diplomatic chief Josep Borrell , the foreign ministers also agreed to take up the stand-off between Greece and Turkey at their next face-to-face talks .
European Union ministers agreed Friday to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions in response to strongman Alexander Lukashenko 's post-election crackdown .
As Lukashenko 's main opposition challenger called for mass weekend rallies to denounce the long-standing leader 's disputed claim of re-election , his western neighbors are stepping up pressure .
`` The foreign ministers agreed to impose sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a list of names will be drawn up , '' one European official said .
Sweden 's Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in a tweet that the `` EU will now initiate a process of sanctions against those responsible for the violence , arrests and fraud in connection with the election . ''
Once the list is finalized , each individual or entity on it will have to be approved unanimously by member states , but officials said none of the 27 raised objections to the idea of sanctions Ahead of the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several EU members , especially Belarus ' neighbors Poland and Lithuania , which is now hosting exiled opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
Poland , Latvia and Lithuania say they are ready to act as mediators to try to resolve the post-election crisis , after a poll that Brussels has already said was `` neither free nor fair . ''
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has spoken to Tikhanovskaya and , according to his spokesman , she is ready to help him implement a plan for `` peaceful dialogue '' to resolve the crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusians injured during the protests and suggested setting up the EU fund to support `` the victims of repression . ''
Poland announced 11 million euros ( $ 13 million ) in funding to help Belarusians get visas and finance their settlement in Poland , as well as support for independent media and non-governmental organizations in Belarus .
`` We can not put on a mask of indifference or neutrality at times like this , '' Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told parliament .
Later , Morawieki 's office tweeted : `` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holding new , free elections .
They must be fair , with observers from other countries . ''
Russia has implicitly criticized the EU response , denouncing what its foreign ministry spokeswoman called `` clear attempts at outside interference ... aimed at causing a split in society and destabilizing the situation . ''
But Belarus ' Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said in a call on Friday with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis that Minsk is ready `` for a constructive and objective dialogue with foreign partners . ''

At a videoconference hosted by Brussels' diplomatic chief Josep Borrell, the foreign ministers also agreed to take up the stand-off between Greece and Turkey at their next face-to-face talks.
European Union ministers agreed Friday to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions in response to strongman Alexander Lukashenko's post-election crackdown.
As Lukashenko's main opposition challenger called for mass weekend rallies to denounce the long-standing leader's disputed claim of re-election, his western neighbors are stepping up pressure.
"The foreign ministers agreed to impose sanctions on those responsible for the repression and a list of names will be drawn up," one European official said.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in a tweet that the "EU will now initiate a process of sanctions against those responsible for the violence, arrests and fraud in connection with the election."
Once the list is finalized, each individual or entity on it will have to be approved unanimously by member states, but officials said none of the 27 raised objections to the idea of sanctions
Ahead of the meeting there had been calls for action from several EU members, especially Belarus' neighbors Poland and Lithuania, which is now hosting exiled opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
Poland, Latvia and Lithuania say they are ready to act as mediators to try to resolve the post-election crisis, after a poll that Brussels has already said was "neither free nor fair."
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has spoken to Tikhanovskaya and, according to his spokesman, she is ready to help him implement a plan for "peaceful dialogue" to resolve the crisis.
Lithuania also on Friday offered to treat Belarusians injured during the protests and suggested setting up the EU fund to support "the victims of repression."
Call for new vote
Poland announced 11 million euros ($13 million) in funding to help Belarusians get visas and finance their settlement in Poland, as well as support for independent media and non-governmental organizations in Belarus.
"We cannot put on a mask of indifference or neutrality at times like this," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told parliament.
Later, Morawieki's office tweeted: "We call on the Belarusian authorities to consider holding new, free elections. They must be fair, with observers from other countries."
Russia has implicitly criticized the EU response, denouncing what its foreign ministry spokeswoman called "clear attempts at outside interference... aimed at causing a split in society and destabilizing the situation."
But Belarus' Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said in a call on Friday with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis that Minsk is ready "for a constructive and objective dialogue with foreign partners."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--Belarus Factory Workers Hold Mass Walkouts to Back Opposition

Crowds of workers walked off the job on Friday at several factories in Belarus 's capital Minsk in support of the opposition calling for leader Alexander Lukashenko to step down .
Hundreds of workers marched from the Minsk Automobile Plant ( MAZ ) and the Minsk Tractor Works ( MTZ ) after the opposition called for strikes against Lukashenko 's disputed claim to have won re-election on Sunday .
Opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has claimed victory in the polls after raising up a nationwide protest movement .
She left for Lithuania after allies said she came under official pressure .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country where Lukashenko has retained a Soviet-style command economy and the tractor factory is seen as a national symbol .
Workers downed tools to condemn presidential elections where Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory against a popular opposition candidate and police violently cracked down on protesters .
The Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko , appointed in June , came to visit the tractor plant but the striking workers left before he arrived .
On Friday afternoon they marched out of the factory into the city center , shouting `` Long live Belarus '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of the strikers , a middle-aged man with a tattoo on his arm denoting support for the opposition , said that he wanted `` to bring back Tikhanovskaya , she is our president , we voted for her . ''
On the streets outside the factory , members of the public waved flowers and honked horns in support of the strikers .
Tractor plant workers held banners responding to Lukashenko 's disparaging comments on the protest movement .
`` We 're not sheep , we 're not a herd , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's not 20 of us but 16,000 , '' they said .
Lukashenko earlier Friday dismissed the walkouts at the tractor and auto plants , saying that `` 20 people decided to express their opinion , ditched work and went off . ''
He also warned that foreign competitors would benefit from strikes and suggested that workers were being paid to protest .
Belarus is regionally famous as a producer of tractors and they take part in a parade on its national independence day .
Workers at a major fertilizer plant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Grodno , local media reported .
Belarus last saw such large-scale workers ' protests and strikes ahead of the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 .
Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 .

Crowds of workers walked off the job on Friday at several factories in Belarus's capital Minsk in support of the opposition calling for leader Alexander Lukashenko to step down. Hundreds of workers marched from the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ) and the Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) after the opposition called for strikes against Lukashenko's disputed claim to have won re-election on Sunday.
A last-minute blunder: #Lukashenko said today that he heard about 20 workers at two main plants, MAZ and MTZ, who wanted to "express their opinions, but turned around and went back to work". Hundreds of workers at state enterprises across the country are demanding free elections pic.twitter.com/ncfDTgE1ER — Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) August 14, 2020
Opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has claimed victory in the polls after raising up a nationwide protest movement. She left for Lithuania after allies said she came under official pressure. The walkouts were highly unusual in a country where Lukashenko has retained a Soviet-style command economy and the tractor factory is seen as a national symbol. Workers downed tools to condemn presidential elections where Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory against a popular opposition candidate and police violently cracked down on protesters. The Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, appointed in June, came to visit the tractor plant but the striking workers left before he arrived. On Friday afternoon they marched out of the factory into the city center, shouting "Long live Belarus" and "Leave!" directed at Lukashenko. One of the strikers, a middle-aged man with a tattoo on his arm denoting support for the opposition, said that he wanted "to bring back Tikhanovskaya, she is our president, we voted for her."
Гродно. Так выглядят сотрудники предприятия «Гродноазот», которые вышли на забастовку. В руках одного из них плакат «Мы его не выбирали».
Фото: Катерина Гордеева, https://t.co/SAPdczGoiG pic.twitter.com/vDMk37H5B4 — TUT.BY (@tutby) August 14, 2020


themoscowtimes--2020-08-14--'Torture Chamber': Jailed Belarusians Reveal Prison Abuse

Many detainees gave harrowing accounts of beatings , humiliation and torture .
Hundreds of anguished friends and relatives were waiting outside the Minsk detention center , and several ambulances arrived to take injured people away .
Bobrovskaya was one of hundreds of Belarusian protesters and chance bystanders who were being released after they were detained in a crackdown following President Alexander Lukashenko 's disputed landslide win on Sunday .
`` They can do anything while you have no rights , '' she added .
`` We thought we would be buried in here , '' she said Friday , weeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Emerging from a jail in Minsk with other Belarusians detained in a post-election crackdown , 27-year-old math teacher Yana Bobrovskaya said she never expected to make it out alive .
Some women were threatened with rape , while men spoke of being ordered to strip naked and get down on all fours while officers beat them with truncheons , according to Amnesty International .
One man told AFP he was burned with cigarettes , while another said he was given electric shocks and beaten with sticks .
Many seemed unafraid to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFP journalists their bruised buttocks and stomachs .
Bobrovskaya said she was detained even though she did not take part in protests and spent three days without food with some 50 women crowded into a cell designed for four .
When they asked for tampons and toilet paper , they were told to wipe themselves with their clothes , she said .
`` It 's hard to imagine such things in the 21st century , '' she said , describing Belarus as a `` peaceful country . ''
She said her cellmates were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started joking : 'If you have n't been to jail , you 're not a Belarusian . ''
'We do whatever we want' Olesya Stogova , a Russian citizen in her 30s , said she received equally inhumane treatment .
She was visiting Belarus from her home city of St. Petersburg and was snatched off the streets in the crackdown .
Stogova said she was kicked and beaten with truncheons and there were almost 40 women in her four-person cell .
When she said she was Russian , guards unleashed an expletive-laden tirade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want .
We 'll leave you disfigured — you wo n't recognize yourself , '' she said guards told her .
`` There was only tap water and nothing else .
We were packed like sardines in a tin , all sweating , '' she told AFP .
`` It was a torture chamber , '' she said .
Male detainees were treated even worse , she said .
Ales Pushkin , a prominent Belarusian performance artist , said he was detained after a protest and beaten until he `` turned blue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been brutalized , '' the 55-year-old told AFP .
Protester Andrei Yanushka said he had been beaten on the head and body .
Speaking just before an ambulance arrived to take him away , the 35-year-old said Lukashenko should no longer remain at the helm .
`` He can not be president of Belarus , '' he said .
While many detained protesters are being released under pressure from a growing wave of demonstrations , high-profile Lukashenko critics are still being held in jail .
Vitali Shkliarov , a Washington-based political analyst and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Bernie Sanders ' presidential campaign , was detained while on a visit to his native Belarus .
The 44-year-old , who is a visiting scholar at Harvard University , has been accused of helping plot mass unrest , a charge he denies .
He is being held in a jail in central Minsk where he is experiencing humiliations and pressure , his lawyer Anton Gashinsky said .
Several days ago Shkliarov was strip-searched and put in a standing cell where he spent five or six hours without food or water , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep with the lights on and listen to Soviet-era propaganda songs .
`` He calls this torture , '' Gashinsky told AFP , adding that his client said his experiences were similar to the Gulag camp memoirs of Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn .
`` He is trying to hang on in there , '' the lawyer said .

Many detainees gave harrowing accounts of beatings, humiliation and torture.
Hundreds of anguished friends and relatives were waiting outside the Minsk detention center, and several ambulances arrived to take injured people away.
Bobrovskaya was one of hundreds of Belarusian protesters and chance bystanders who were being released after they were detained in a crackdown following President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed landslide win on Sunday.
"They can do anything while you have no rights," she added.
"We thought we would be buried in here," she said Friday, weeping as she recounted her experience to AFP.
Emerging from a jail in Minsk with other Belarusians detained in a post-election crackdown, 27-year-old math teacher Yana Bobrovskaya said she never expected to make it out alive.
Some women were threatened with rape, while men spoke of being ordered to strip naked and get down on all fours while officers beat them with truncheons, according to Amnesty International.
One man told AFP he was burned with cigarettes, while another said he was given electric shocks and beaten with sticks.
Many seemed unafraid to speak out and some men undressed to show AFP journalists their bruised buttocks and stomachs.
Bobrovskaya said she was detained even though she did not take part in protests and spent three days without food with some 50 women crowded into a cell designed for four.
When they asked for tampons and toilet paper, they were told to wipe themselves with their clothes, she said.
"It's hard to imagine such things in the 21st century," she said, describing Belarus as a "peaceful country."
She said her cellmates were well-educated professionals like her.
"We started joking: 'If you haven't been to jail, you're not a Belarusian."
'We do whatever we want'
Olesya Stogova, a Russian citizen in her 30s, said she received equally inhumane treatment.
She was visiting Belarus from her home city of St. Petersburg and was snatched off the streets in the crackdown.
Stogova said she was kicked and beaten with truncheons and there were almost 40 women in her four-person cell.
When she said she was Russian, guards unleashed an expletive-laden tirade.
"We'll do whatever we want. We'll leave you disfigured — you won't recognize yourself," she said guards told her.
"There was only tap water and nothing else. We were packed like sardines in a tin, all sweating," she told AFP.
"It was a torture chamber," she said.
Male detainees were treated even worse, she said.
Ales Pushkin, a prominent Belarusian performance artist, said he was detained after a protest and beaten until he "turned blue."
"All these days I've been brutalized," the 55-year-old told AFP.
Protester Andrei Yanushka said he had been beaten on the head and body.
Speaking just before an ambulance arrived to take him away, the 35-year-old said Lukashenko should no longer remain at the helm.
"He cannot be president of Belarus," he said.
'Gulag experience'
While many detained protesters are being released under pressure from a growing wave of demonstrations, high-profile Lukashenko critics are still being held in jail.
Vitali Shkliarov, a Washington-based political analyst and strategist who has worked on U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign, was detained while on a visit to his native Belarus.
The 44-year-old, who is a visiting scholar at Harvard University, has been accused of helping plot mass unrest, a charge he denies.
He is being held in a jail in central Minsk where he is experiencing humiliations and pressure, his lawyer Anton Gashinsky said.
Several days ago Shkliarov was strip-searched and put in a standing cell where he spent five or six hours without food or water, the lawyer said.
He also had to sleep with the lights on and listen to Soviet-era propaganda songs.
"He calls this torture," Gashinsky told AFP, adding that his client said his experiences were similar to the Gulag camp memoirs of Russian writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
"He is trying to hang on in there," the lawyer said.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-15--Kremlin Predicts Swift Resolution of Belarus Unrest

The Kremlin said Saturday that President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko agreed in a phone call that the `` problems '' in Belarus would be swiftly resolved .
The phone call came after Belarus leader who claims to have won a disputed presidential election on Sunday said he needed to contact Moscow over growing protests against his rule .
`` Both sides expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon , '' the Kremlin said in a statement .
Russia has been the only neighbor of Belarus to back Lukashenko during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Belarusians and drawn international condemnation of police violence and vote-rigging .
The Kremlin in its account of the exchange between Putin and Lukashenko said that `` the most important thing is to prevent destructive forces from taking advantage of these problems . ''
It said these forces `` are striving to harm the mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries in the union state . ''
It said the two sides agreed to continue regular contacts and their `` intention to strengthen their relations as a union . ''
Belarusian riot police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported beatings and torture in prison .
Lukashenko , in charge of Belarus for the past 26 years , has a history of playing Russia off against the neighboring European Union when it suits him but Belarus is highly economically dependent on Russia .
Lukashenko issued criticisms of Russia during his election campaign and Belarus detained 33 Russians on suspicion of planning riots ahead of polls .
However he has since changed his rhetoric to blame protests on provocateurs coming from countries including Poland and the Netherlands .
Russia in statements supportive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of strengthening the alliance between the two countries , which are formally a union state and until the coronavirus pandemic had no border restrictions .
Lukashenko has said that he opposes full unification with Russia .
In a gesture towards Russia , Belarus on Friday handed back all but one of the 33 detained Russians without charging them .
It earlier issued an embarrassing claim for Russia that they were mercenaries in Wagner , a shadowy private army reportedly funded by a close ally of Putin .

The Kremlin said Saturday that President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko agreed in a phone call that the "problems" in Belarus would be swiftly resolved.
The phone call came after Belarus leader who claims to have won a disputed presidential election on Sunday said he needed to contact Moscow over growing protests against his rule.
"Both sides expressed confidence that all the problems that have arisen will be resolved soon," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Russia has been the only neighbor of Belarus to back Lukashenko during the mass protests that have gained growing support from Belarusians and drawn international condemnation of police violence and vote-rigging.
The Kremlin in its account of the exchange between Putin and Lukashenko said that "the most important thing is to prevent destructive forces from taking advantage of these problems."
It said these forces "are striving to harm the mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries in the union state."
It said the two sides agreed to continue regular contacts and their "intention to strengthen their relations as a union."
Belarusian riot police have used extreme violence and detainees have reported beatings and torture in prison.
Lukashenko, in charge of Belarus for the past 26 years, has a history of playing Russia off against the neighboring European Union when it suits him but Belarus is highly economically dependent on Russia.
Lukashenko issued criticisms of Russia during his election campaign and Belarus detained 33 Russians on suspicion of planning riots ahead of polls.
However he has since changed his rhetoric to blame protests on provocateurs coming from countries including Poland and the Netherlands.
Russia in statements supportive of Lukashenko's election victory has stressed the importance of strengthening the alliance between the two countries, which are formally a union state and until the coronavirus pandemic had no border restrictions.
Lukashenko has said that he opposes full unification with Russia.
In a gesture towards Russia, Belarus on Friday handed back all but one of the 33 detained Russians without charging them.
It earlier issued an embarrassing claim for Russia that they were mercenaries in Wagner, a shadowy private army reportedly funded by a close ally of Putin.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-15--Russia Produces First Batch of Virus Vaccine: Ministry

Russia said Saturday that it has produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine , after President Vladimir Putin announced it had been first in the world to approve a vaccine .
Putin 's announcement on Tuesday about the vaccine was met with caution from scientists and the World Health Organization who said it still needed a rigorous safety review .
`` The first batch of the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya research institute has been produced , '' the health ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies .
Putin said the vaccine was safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been inoculated , though clinical trials were not yet complete and final stage testing involving more than 2,000 people only started this week .
Western scientists were skeptical , with some warning that moving too quickly on a vaccine could be dangerous , but Russia denounced criticism as an attempt to undermine Moscow 's research .
The Russian vaccine is called `` Sputnik V '' after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957 .
It was developed by the Gamaleya research institute for epidemiology and microbiology in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry .
The head of the institute , Alexander Gintsburg , told the TASS state news agency on Saturday that volunteers taking part in the final stage testing of the vaccine 's safety and efficacy would have two inoculations .
Russia has said that industrial production is expected from September and that it plans to manufacture 5 million doses per month by December or January .
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said this week that the vaccine would first be made available to medics and would later be available to all Russians on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed infections , Russia 's coronavirus caseload is currently fourth in the world after the United States , Brazil and India .
Currently Russia has 92,000 people hospitalized with the virus and 2,900 in intensive care , according to the health ministry .

Russia said Saturday that it has produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine, after President Vladimir Putin announced it had been first in the world to approve a vaccine.
Putin's announcement on Tuesday about the vaccine was met with caution from scientists and the World Health Organization who said it still needed a rigorous safety review.
"The first batch of the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by the Gamaleya research institute has been produced," the health ministry said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies.
Putin said the vaccine was safe and that one of his own daughters had been inoculated, though clinical trials were not yet complete and final stage testing involving more than 2,000 people only started this week.
Western scientists were skeptical, with some warning that moving too quickly on a vaccine could be dangerous, but Russia denounced criticism as an attempt to undermine Moscow's research.
The Russian vaccine is called "Sputnik V" after the Soviet-era satellite that was the first launched into space in 1957.
It was developed by the Gamaleya research institute for epidemiology and microbiology in Moscow in coordination with the Russian defense ministry.
The head of the institute, Alexander Gintsburg, told the TASS state news agency on Saturday that volunteers taking part in the final stage testing of the vaccine's safety and efficacy would have two inoculations.
Russia has said that industrial production is expected from September and that it plans to manufacture 5 million doses per month by December or January.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said this week that the vaccine would first be made available to medics and would later be available to all Russians on a voluntary basis.
With more than 917,000 confirmed infections, Russia's coronavirus caseload is currently fourth in the world after the United States, Brazil and India.
Currently Russia has 92,000 people hospitalized with the virus and 2,900 in intensive care, according to the health ministry.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-15--Belarus Leader Reaches Out to Russia as Pressure Grows

The opposition in Belarus kept up the pressure on President Alexander Lukashenko with a fresh demonstration in Minsk on Saturday , as the strongman reached out to Russia in an apparent plea for help .
Some 5,000 opposition supporters gathered near a metro station in the capital where a demonstrator died during this week 's police crackdown on protests against Lukashenko 's claim to have won re-election last Sunday .
With the opposition gaining momentum after days of demonstrations , Lukashenko 's main election challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had called on supporters to rally again over the weekend .
Demonstrators laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 34 , died on Monday , with many chanting `` Leave ! ''
and some holding up pictures of protesters with severe bruises , after accounts emerged of detained demonstrators being beaten and tortured .
Facing the biggest challenge to his rule since taking power in 1994 , Lukashenko made an unusual public plea to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin .
`` The aggression against Belarus is developing .
We need to contact Putin , the president of Russia , so that I can talk with him now .
Because this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus , '' Lukashenko told government officials in a televised meeting .
He said Belarus was facing `` external interference '' and that a `` union state '' that links the two countries ' economies and militaries needed `` protection '' .
The Kremlin confirmed that the two leaders had spoken by phone , saying both sides were confident the situation would be `` resolved soon '' .
Mourners also gathered separately on Saturday for a funeral for Taraikovsky , with hundreds of people joining his family as they surrounded his coffin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of force on Sunday with a `` March for Freedom '' through the streets of central Minsk .
Tikhanovskaya , a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other opposition candidates including her husband were jailed , accuses Lukashenko of rigging the vote and has demanded he step down so new elections can be held .
The 65-year-old has ruled the ex-Soviet country with an iron grip and claims to have won the election with 80 percent of the vote .
Tikhanovskaya left the country on Tuesday for neighboring Lithuania , with her allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but on Friday she re-emerged with the call for a weekend of `` peaceful mass gatherings '' in cities across the country .
She is also demanding authorities be held to account for the crackdown , which saw police use rubber bullets , stun grenades and , in at least one case , live rounds to disperse protesters , with at least 6,700 people detained and hundreds injured .
Officials have confirmed two deaths in the unrest , including Taraikovsky who they say died when an explosive device went off in his hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who died in custody after being arrested in the southeastern city of Gomel .
On Friday authorities began releasing hundreds of those arrested and many emerged from detention with horrific accounts of beatings and torture .
Amnesty International condemned `` a campaign of widespread torture and other ill-treatment by the Belarusian authorities who are intent on crushing peaceful protests by any means . ''
In some of the biggest demonstrations yet , thousands marched in Minsk on Friday to denounce the police violence and demand Lukashenko step down .
In euphoric scenes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kissed young interior ministry troops guarding a government building and put flowers in their anti-riot shields .
Unlike the scenes of violent detentions days earlier , police stood by quietly .
Large groups of workers from huge tractor and automobile factories downed tools for the first time and marched to the central square , chanting for Lukashenko to `` Leave ! ''
and `` Long live Belarus ! ''

Demonstrators heaped flowers at the spot and the crowd chanted "Thank you!" and raised victory signs. Police kept a low profile.
Many gathered at the spot where Alexander Taraikovsky, 34, died on Monday during protests against an election the opposition says was rigged to give Lukashenko another term in office.
Thousands demonstrated in the capital Minsk Saturday after main election challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya asked supporters to rally over the weekend and keep alive a movement that poses the biggest challenge to Lukashenko's hold over the ex-Soviet country.
Vladimir Putin has offered to help ensure Belarus's security, according to its president Alexander Lukashenko, as pressure builds on the strongman leader and opposition protesters prepare for a show of force Sunday.
Many held up photographs of protesters beaten during the crackdown, while one man stood in his underwear revealing the purple bruises on his thighs, buttocks and back.
Later thousands protested outside the Belarusian state television centre, complaining that their broadcasts backed Lukashenko and gave a skewed picture of the protests.
Around 100 staff came out of the building to join the crowd, and said they planned a strike on Monday.
"Like everyone we are demanding free elections and the release of those detained at mass protests," said one employee, Andrei Yaroshevich.
Riot police later arrived at the centre and blocked off the entrance to the building.
The opposition is planning a major show of force on Sunday with a "March for Freedom" through the streets of central Minsk.
'I'm really afraid'
Facing the biggest challenge to his rule since taking power in 1994, Lukashenko called in Moscow's help and spoke on the phone with Putin Saturday, after warning there was "a threat not only to Belarus."
He later told military chiefs that Putin had offered "comprehensive help" to "ensure the security of Belarus."
The Kremlin said the leaders agreed the "problems" in Belarus would be "resolved soon" and the countries' ties strengthened.
While Lukashenko periodically plays Moscow off against the neighbouring EU, Russia is Belarus's closest ally and the countries have formed a "union state" linking their economies and militaries.
Lukashenko criticized Russia during his election campaign and Belarus detained 33 Russians on suspicion of planning riots ahead of polls.
Opposition protesters slammed Lukashenko for now seeking Moscow's aid and said they fear Russian intervention.
"It's obvious that our president can't deal with his own people any more, he's seeking help in the east," said Alexei Linich, a 27-year-old programmer.
"If Russia intervenes, that would be the worst. I'm really afraid of this," said Olga Nesteruk, a landscape designer.
'Will not give up the country'
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday urged Lukashenko to "engage with civil society," during a trip to Poland, which has offered to act as a mediator.
Tikhanovskaya, a 37-year-old political novice who ran after other opposition candidates including her husband were jailed, accuses Lukashenko of rigging the vote and has demanded he step down so new elections can be held.
The 65-year-old has ruled Belarus with an iron grip and claims to have won the election with 80% of the vote.
Tikhanovskaya left the country on Tuesday for neighbouring Lithuania, with her allies saying she came under official pressure.
She is also demanding authorities be held to account for the crackdown, which saw police use rubber bullets, stun grenades and, in at least one case, live rounds to disperse protesters, with at least 6,700 people detained and hundreds injured.
Officials have confirmed two deaths in the unrest, including Taraikovsky — who they say died when an explosive device went off in his hand during a protest — and another man who died in custody in the southeastern city of Gomel.
Call for 'free and fair' vote
On Friday authorities began releasing hundreds of those arrested and many gave horrific accounts of beatings and torture.
European Union ministers have agreed to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a new round of sanctions in response to the post-election crackdown.
The leaders of the three ex-Soviet Baltic states — Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia — on Saturday condemned the crackdown and called for a new vote.
Lukashenko has dismissed the demonstrators as foreign-controlled "sheep" and "people with a criminal past who are now unemployed," repeatedly accusing foreign governments of plotting his downfall.
Tikhanovskaya on Friday announced the creation of a Coordination Council to ensure a transfer of power, asking foreign governments to "help us in organising a dialogue with Belarusian authorities."
She demanded the authorities release all detainees, remove security forces from the streets and open criminal cases against those who ordered the crackdown.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-15--Belarus Hands 32 Detained 'Mercenaries' Over to Russia

Russia on Friday announced the safe return of 32 of its citizens after Belarus detained them saying they were mercenaries sent to destabilize the country ahead of Sunday 's presidential election .
Russia 's Prosecutor-General 's Office said in a statement that `` 32 Russian citizens who were earlier detained in Belarus crossed the border and are now in Russia . ''
It added that one other man , who has dual Belarusian citizenship , remained there .
The statement came after Belarus announced in late July ahead of August 9 presidential polls that it had detained 33 Russians at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian security service , the KGB , said they were fighters for the shadowy Wagner private army , reportedly funded by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin .
Its recruits are believed to act in numerous foreign conflicts including in Syria and Ukraine .
The Belarusian KGB initially said the men were sent to destabilize Belarus ahead of polls .
A senior official said they were suspected of preparing a terrorist attack .
Belarus later changed its account , saying the men were facing a charge of making preparations for mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested they acted along with detained Belarusian opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko including the husband of the main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya .
The men gave testimony that they were planning to travel on to foreign destinations including Venezuela .
It emerged that several of the detained men had fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and Ukraine said it would seek to extradite them .
Russia has denied interference in the Belarusian polls but did not issue any harsh statements over the detentions , while saying the men had done nothing wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although he has often sought to play Russia off against the European Union , and Moscow has publicly supported him during the latest protests .
The Belarusian strongman issued more conciliatory statements about the incident ahead of the men 's release .
A Russian tabloid , Komsomolskaya Pravda , reported that the whole operation had been organized by Ukraine as a provocation .
Lukashenko has now shifted to blaming the protests on other foreign countries as thousands take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations against police violence and against the polls they said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Friday he claimed people had arrived from Poland , Ukraine and the Netherlands to direct the protest movement .

Russia on Friday announced the safe return of 32 of its citizens after Belarus detained them saying they were mercenaries sent to destabilize the country ahead of Sunday's presidential election.
Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office said in a statement that "32 Russian citizens who were earlier detained in Belarus crossed the border and are now in Russia."
It added that one other man, who has dual Belarusian citizenship, remained there.
The statement came after Belarus announced in late July ahead of August 9 presidential polls that it had detained 33 Russians at a health resort outside Minsk.
The Belarusian security service, the KGB, said they were fighters for the shadowy Wagner private army, reportedly funded by a close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Its recruits are believed to act in numerous foreign conflicts including in Syria and Ukraine.
The Belarusian KGB initially said the men were sent to destabilize Belarus ahead of polls. A senior official said they were suspected of preparing a terrorist attack.
Belarus later changed its account, saying the men were facing a charge of making preparations for mass disorder, a criminal charge.
It suggested they acted along with detained Belarusian opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko including the husband of the main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
The men gave testimony that they were planning to travel on to foreign destinations including Venezuela.
It emerged that several of the detained men had fought alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and Ukraine said it would seek to extradite them.
Russia has denied interference in the Belarusian polls but did not issue any harsh statements over the detentions, while saying the men had done nothing wrong.
Lukashenko has close ties with Moscow although he has often sought to play Russia off against the European Union, and Moscow has publicly supported him during the latest protests.
The Belarusian strongman issued more conciliatory statements about the incident ahead of the men's release.
A Russian tabloid, Komsomolskaya Pravda, reported that the whole operation had been organized by Ukraine as a provocation.
Lukashenko has now shifted to blaming the protests on other foreign countries as thousands take to the streets in peaceful demonstrations against police violence and against the polls they said were rigged to re-elect the strongman.
On Friday he claimed people had arrived from Poland, Ukraine and the Netherlands to direct the protest movement.