themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--Russia Begins Final Trials of Sputnik V Coronavirus Vaccine

Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said 31,000 out of the announced 40,000 volunteers have been recruited for the study , the state-run TASS news agency reported .
Deputy Moscow Mayor Anastasia Rakova said that more than 35,000 Muscovites applied to take part in the trials , according to Interfax .
Russia has launched Phase 3 trials of its highly touted coronavirus vaccine to determine the jab ’ s long-term safety and effectiveness , authorities said Wednesday as questions surrounded the results of its Phase 1 and 2 trials .
Neither official specified how many people have taken the adenovirus-based viral vector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the volunteers will receive a second shot of the same vaccine within 21 days of the first .
Russia began first deliveries of the Sputnik V vaccine for the general public this week .
A number of Russian state firm executives , cabinet members , city officials and party leaders have announced in recent weeks that they had received the vaccine .
The announcement comes after a group of prominent scientists highlighted “ strange patterns ” in the data published in the scientific journal The Lancet last Friday .
The data included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been tested with different formulations of the vaccine , the scientists told The Moscow Times .
The head of the state-run Gamaleya institute that developed the vaccine has also disclosed plans to develop a new vaccine that would double one 's protection from both Covid-19 and the flu .

Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said 31,000 out of the announced 40,000 volunteers have been recruited for the study, the state-run TASS news agency reported . Deputy Moscow Mayor Anastasia Rakova said that more than 35,000 Muscovites applied to take part in the trials, according to Interfax.
Russia has launched Phase 3 trials of its highly touted coronavirus vaccine to determine the jab’s long-term safety and effectiveness, authorities said Wednesday as questions surrounded the results of its Phase 1 and 2 trials.
Neither official specified how many people have taken the adenovirus-based viral vector vaccine so far Wednesday.
Rakova added that the volunteers will receive a second shot of the same vaccine within 21 days of the first.
Russia began first deliveries of the Sputnik V vaccine for the general public this week.
A number of Russian state firm executives, cabinet members, city officials and party leaders have announced in recent weeks that they had received the vaccine.
The announcement comes after a group of prominent scientists highlighted “strange patterns” in the data published in the scientific journal The Lancet last Friday. The data included duplicate values for different groups of patients who had been tested with different formulations of the vaccine, the scientists told The Moscow Times.
The head of the state-run Gamaleya institute that developed the vaccine has also disclosed plans to develop a new vaccine that would double one's protection from both Covid-19 and the flu.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--Unknown People Try to Enter Belarus Nobel Laureate Alexievich's Apartment Amid Opposition Arrests

Belarusian Nobel Literature Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich said unknown people tried to enter her apartment on Wednesday amid an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s regime over a disputed election .
Alexievich , 72 , is now the last free leading member of the Belarusian opposition ’ s Coordination Council still in the country after masked men detained lawyer Maxim Znak earlier Wednesday .
The council was established to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after Lukashenko ’ s main rival rejected the results of the Aug. 9 election and claimed victory .
Alexievich said she asked journalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unknown people called her phone and attempted to break into her Minsk apartment throughout the course of Wednesday morning .
“ There are no more adherent friends of mine left in the presidium of the Coordination Council , ” she wrote in a statement that appeared on the Belarusian PEN Center ’ s website following Znak ’ s detention .
“ Everyone is either in prison or expelled from the country , ” wrote Alexievich , who won the Nobel Literature Prize in 2015 .
Znak was detained the day after the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coordination Council presidium member Maria Kolesnikova was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car .
Belarusian media reported Wednesday that Kolesnikova has been detained in Belarus and is being held in pre-trial detention in Minsk .
In an interview with the journalists who arrived at her apartment , Alexievich vowed that the Coordination Council will continue its work despite the arrests .
The author and journalist also said she will remain in Belarus despite the campaign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency reported .
Belarusian investigators had summoned Alexievich for questioning two weeks ago as a witness in a criminal probe into the council ’ s alleged calls to seize power .
Alexievich reiterated in Wednesday ’ s statement that the council “ didn ’ t plan a coup ” but sought to facilitate dialogue with the authorities .
Lukashenko has rejected calls to enter into talks with the council .
Alexievich , following opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who claims to have won the Aug. 9 vote , urged the Russian intelligentsia to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has sparked the biggest anti-government demonstrations of Lukashenko 's 26-year rule , with tens of thousands taking to the streets for weeks to demand he resign .
Lukashenko 's security services have hit back with waves of arrests , deadly violence against protesters and a campaign of intimidation and expulsion against opposition leaders .

Belarusian Nobel Literature Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich said unknown people tried to enter her apartment on Wednesday amid an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime over a disputed election. Alexievich, 72, is now the last free leading member of the Belarusian opposition’s Coordination Council still in the country after masked men detained lawyer Maxim Znak earlier Wednesday. The council was established to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after Lukashenko’s main rival rejected the results of the Aug. 9 election and claimed victory.
Светлана Алексиевич общается с журналистами около своей квартиры. Говорит, что покидать страну не собирается pic.twitter.com/7FfL13ZVUu — Onliner (@OnlinerBY) September 9, 2020
Alexievich said she asked journalists to come to her Minsk apartment after unknown people called her phone and attempted to break into her Minsk apartment throughout the course of Wednesday morning. “There are no more adherent friends of mine left in the presidium of the Coordination Council,” she wrote in a statement that appeared on the Belarusian PEN Center’s website following Znak’s detention. “Everyone is either in prison or expelled from the country,” wrote Alexievich, who won the Nobel Literature Prize in 2015. Znak was detained the day after the most prominent opposition figure still in Belarus and Coordination Council presidium member Maria Kolesnikova was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car. Belarusian media reported Wednesday that Kolesnikova has been detained in Belarus and is being held in pre-trial detention in Minsk.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--‘Don’t Give In to Lies,’ Belarus Opposition Leader Tells Russians

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya urged Russians on Wednesday to resist what she called state media efforts to smear her country ’ s post-election protests as anti-Russian .
Tikhanovskaya , 37 , made the comments a day after President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s interview with Russian state media , where he warned that “ if Belarus collapses today , Russia will be next.
” Moscow has been quick to back Lukashenko after last month ’ s disputed presidential election while Western governments rejected its results as rigged .
“ Russian propaganda is trying to distort the events in Belarus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I urge you to avoid falling under the influence of these lies.
” Coverage of Belarus ' protests on Russian state television has shifted between sympathizing with demonstrators amid the authorities ' violent crackdown and discrediting the protests as an anti-Russian campaign run by the West to encroach on Russian borders .
“ Let ’ s not allow propaganda to poison relations between friendly nations and politicians ’ rash decisions to hurt the interests of both Belarus and Russia , ” Tikhanovskaya said .
Dozens of employees at Belarusian state media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election results and what they call biased coverage of the protests .
Lukashenko has said he invited journalists from the Kremlin-funded RT broadcaster to replace some of them .
A number of foreign journalists covering the post-election protests in Belarus have been stripped of accreditation .
Tikhanovskaya , who fled to Lithuania after the election , thanked independent Russian journalists and bloggers for “ helping reduce the effect of Russian and Belarusian propaganda.
” Lukashenko initially accused Russia of interference ahead of the Aug. 9 presidential election , but later switched his stance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged meddling .
Russian President Vladimir Putin said late last month that he has formed a Russian “ law enforcement reserve ” ready to support Lukashenko in case “ extremists in Belarus cross a line.
” Meanwhile , a Russian state survey published Wednesday said that more Russian respondents believe their country ’ s relations with Belarus were deteriorating compared to last year ( 32 % in August 2020 compared with 22 % in January 2019 ) .

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya urged Russians on Wednesday to resist what she called state media efforts to smear her country’s post-election protests as anti-Russian. Tikhanovskaya, 37, made the comments a day after President Alexander Lukashenko’s interview with Russian state media, where he warned that “if Belarus collapses today, Russia will be next.” Moscow has been quick to back Lukashenko after last month’s disputed presidential election while Western governments rejected its results as rigged.
“Russian propaganda is trying to distort the events in Belarus,” Tikhanovskaya said in the video address. “I urge you to avoid falling under the influence of these lies.” Coverage of Belarus' protests on Russian state television has shifted between sympathizing with demonstrators amid the authorities' violent crackdown and discrediting the protests as an anti-Russian campaign run by the West to encroach on Russian borders. “Let’s not allow propaganda to poison relations between friendly nations and politicians’ rash decisions to hurt the interests of both Belarus and Russia,” Tikhanovskaya said. Dozens of employees at Belarusian state media outlets went on strike to protest the election results and what they call biased coverage of the protests. Lukashenko has said he invited journalists from the Kremlin-funded RT broadcaster to replace some of them.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--Belarus Opposition Lawyer Detained by 'Masked Men'

Znak , who had worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko , had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up , instead sending the word `` masks '' to the group , Babaryko 's press service said .
One of the last remaining members of the Belarusian opposition 's Coordination Council at large , lawyer Maxim Znak , was detained by masked men on Wednesday , his colleagues said .
It said a witness had also seen Znak , 39 , being led down the street near his offices by several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Along with Svetlana Alexievich , a 72-year-old Nobel Prize-winning author , Znak was the last of the seven members of the Council 's governing presidium to remain free .
Others have been detained or forced to leave Belarus , in an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko 's regime over a disputed election .
Znak 's apparent detention came a day after the most prominent opposition figure still in Belarus , Maria Kolesnikova , was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Coordination Council was set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rejected Lukashenko 's claim to have been re-elected to a sixth term in an Aug. 9 vote .
The disputed election has sparked the biggest anti-government demonstrations of Lukashenko 's 26-year rule , with tens of thousands taking to the streets for weeks to demand he resigns .
Lukashenko 's security services have hit back with waves of arrests , deadly violence against protesters and a campaign of intimidation and expulsion against opposition leaders @

Znak, who had worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko, had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up, instead sending the word "masks" to the group, Babaryko's press service said.
One of the last remaining members of the Belarusian opposition's Coordination Council at large, lawyer Maxim Znak, was detained by masked men on Wednesday, his colleagues said.
It said a witness had also seen Znak, 39, being led down the street near his offices by several men in civilian clothes and wearing masks.
Along with Svetlana Alexievich, a 72-year-old Nobel Prize-winning author, Znak was the last of the seven members of the Council's governing presidium to remain free.
Others have been detained or forced to leave Belarus, in an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko's regime over a disputed election.
Znak's apparent detention came a day after the most prominent opposition figure still in Belarus, Maria Kolesnikova, was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car.
The Coordination Council was set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after main opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rejected Lukashenko's claim to have been re-elected to a sixth term in an Aug. 9 vote.
The disputed election has sparked the biggest anti-government demonstrations of Lukashenko's 26-year rule, with tens of thousands taking to the streets for weeks to demand he resigns.
Lukashenko's security services have hit back with waves of arrests, deadly violence against protesters and a campaign of intimidation and expulsion against opposition leaders.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--Putin Cancels Annual Q&A Marathon Due to Coronavirus

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin “ has already been conducting the Direct Line the past few months , ” referring to his several video addresses announcing support measures for Russians during the Covid-19 outbreak .
President Vladimir Putin has canceled his annual call-in session with the public due to the coronavirus pandemic , his spokesman announced Wednesday .
“ It would be unnecessary to carry out the Direct Line in its traditional format this year , ” Peskov told the state-run TASS news agency .
Peskov added that “ elements ” from the call-in session would be added to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he said is expected to take place as scheduled this December .
“ These elements would allow the president to get feedback from citizens in various regions , ” the press secretary said .
This year ’ s canceled session would have been Putin ’ s 18th call-in show .
He has canceled the event twice before in 2004 and 2012 .
The four-hour sessions are usually filmed in crowded television studios , a setting that would pose a health risk in the Covid-19 era .
Putin has held most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived in Russia .
As restrictions have been gradually lifted this summer , Putin has ventured out of his residence near Moscow for a working visit to another region at least once .
The Russian president 's approval rating fell to historic lows at the height of the coronavirus outbreak but recovered to pre-pandemic levels in August .
Russia has officially confirmed more than 1 million coronavirus infections and almost 18,000 deaths since the first case was registered in March .

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin “has already been conducting the Direct Line the past few months,” referring to his several video addresses announcing support measures for Russians during the Covid-19 outbreak.
President Vladimir Putin has canceled his annual call-in session with the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, his spokesman announced Wednesday.
“It would be unnecessary to carry out the Direct Line in its traditional format this year,” Peskov told the state-run TASS news agency.
Peskov added that “elements” from the call-in session would be added to Putin’s annual marathon press conference, which he said is expected to take place as scheduled this December.
“These elements would allow the president to get feedback from citizens in various regions,” the press secretary said.
This year’s canceled session would have been Putin’s 18th call-in show. He has canceled the event twice before in 2004 and 2012. The four-hour sessions are usually filmed in crowded television studios, a setting that would pose a health risk in the Covid-19 era.
Putin has held most of his meetings via videoconference since the pandemic arrived in Russia. As restrictions have been gradually lifted this summer, Putin has ventured out of his residence near Moscow for a working visit to another region at least once.
The Russian president's approval rating fell to historic lows at the height of the coronavirus outbreak but recovered to pre-pandemic levels in August.
Russia has officially confirmed more than 1 million coronavirus infections and almost 18,000 deaths since the first case was registered in March.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-10--Whistleblower: White House Stifled Reporting on Russian Election Interference

A senior US intelligence official said the White House ordered him to stop reporting on Russian election interference and highlight Chinese and Iran meddling instead , according to a whistleblower complaint revealed Wednesday .
Offering explosive evidence to support Democratic allegations that President Donald Trump has manipulated intelligence to support his reelection effort , Department of Homeland Security analyst Brian Murphy said he was told by acting DHS chief Chad Wolf that assessments on the Russian threat made Trump `` look bad . ''
Wolf told him the order to stifle his analyses `` specifically originated from White House National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top Trump aide , Murphy alleged in the complaint .
Murphy , a senior official in DHS 's Office of Intelligence and Analysis , said he refused to censor his reporting on Russians and on the domestic white supremacist threat , `` as doing so would put the country in substantial and specific danger . ''
In retaliation , he said he was demoted last month .
The complaint , released by the Democrat-led House Intelligence Committee , came after months of reports that the White House was downplaying the Russian election threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said was massive interference in the 2016 campaign that brought Trump to power .
In a strangely worded and widely criticized official statement on election interference on August 7 , the Directorate of National Intelligence focused on what it said was active interference by China and Iran , with China opposed to Trump .
Russia is also interfering against Biden and an anti-Russia `` establishment , '' it said , avoiding suggestions that , as in 2016 , Moscow favors Trump .
DHS rejected the allegations of intelligence manipulation and retaliation against Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is any truth to the merits of Mr. Murphy 's claim , '' said department spokesperson Alexei Woltornist .
`` DHS is working to address all threats to the homeland regardless of ideology , '' Woltornist added .
The White House has denied manipulating intelligence to support Trump 's policies and election , but also repeatedly condemns what it labels an alleged anti-Trump `` deep state '' in the intelligence community .
But Murphy 's complaint said that , over 2018-2020 , he witnessed `` a repeated pattern of abuse of authority , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration of an intelligence program related to Russian efforts to influence and undermine United States interests . ''
In early 2019 , he says then-DHS secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in testimony to Congress knowingly vastly exaggerated the threat of terrorists entering the country from Mexico , in order to support Trump 's plan for a wall on the southern border .
Despite being told that at best three potential terrorists had tried to cross from Mexico , Nielsen , he said , told Congress the number was 3,755 .
Likewise , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies , acting deputy DHS secretary Ken Cuccinelli demanded changes to intelligence reports on corruption and violence in Central America that might be used to bolster asylum claims .
Cuccinelli , Murphy said , also demanded the names of `` deep state intelligence analysts '' who wrote the reports .
On Russia , Murphy said that both he and his immediate superior were threatened with firing for reports stressing Moscow 's election meddling .
Likewise , Murphy charges , Cuccinelli told him this year to downplay white supremacists while elevating left-wing groups in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
Another DHS official said they were concerned how reporting on the danger of white supremacists `` would reflect upon President Trump . ''
In a July 8 meeting , Murphy alleges , Wolf told him his report on election interference had to be held back `` because it 'made the president look bad . '
'' House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff said Murphy 's complaint `` outlines grave and disturbing allegations '' of manipulation and censorship of intelligence `` in order to benefit President Trump politically . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ security at grave risk . ''

A senior US intelligence official said the White House ordered him to stop reporting on Russian election interference and highlight Chinese and Iran meddling instead, according to a whistleblower complaint revealed Wednesday. Offering explosive evidence to support Democratic allegations that President Donald Trump has manipulated intelligence to support his reelection effort, Department of Homeland Security analyst Brian Murphy said he was told by acting DHS chief Chad Wolf that assessments on the Russian threat made Trump "look bad." Wolf told him the order to stifle his analyses "specifically originated from White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien," a top Trump aide, Murphy alleged in the complaint. Murphy, a senior official in DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis, said he refused to censor his reporting on Russians and on the domestic white supremacist threat, "as doing so would put the country in substantial and specific danger." In retaliation, he said he was demoted last month.
China or Russia?
The complaint, released by the Democrat-led House Intelligence Committee, came after months of reports that the White House was downplaying the Russian election threat, despite what US intelligence chiefs have said was massive interference in the 2016 campaign that brought Trump to power. In a strangely worded and widely criticized official statement on election interference on August 7, the Directorate of National Intelligence focused on what it said was active interference by China and Iran, with China opposed to Trump. Russia is also interfering against Biden and an anti-Russia "establishment," it said, avoiding suggestions that, as in 2016, Moscow favors Trump. DHS rejected the allegations of intelligence manipulation and retaliation against Murphy. "We flatly deny that there is any truth to the merits of Mr. Murphy's claim," said department spokesperson Alexei Woltornist. "DHS is working to address all threats to the homeland regardless of ideology," Woltornist added.
'Deep State' Blamed


themoscowtimes--2020-09-10--Serbia Drops Out of War Games With Russia in Belarus

Serbia has dropped out of planned military drills in Belarus with Russia after pressure from the EU , the Balkan @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Serbia -- an EU candidate country that also maintains close ties with Moscow @ @ @ @ @ in the 'Slavic Brotherhood 2020 ' exercise with Russian and Belarusian troops this month .
@ @ @ @ @ at the cost of leaving our European future ... to abandon the planned military exercises @ @ @ @ @ Serbia 's Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin .
Serbia , which is militarily neutral , faced @ @ @ @ @ from the European Union '' and would suspend military drills with all partners for six @ @ @ @ @ Serbia and Belarus have friendly ties , with Belgrade hosting strongman Alexander Lukashenko last December @

Serbia has dropped out of planned military drills in Belarus with Russia after pressure from the EU, the Balkan state's defense minister said Wednesday.
Serbia -- an EU candidate country that also maintains close ties with Moscow -- was due to participate in the 'Slavic Brotherhood 2020' exercise with Russian and Belarusian troops this month.
"We are asked, at the cost of leaving our European future... to abandon the planned military exercises with Belarus," said Serbia's Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin.
Serbia, which is militarily neutral, faced "great and undeserved pressure from the European Union" and would suspend military drills with all partners for six months, he added.
Serbia and Belarus have friendly ties, with Belgrade hosting strongman Alexander Lukashenko last December.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--Belarus Jails Opposition Figure Kolesnikova as Nobel Winner Intimidated

Belarus investigators said Wednesday prominent opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak had been detained in a national security probe as Minsk ramped up a crackdown on a protest movement .
The country 's Investigative Committee , which probes major crime , said in a statement the two were being held as an investigation continued into `` calls urging action aimed at harming national security . ''
They join a number of top critics of strongman Alexander Lukashenko already in jail .
A lawyer for Kolesnikova , the most prominent opposition figure still in Belarus , said she was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to five years in prison .
`` Maria is in good spirits , '' lawyer Lyudmila Kazak told AFP .
`` She confirms she tore up her passport on purpose to remain in Belarus . ''
On Tuesday , Kolesnikova was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car .
The 38-year-old ally of top opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya went missing on Monday , with witnesses saying she was bundled into a minibus by unidentified masked men in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have defeated political novice Tikhanovskaya and won re-election with 80 % of the vote in the Aug. 9 ballot .
Lukashenko has refused to step down and turned to Russia for support to stay in power , while his security services have arrested thousands of protesters .
Several people have died .
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets for the past month but Lukashenko , who is set to meet with Russia 's Vladimir Putin in Moscow soon , has intensified the crackdown over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko , had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up , instead sending a message with the word `` masks , '' Babaryko 's press service said .
It said a witness had also seen Znak , 39 , being led down the street near his offices by several men in civilian clothes and wearing masks .
Along with Alexievich , Znak was the last of the seven members of the opposition Coordination Council 's governing presidium to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after opposition candidate Tikhanovskaya rejected Lukashenko 's claim to have been re-elected to a sixth term .
Alexievich , 72 , told reporters that unidentified men in plain clothes were seeking to intimidate her by gathering outside her block of flats and ringing her door bell .
`` They called my house intercom system non-stop , '' she told reporters , pointing to two buses parked outside .
Diplomats from countries including Sweden and Lithuania joined the prominent author in her flat in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that security services were `` snatching the best of us , '' referring to Znak 's detention .
Tikhanovskaya , 37 , left the country under pressure from the authorities and was granted refuge in EU member state Lithuania .
On Wednesday , she met with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and said she hoped that Belarus 's path to democracy would be `` much shorter '' than it was for Soviet-ruled Poland .
`` It was a long road for Solidarity but I hope that for us it will be much shorter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Warsaw before talks with the current leadership of the Solidarity trade union , which helped topple communism in 1989 after nearly a decade .

Belarus investigators said Wednesday prominent opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak had been detained in a national security probe as Minsk ramped up a crackdown on a protest movement. The country's Investigative Committee, which probes major crime, said in a statement the two were being held as an investigation continued into "calls urging action aimed at harming national security."
They join a number of top critics of strongman Alexander Lukashenko already in jail. A lawyer for Kolesnikova, the most prominent opposition figure still in Belarus, said she was in a central Minsk jail and faced up to five years in prison. "Maria is in good spirits," lawyer Lyudmila Kazak told AFP. "She confirms she tore up her passport on purpose to remain in Belarus." On Tuesday, Kolesnikova was detained at the Ukrainian border after she prevented authorities from expelling her by tearing up her passport and jumping out of a car. The 38-year-old ally of top opposition figure Svetlana Tikhanovskaya went missing on Monday, with witnesses saying she was bundled into a minibus by unidentified masked men in Minsk. Unprecedented demonstrations broke out after strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have defeated political novice Tikhanovskaya and won re-election with 80% of the vote in the Aug. 9 ballot. Lukashenko has refused to step down and turned to Russia for support to stay in power, while his security services have arrested thousands of protesters. Several people have died. Nobel winner intimidated Tens of thousands have taken to the streets for the past month but Lukashenko, who is set to meet with Russia's Vladimir Putin in Moscow soon, has intensified the crackdown over the past few days. Earlier Wednesday masked men detained Znak, while Nobel Prize-winning writer Svetlana Alexievich complained of intimidation.
Znak, who had worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko, had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up, instead sending a message with the word "masks," Babaryko's press service said. It said a witness had also seen Znak, 39, being led down the street near his offices by several men in civilian clothes and wearing masks. Along with Alexievich, Znak was the last of the seven members of the opposition Coordination Council's governing presidium to remain free in Belarus. The council was set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after opposition candidate Tikhanovskaya rejected Lukashenko's claim to have been re-elected to a sixth term. Alexievich, 72, told reporters that unidentified men in plain clothes were seeking to intimidate her by gathering outside her block of flats and ringing her door bell. "They called my house intercom system non-stop," she told reporters, pointing to two buses parked outside. Diplomats from countries including Sweden and Lithuania joined the prominent author in her flat in a gesture of support. Alexievich said that security services were "snatching the best of us," referring to Znak's detention. Tikhanovskaya in Warsaw Tikhanovskaya, 37, left the country under pressure from the authorities and was granted refuge in EU member state Lithuania. On Wednesday, she met with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and said she hoped that Belarus's path to democracy would be "much shorter" than it was for Soviet-ruled Poland. "It was a long road for Solidarity but I hope that for us it will be much shorter," she told students at the University of Warsaw before talks with the current leadership of the Solidarity trade union, which helped topple communism in 1989 after nearly a decade.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-09--Russian Deputy Energy Minister Arrested for Alleged Corruption

Anatoly Tikhonov , one of eight deputies to Energy Minister Alexander Novak , is accused of misusing public funds worth around $ 7.9 million which had been intended for a new IT system , announced top crime agency the Investigative Committee of Russia .
A Russian deputy energy minister has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling more than 600 million rubles worth of public money , investigators announced Wednesday .
The money was allegedly siphoned off from the Russian Energy Agency between 2013-2015 when it was headed by Tikhonov , the Kommersant newspaper reported .
He was detained on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions , Marina Litvinovich from the Russian Association of Prison Visitors told AFP .
Corruption is endemic in Russia and several ministers , vice ministers and senior bureaucrats have been arrested in recent years to back up the public commitment of President Vladimir Putin to fight the problem .
But opposition activists say the law is applied selectively to punish or threaten individuals who have fallen foul of Putin 's government .
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny , who is recovering in a Berlin hospital after being poisoned last month in Siberia , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country 's political and business elite , right up to the president 's inner circle .

Anatoly Tikhonov, one of eight deputies to Energy Minister Alexander Novak, is accused of misusing public funds worth around $7.9 million which had been intended for a new IT system, announced top crime agency the Investigative Committee of Russia.
A Russian deputy energy minister has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling more than 600 million rubles worth of public money, investigators announced Wednesday.
The money was allegedly siphoned off from the Russian Energy Agency between 2013-2015 when it was headed by Tikhonov, the Kommersant newspaper reported.
He was detained on Tuesday in Moscow and spent the day answering questions, Marina Litvinovich from the Russian Association of Prison Visitors told AFP.
Corruption is endemic in Russia and several ministers, vice ministers and senior bureaucrats have been arrested in recent years to back up the public commitment of President Vladimir Putin to fight the problem.
But opposition activists say the law is applied selectively to punish or threaten individuals who have fallen foul of Putin's government.
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is recovering in a Berlin hospital after being poisoned last month in Siberia, has made his name uncovering corruption by the country's political and business elite, right up to the president's inner circle.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-10--Italy Probes Russian Glamour Model's Death Near NATO Base

Italian prosecutors are probing the mysterious drowning of a Russian glamour model while on a photo shoot near a major NATO base on Sardinia over the weekend .
Coast guards found the naked body of Galina Fedorova , 35 , on Saturday after she and a photographer reportedly went for a swim off the Italian island 's southern coastline near Teulada .
`` The investigation is continuing and according to a very preliminary report the young woman drowned , '' Enrico Lussu , deputy prosecutor based in the Sardinian capital Cagliari told AFP on Thursday .
Fedorova , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regularly graced the covers of mens ' magazines , apparently wanted to cool off in the Mediterranean , Italian news reports said .
Her companion , named by local papers as British-Russian photographer Gerenius Tavarov , said the pair landed in trouble when the current separated them from their inflatable boat .
They first tried to swim ashore , local daily L'Unione Sarda said , but then Fedorova turned back to the inflatable without success .
Lussu said after Fedorova 's body was recovered police also confiscated the contents of the dinghy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a computer and a drone .
`` We 're analyzing the contents , which have been copied from the devices , before handing them back to their owner , '' Lussu told AFP .
There were also a number of bottles of strong alcoholic drinks , he said .
Prosecutors decided to look deeper into the case as Fedorova drowned close to one of Italy 's largest military bases on the Teulada coastline , the daily Corriere Della Sera reported .
Active since 1956 , the base is used by NATO for war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually off-limits to the public .

Italian prosecutors are probing the mysterious drowning of a Russian glamour model while on a photo shoot near a major NATO base on Sardinia over the weekend.
Coast guards found the naked body of Galina Fedorova, 35, on Saturday after she and a photographer reportedly went for a swim off the Italian island's southern coastline near Teulada.
"The investigation is continuing and according to a very preliminary report the young woman drowned," Enrico Lussu, deputy prosecutor based in the Sardinian capital Cagliari told AFP on Thursday.
Fedorova, who has posed as a Playboy centrefold model and regularly graced the covers of mens' magazines, apparently wanted to cool off in the Mediterranean, Italian news reports said.
Her companion, named by local papers as British-Russian photographer Gerenius Tavarov, said the pair landed in trouble when the current separated them from their inflatable boat.
They first tried to swim ashore, local daily L'Unione Sarda said, but then Fedorova turned back to the inflatable without success.
Lussu said after Fedorova's body was recovered police also confiscated the contents of the dinghy, which included cameras, mobile phones, a computer and a drone.
"We're analyzing the contents, which have been copied from the devices, before handing them back to their owner," Lussu told AFP.
There were also a number of bottles of strong alcoholic drinks, he said.
Prosecutors decided to look deeper into the case as Fedorova drowned close to one of Italy's largest military bases on the Teulada coastline, the daily Corriere Della Sera reported.
Active since 1956, the base is used by NATO for war games and live firing exercises and is usually off-limits to the public.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-10--Detained Belarus Opposition Leader Says She Was Threatened With ‘Dismemberment’

Kolesnikova went missing Monday after witnesses described seeing masked men forcing her into a minibus in central Minsk .
Investigators confirmed after 48 hours of silence that Kolesnikova and another senior member of the Belarusian opposition ’ s Coordination Council , a body created to ensure a peaceful transfer of power , had been detained .
Maria Kolesnikova , the last member of a trio of women opposition leaders remaining in Belarus , alleged Thursday that security forces threatened her life as she was being detained on charges of attempting to seize power .
Kolesnikova filed a complaint with investigators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Lukashenko urged “ stronger ” measures against members of the Coordination Council .
“ These people made threats to take my life , which I perceived as real , ” Kolesnikova wrote in the complaint , which was published on the website of a jailed presidential hopeful whose campaign she had run .
“ In particular , they said I would still be taken out of Belarus alive or in pieces if I didn ’ t voluntarily leave , ” she added .
Kolesnikova identified the individuals who threatened her as employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry ’ s anti-corruption and organized crime unit .
Kolesnikova , 38 , faces up to five years in prison on the charges as Lukashenko ’ s regime ramps up a crackdown on post-election protests .
In the complaint to investigators , she said she had been threatened with a 25-year jail term .
Kolesnikova was detained at the Ukrainian border Tuesday after she tore up her passport and jumped out of a car , preventing the authorities from expelling her from Belarus .
Unprecedented demonstrations broke out after Lukashenko claimed to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sixth term with 80 % of the vote in the Aug. 9 ballot .
Lukashenko has refused to step down and turned to Russia for support to stay in power , while his security services have arrested thousands of protesters .
Several people have died .

Kolesnikova went missing Monday after witnesses described seeing masked men forcing her into a minibus in central Minsk. Investigators confirmed after 48 hours of silence that Kolesnikova and another senior member of the Belarusian opposition’s Coordination Council, a body created to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, had been detained.
Maria Kolesnikova, the last member of a trio of women opposition leaders remaining in Belarus, alleged Thursday that security forces threatened her life as she was being detained on charges of attempting to seize power.
Kolesnikova filed a complaint with investigators detailing her abduction and threats as President Alexander Lukashenko urged “stronger” measures against members of the Coordination Council.
“These people made threats to take my life, which I perceived as real,” Kolesnikova wrote in the complaint, which was published on the website of a jailed presidential hopeful whose campaign she had run.
“In particular, they said I would still be taken out of Belarus alive or in pieces if I didn’t voluntarily leave,” she added.
Kolesnikova identified the individuals who threatened her as employees of the Belarusian KGB and the interior ministry’s anti-corruption and organized crime unit.
Kolesnikova, 38, faces up to five years in prison on the charges as Lukashenko’s regime ramps up a crackdown on post-election protests. In the complaint to investigators, she said she had been threatened with a 25-year jail term.
Kolesnikova was detained at the Ukrainian border Tuesday after she tore up her passport and jumped out of a car, preventing the authorities from expelling her from Belarus.
Unprecedented demonstrations broke out after Lukashenko claimed to have defeated political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and won his sixth term with 80% of the vote in the Aug. 9 ballot.
Lukashenko has refused to step down and turned to Russia for support to stay in power, while his security services have arrested thousands of protesters. Several people have died.
AFP contributed reporting.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-10--Campaigner for Kremlin Critic Navalny Beaten Up

Alexei Baraboshkin , the local coordinator for Navalny , was `` assaulted by unknown attackers '' late Wednesday after receiving threats for several weeks , his campaign office wrote on Telegram .
Unidentified attackers beat up an activist campaigning for hospitalized Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk , his colleagues said Thursday .
It posted a picture of him with a bruised and bleeding eye .
Navalny is being treated in Germany for poisoning with Novichok in an incident that has sparked international condemnation and the threat of sanctions against Russia .
The Kremlin critic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at pushing out the ruling party in polls this weekend for regional and local assemblies .
Doctors suspected the Chelyabinsk campaigner suffered a fractured skull and concussion , according to a medical document posted by his team , who said the attackers did not take his money or phone .
A police spokeswoman in Chelyabinsk said officers were carrying out a check after receiving a report from the hospital , the RIA Novosti state news agency reported .
Chelyabinsk residents on Sunday will vote for regional and municipal deputies .
Early voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a move to reduce the coronavirus risk at polling stations , while opposition activists fear this will make it easier to falsify the results .
Regional campaigners for Navalny have reported numerous threats and acts of intimidation as well as regular searches of their homes and detentions by police .

Alexei Baraboshkin, the local coordinator for Navalny, was "assaulted by unknown attackers" late Wednesday after receiving threats for several weeks, his campaign office wrote on Telegram.
Unidentified attackers beat up an activist campaigning for hospitalized Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk, his colleagues said Thursday.
It posted a picture of him with a bruised and bleeding eye.
Navalny is being treated in Germany for poisoning with Novichok in an incident that has sparked international condemnation and the threat of sanctions against Russia.
The Kremlin critic was leading a nationwide tactical voting campaign aimed at pushing out the ruling party in polls this weekend for regional and local assemblies.
Doctors suspected the Chelyabinsk campaigner suffered a fractured skull and concussion, according to a medical document posted by his team, who said the attackers did not take his money or phone.
A police spokeswoman in Chelyabinsk said officers were carrying out a check after receiving a report from the hospital, the RIA Novosti state news agency reported.
Chelyabinsk residents on Sunday will vote for regional and municipal deputies.
Early voting will begin nationwide from Friday, in a move to reduce the coronavirus risk at polling stations, while opposition activists fear this will make it easier to falsify the results.
Regional campaigners for Navalny have reported numerous threats and acts of intimidation as well as regular searches of their homes and detentions by police.


themoscowtimes--2020-09-10--Putin Vows to Open Inquiry Into Navalny Poisoning, Italian PM Says

Germany said last week it has “ unequivocal evidence ” that Navalny , 44 , was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family .
On Thursday , Conte told Italy ’ s Il Foglio daily that “ the German government ’ s position coincides with that of Italy and Europe.
” Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to set up a panel of inquiry into the suspected nerve-agent poisoning of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny , Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview published Thursday .
“ President Putin assured me that Russia is willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ ll set up a committee of inquiry , ” Conte said .
He added that Putin told him he was ready to cooperate with the German authorities .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Putin had informed Conte about a preliminary inquiry into the incident with Navalny , adding that Russia sees no legal grounds for opening an investigation .
Peskov said he did not rule out a “ misunderstanding ” between the two leaders .
A Kremlin readout of the leaders ’ Aug. 26 call notes that Putin “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation of all the circumstances of the incident.
” It emphasized Putin ’ s rejection of “ premature and unsubstantiated ” accusations that the Russian state played a role in Navalny 's assassination attempt .
Conte ’ s office released an even more brief recap of the call , saying “ Covid-19 , Belarus , eastern Ukraine , Libya , Navalny 's case and bilateral relations were the main topics of the talks.
” Navalny fell seriously ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on Aug. 20 , prompting the pilots to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Omsk .
Doctors at the Omsk hospital where Navalny was treated for two days before being flown to Germany maintain that no traces of poison were found in his system .
Russian officials have said they have seen no proof that Navalny was poisoned while Navalny 's allies have called for a criminal probe into the poisoning .
A Russian court last week rejected his allies ' complaint that authorities had failed to open a criminal investigation into the attempted murder .
The court said that investigators had passed their complaint to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ministry summoned Germany 's ambassador to Moscow on Wednesday to demand further information about Navalny ’ s treatment in Berlin .
The ministry 's spokeswoman alleged this week that Germany was “ bluffing ” in asserting that Navalny was the victim of an assassination attempt .

Germany said last week it has “unequivocal evidence” that Navalny, 44, was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family. On Thursday, Conte told Italy’s Il Foglio daily that “the German government’s position coincides with that of Italy and Europe.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised to set up a panel of inquiry into the suspected nerve-agent poisoning of prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview published Thursday.
“President Putin assured me that Russia is willing to clarify what happened, I anticipate that he’ll set up a committee of inquiry,” Conte said.
He added that Putin told him he was ready to cooperate with the German authorities.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Putin had informed Conte about a preliminary inquiry into the incident with Navalny, adding that Russia sees no legal grounds for opening an investigation. Peskov said he did not rule out a “misunderstanding” between the two leaders.
A Kremlin readout of the leaders’ Aug. 26 call notes that Putin “expressed interest in a thorough and impartial investigation of all the circumstances of the incident.” It emphasized Putin’s rejection of “premature and unsubstantiated” accusations that the Russian state played a role in Navalny's assassination attempt.
Conte’s office released an even more brief recap of the call, saying “Covid-19, Belarus, eastern Ukraine, Libya, Navalny's case and bilateral relations were the main topics of the talks.”
Navalny fell seriously ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow on Aug. 20, prompting the pilots to make an emergency landing in the city of Omsk.
Doctors at the Omsk hospital where Navalny was treated for two days before being flown to Germany maintain that no traces of poison were found in his system.
Russian officials have said they have seen no proof that Navalny was poisoned while Navalny's allies have called for a criminal probe into the poisoning.
A Russian court last week rejected his allies' complaint that authorities had failed to open a criminal investigation into the attempted murder. The court said that investigators had passed their complaint to a regional branch.
Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned Germany's ambassador to Moscow on Wednesday to demand further information about Navalny’s treatment in Berlin. The ministry's spokeswoman alleged this week that Germany was “bluffing” in asserting that Navalny was the victim of an assassination attempt.