themoscowtimes--2020-10-25--Belarusians Protest Lukashenko Ahead of Strike Ultimatum

Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya this month gave President Alexander Lukashenko a deadline of two weeks to resign , halt violence and release political prisoners , warning he would otherwise face a crippling general strike .
A dozen metro stations in the centre of Minsk were closed to deter demonstrators from gathering and mobile internet was restricted .
Videos taken by bystanders that were circulated by local media showed a convoy of buses carrying security personnel to the city centre along with metal cordons .
Belarusian demonstrators flooded the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday , the final day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the embattled strongman leader to resign after months of mass protests .
The 38-year-old political newcomer fled Belarus after claiming victory in an August presidential election that handed Lukashenko , 66 , a sixth term and she has been rallying support from European leaders and calling for new elections .
During a visit to Copenhagen on Friday to meet Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod she called for a repeat ballot `` as soon as possible , '' and in separate statement said a date for the vote must be decided by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also conceded that it was unclear how many Belarusians would answer the call for a general strike Monday , with many people anxious about government intimidation and dismissal from positions at state-run enterprises .
`` I know a lot of people are afraid to lose their jobs , '' she told AFP .
`` We 're not organising the strikes ourselves , it 's people themselves who decide if they 're ready or not . ''
The Poland-based Nexta Telegram channel , which has been mobilising recent post-election protests , called on its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pm ( 1100 GMT ) in the centre of Minsk .
`` It is time to return the law , development , fair elections and a full set of civil rights to Belarus , '' Nexta wrote , days after it was deemed `` extremist '' by a court in Minsk .
`` The last day of the People 's Ultimatum has gone . ''
After an initial police crackdown on post-vote demonstrations that resulted in thousands of detentions and allegations of torture in prisons , the authorities warned this month they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disperse protesters .
But anti-Lukashenko demonstrators continued to congregate in cities throughout the country despite the threat , with tens of thousands gathering each weekend .
Several hundred women marched through Minsk on Saturday to protest against Lukashenko , with reports of detentions .
Plans for a pro-government rally were binned on Friday , officials said , ostensibly over safety concerns and difficulties ensuring transport for Lukashenko supporters coming from the regions .
The EU and Western countries have slapped a wave of sanctions for vote-rigging and police violence on allies of Lukaskenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from staunch ally Russia in the unrest .
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the peak of the political instability promised Lukashenko a $ 1.5 billion loan to bolster the struggling economy and offered the support of his security services if the instability deteriorated .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Lukashenko on Saturday to call for the release of a high-profile American political strategist who was detained in Belarus ahead of the vote .
Vitali Shkliarov , a Harvard University fellow who has advised presidential candidates in the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under house arrest earlier this week .
The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the Sakharov Prize for human rights to the movement opposing Lukashenko .

Exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya this month gave President Alexander Lukashenko a deadline of two weeks to resign, halt violence and release political prisoners, warning he would otherwise face a crippling general strike.
A dozen metro stations in the centre of Minsk were closed to deter demonstrators from gathering and mobile internet was restricted.
Videos taken by bystanders that were circulated by local media showed a convoy of buses carrying security personnel to the city centre along with metal cordons.
Belarusian demonstrators flooded the streets of the capital Minsk on Sunday, the final day of an ultimatum set by the opposition for the embattled strongman leader to resign after months of mass protests.
The 38-year-old political newcomer fled Belarus after claiming victory in an August presidential election that handed Lukashenko, 66, a sixth term and she has been rallying support from European leaders and calling for new elections.
During a visit to Copenhagen on Friday to meet Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod she called for a repeat ballot "as soon as possible," and in separate statement said a date for the vote must be decided by the end of the year.
Yet she also conceded that it was unclear how many Belarusians would answer the call for a general strike Monday, with many people anxious about government intimidation and dismissal from positions at state-run enterprises.
"I know a lot of people are afraid to lose their jobs," she told AFP.
"We're not organising the strikes ourselves, it's people themselves who decide if they're ready or not."
'The last day'
The Poland-based Nexta Telegram channel, which has been mobilising recent post-election protests, called on its two million followers to gather at 2 pm (1100 GMT) in the centre of Minsk.
"It is time to return the law, development, fair elections and a full set of civil rights to Belarus," Nexta wrote, days after it was deemed "extremist" by a court in Minsk.
"The last day of the People's Ultimatum has gone."
After an initial police crackdown on post-vote demonstrations that resulted in thousands of detentions and allegations of torture in prisons, the authorities warned this month they would sanction the use of live ammunition to disperse protesters.
But anti-Lukashenko demonstrators continued to congregate in cities throughout the country despite the threat, with tens of thousands gathering each weekend.
Several hundred women marched through Minsk on Saturday to protest against Lukashenko, with reports of detentions.
Plans for a pro-government rally were binned on Friday, officials said, ostensibly over safety concerns and difficulties ensuring transport for Lukashenko supporters coming from the regions.
Wave of sanctions
The EU and Western countries have slapped a wave of sanctions for vote-rigging and police violence on allies of Lukaskenko, who has leaned heavily on support from staunch ally Russia in the unrest.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the peak of the political instability promised Lukashenko a $1.5 billion loan to bolster the struggling economy and offered the support of his security services if the instability deteriorated.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Lukashenko on Saturday to call for the release of a high-profile American political strategist who was detained in Belarus ahead of the vote.
Vitali Shkliarov, a Harvard University fellow who has advised presidential candidates in the United States, Russia and Ukraine was released under house arrest earlier this week.
The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the Sakharov Prize for human rights to the movement opposing Lukashenko.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-26--Russia Strikes Kill 78 Turkey-Backed Rebels in Syria: Monitor

Airstrikes by Damascus regime ally Russia killed 78 Turkey-backed rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday , a monitor said , @ @ @ @ @ violence since a truce almost eight months ago .
More than 90 others were wounded @ @ @ @ @ training camp of the Faylaq al-Sham faction in the Jabal Duwayli area in Idlib province @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights said .
In early March , a truce brokered between Moscow and Ankara @ @ @ @ @ regime military offensive on the country 's last major rebel stronghold in Idlib .
That @ @ @ @ @ almost a million people from their homes in one of the worst humanitarian crises of @ @ @ @ @ Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman described Monday 's strikes as the `` deadliest since the @ @ @ @ @ '' The National Liberation Front , an umbrella group of Ankara-backed rebels based in Idlib @ @ @ @ @ told AFP that Monday 's Russian strikes hit one of its positions and caused casualties @ @ @ @ @ an exact death toll .

Airstrikes by Damascus regime ally Russia killed 78 Turkey-backed rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday, a monitor said, in the bloodiest surge in violence since a truce almost eight months ago. More than 90 others were wounded when Russian warplanes targeted a training camp of the Faylaq al-Sham faction in the Jabal Duwayli area in Idlib province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. In early March, a truce brokered between Moscow and Ankara stemmed a deadly months-long Russia-backed regime military offensive on the country's last major rebel stronghold in Idlib. That onslaught from December had displaced almost a million people from their homes in one of the worst humanitarian crises of the nine-year civil war. Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman described Monday's strikes as the "deadliest since the ceasefire came into force." The National Liberation Front, an umbrella group of Ankara-backed rebels based in Idlib that includes Faylaq al-Sham, told AFP that Monday's Russian strikes hit one of its positions and caused casualties. It did not give an exact death toll.
NLF spokesman Sayf Raad denounced the "Russian aircraft and regime forces continuously violating the Turkish-Russian deal in targeting military positions, villages and towns." Of the almost 1 million people displaced in the last Idlib offensive, more than 200,000 have returned home to their towns and villages, most since the ceasefire went into force. The March truce has largely held, despite some intermittent bombardment in the area from both sides. Russian airstrikes have from time to time targeted military positions, including those of Turkey-backed groups, Abdel Rahman said. UN envoy visit The U.S. Army on Thursday said it carried a drone strike against Al-Qaeda leaders in northwestern Syria, with the Observatory reporting 17 jihadists killed at a dinner gathering. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, and allied rebels dominate the region of some 3 million people, around half living in camps after being displaced by fighting in other parts of the country. Last week, Turkey withdrew from one of its largest outposts in northwestern Syria which had been encircled for the past year by Syrian regime forces. The outpost in Morek had been Turkey's largest in Hama province, most of which is now under Syrian government control. After a string of military victories backed by Russia, the Syrian government has regained control of around 70% of the country, the Observatory says.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-26--Is Russia’s Housing Market Facing a Coronavirus Bubble?

Later this week , one of the fastest growing Russian businesses of the last decade will launch on the Moscow stock market — the latest in a small flurry of Russian public offerings set to close out the year .
Property developer Samolet was founded just eight years ago , but it has grown aggressively , building more than two million square meters of apartment space in the hottest part of Russia ’ s housing market — Moscow and its surrounding suburbs .
The company has another 15 million square meters in its land bank for development over the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial public offering ( IPO ) could value the firm at as much as $ 860 million .
Prospects for Samolet — Russian for airplane — have soared in recent years .
The property development industry has been a big beneficiary of various government policies to boost construction and expand home ownership .
Falling interest rates following the 2014 economic crisis , government support programs such as the “ maternity capital ” allowance which gives families coupons to spend on down payments , and a general explosion in the use of loans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians get a foot on the housing ladder than ever before over the last few years .
The government ’ s response to the coronavirus crisis has again put construction and home ownership at its core , helping to propel the industry even faster in 2020 with a new program of subsidized mortgages which allows borrowers to get a housing loan at just 6.5 % for a newly built apartment .
That rate — while high by Western standards — would have been almost unthinkable in the Russian market even just a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped 14 % .
Russians have not held back from snapping up mortgages at these record low levels .
In August , Russian banks approved the second-highest number of mortgages in history according to Central Bank data — 48 % more than last August .
The total value of mortgages dished out over the month rose even faster , up two thirds to almost 400 billion rubles ( $ 5.2 billion ) .
This breakneck acceleration in Russia ’ s mortgage market — and in particular in Moscow — has left banks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s Central Bank pondering whether the market is on the verge of a bubble , or if the economic crisis is just another chance to boost Russia ’ s still-small mortgage market .
Central Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina has given her conditional support to the extension of the government ’ s mortgage subsidies which are now set to run until at least the middle of next year and provide almost two trillion rubles ( $ 26 billion ) in cheap funding for at least 600,000 new apartments .
When it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one fifth of Russia ’ s outstanding mortgage stock .
“ The program is very effective in stimulating demand and has demonstrated itself as a very successful anti-crisis tool , ” Nabiullina said during a press conference Friday .
“ But looking to the future , we must think about the consequences .
Right now , we don ’ t see signs of overheating , but we need to be very cognizant.
” “ We must also remember why we need this program : to increase the availability of housing , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house prices to rise beyond the reach of most Russians , the program will have “ cannibalized ” itself .
Other fears of a bubble stem from the economic backdrop , against which the rapid increase in mortgages in unfolding .
Russia has not escaped the worldwide coronavirus recession , with GDP set to fall by around 4-5 % this year .
“ The rapid growth of mortgage lending — against the backdrop of a decrease in real incomes — may lead to negative consequences which last several years , ” warned Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site Dataflat.Ru .
He fears a possible increase in distressed borrowers which might cause the government to have to intervene to prop up households , banks or the housing market in case it falters .
Some worry property developers may be pushing the program too aggressively .
“ Developers are very active in advertising the possibility of obtaining a mortgage with a reduced loan rate , ” said Dimitri Taganov , head of the analytics department of Inkom Real Estate .
“ Often borrowers attracted by these messages do not assess their financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , share Nabiullina ’ s assessment of the situation : aware of the risks , but seeing the current housing boom as a bright spot in the economy helping to fuel the construction industry , revitalize Russia ’ s Soviet housing stock and potentially put the housing market on a path to long-term development .
They highlight that the recent growth comes from a very low base .
“ While the share of transactions involving mortgages in the Moscow housing market is gradually growing , ” said Sergei Shloma , director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Estate , “ it is still impossible to compare us with European countries.
” Russia ’ s total outstanding mortgage debt should come in this year at around 8 % of GDP , compared to 50 % in the U.S. and 30-40 % across Europe .
Experts also point out that Russia ’ s mortgage market is no stranger to rapid growth .
Mortgage debt has increased by at least 12 % in each of the last seven years — far ahead of economic growth , inflation , incomes and most other economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordable , both those covered by the government program and those that aren ’ t .
Amid successive interest rate cuts from the Central Bank , the average mortgage rate in Russia was 7.17 % in August 2020 — down from more than 10 % at the start of last year and more than 14 % five years ago .
“ People right now are really in a rush to take loans , because they remember just a few years ago when interest rates were around 10 % , ” said Alfa Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most crucial factor in the mortgage rush is the role of the government , Orlova added .
The state was highly committed to supporting the housing market “ on all fronts ” even before the coronavirus crisis , she said .
The maternity capital program , for instance , provides 400-500 billion rubles ( $ 5-6 billion ) a year for families to use on down payments — often the biggest obstacle to taking out a mortgage .
Housing is a central plank of Russia ’ s high-profile National Projects agenda which outlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next decade .
Regional governments , particularly in Moscow , are also very developer-friendly , she said .
And the fact that state-controlled banks are behind around three quarters of the mortgage market adds another layer of protection .
Analysts say the most closely-watched indicator for signs of a bubble will be house prices .
Here , too , Russia appears to have space to make up for lost ground .
Property prices have risen at a rate slower than inflation over the last decade — a trend which started to reverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices , particularly for new apartments in Moscow and around the capital .
Estate agents are also reporting rapid increases since the launch of the subsidized mortgage program .
“ We have several examples where pre-sale prices have grown by 10 % in a month , ” said Kristina Tomilina , director of residential sales at Savills Russia , referring to prices for new apartments .
Real estate database Cian says prices for new builds have risen 19 % per square meter since the start of the year in Moscow .
A key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the program is wound down next summer .
Nabiullina is concerned about a possible “ dramatic ” fall in demand in the months that follow , as anybody who was considering buying an apartment would have brought forward their purchase to capitalize on the program .
That has the potential to create a vicious spiral of falling prices , weak demand and reduced activity .
The Central Bank repeatedly insisting it has the program on close watch is a sign that the market might not be allowed to get too frothy .
Inkom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects prices to fall after the program ends — in a repeat of what happened in 2015-18 following a burst of purchases at the end of 2014 .
But Russia has learned from other crises , he said .
“ Russia is not in danger of a mortgage collapse like the 2008 one in the U.S .
In our country , the situation is completely different.
” The notion of taking out multiple or 100 % mortgages is not part of the mix , he said , stressing that the fundamentals are much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. market go into meltdown .
“ For Russians , real estate is a guarantee of stability in case of a socio-economic shock .
”

Later this week, one of the fastest growing Russian businesses of the last decade will launch on the Moscow stock market — the latest in a small flurry of Russian public offerings set to close out the year. Property developer Samolet was founded just eight years ago, but it has grown aggressively, building more than two million square meters of apartment space in the hottest part of Russia’s housing market — Moscow and its surrounding suburbs. The company has another 15 million square meters in its land bank for development over the coming decades, and this week’s initial public offering (IPO) could value the firm at as much as $860 million. Prospects for Samolet — Russian for airplane — have soared in recent years. The property development industry has been a big beneficiary of various government policies to boost construction and expand home ownership. Falling interest rates following the 2014 economic crisis, government support programs such as the “maternity capital” allowance which gives families coupons to spend on down payments, and a general explosion in the use of loans, credit cards and borrowing have helped more Russians get a foot on the housing ladder than ever before over the last few years. The government’s response to the coronavirus crisis has again put construction and home ownership at its core, helping to propel the industry even faster in 2020 with a new program of subsidized mortgages which allows borrowers to get a housing loan at just 6.5% for a newly built apartment. That rate — while high by Western standards — would have been almost unthinkable in the Russian market even just a few years ago when the average lending rate topped 14%. Russians have not held back from snapping up mortgages at these record low levels. In August, Russian banks approved the second-highest number of mortgages in history according to Central Bank data — 48% more than last August. The total value of mortgages dished out over the month rose even faster, up two thirds to almost 400 billion rubles ($5.2 billion).
This breakneck acceleration in Russia’s mortgage market — and in particular in Moscow — has left banks, buyers, estate agents, analysts and the country’s Central Bank pondering whether the market is on the verge of a bubble, or if the economic crisis is just another chance to boost Russia’s still-small mortgage market. Central Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina has given her conditional support to the extension of the government’s mortgage subsidies which are now set to run until at least the middle of next year and provide almost two trillion rubles ($26 billion) in cheap funding for at least 600,000 new apartments. When it finishes, the program could account for one fifth of Russia’s outstanding mortgage stock. Bubble brewing? “The program is very effective in stimulating demand and has demonstrated itself as a very successful anti-crisis tool,” Nabiullina said during a press conference Friday. “But looking to the future, we must think about the consequences. Right now, we don’t see signs of overheating, but we need to be very cognizant.” “We must also remember why we need this program: to increase the availability of housing,” she added, highlighting that if it causes house prices to rise beyond the reach of most Russians, the program will have “cannibalized” itself. Other fears of a bubble stem from the economic backdrop, against which the rapid increase in mortgages in unfolding. Russia has not escaped the worldwide coronavirus recession, with GDP set to fall by around 4-5% this year. “The rapid growth of mortgage lending — against the backdrop of a decrease in real incomes — may lead to negative consequences which last several years,” warned Alexander Pypin, founder of real estate analytics site Dataflat.Ru. He fears a possible increase in distressed borrowers which might cause the government to have to intervene to prop up households, banks or the housing market in case it falters.
Some worry property developers may be pushing the program too aggressively. “Developers are very active in advertising the possibility of obtaining a mortgage with a reduced loan rate,” said Dimitri Taganov, head of the analytics department of Inkom Real Estate. “Often borrowers attracted by these messages do not assess their financial capacities sensibly.” Playing catch-up Most analysts, however, share Nabiullina’s assessment of the situation: aware of the risks, but seeing the current housing boom as a bright spot in the economy helping to fuel the construction industry, revitalize Russia’s Soviet housing stock and potentially put the housing market on a path to long-term development. They highlight that the recent growth comes from a very low base. “While the share of transactions involving mortgages in the Moscow housing market is gradually growing,” said Sergei Shloma, director of the secondary housing market department at Inkom Real Estate, “it is still impossible to compare us with European countries.” Russia’s total outstanding mortgage debt should come in this year at around 8% of GDP, compared to 50% in the U.S. and 30-40% across Europe. Experts also point out that Russia’s mortgage market is no stranger to rapid growth. Mortgage debt has increased by at least 12% in each of the last seven years — far ahead of economic growth, inflation, incomes and most other economic indicators. Mortgages themselves are becoming more affordable, both those covered by the government program and those that aren’t. Amid successive interest rate cuts from the Central Bank, the average mortgage rate in Russia was 7.17% in August 2020 — down from more than 10% at the start of last year and more than 14% five years ago. “People right now are really in a rush to take loans, because they remember just a few years ago when interest rates were around 10%,” said Alfa Bank chief economist Natalia Orlova. Strong foundations Perhaps the most crucial factor in the mortgage rush is the role of the government, Orlova added. The state was highly committed to supporting the housing market “on all fronts” even before the coronavirus crisis, she said. The maternity capital program, for instance, provides 400-500 billion rubles ($5-6 billion) a year for families to use on down payments — often the biggest obstacle to taking out a mortgage. Housing is a central plank of Russia’s high-profile National Projects agenda which outlines the state’s socio-economic priorities for the next decade. Regional governments, particularly in Moscow, are also very developer-friendly, she said. And the fact that state-controlled banks are behind around three quarters of the mortgage market adds another layer of protection. Analysts say the most closely-watched indicator for signs of a bubble will be house prices. Here, too, Russia appears to have space to make up for lost ground. Property prices have risen at a rate slower than inflation over the last decade — a trend which started to reverse around 18 months with fast increases in prices, particularly for new apartments in Moscow and around the capital.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-26--Belarus Opposition Leader Says Supporters Launching Strike

`` Today the People 's Strike is beginning , '' Tikhanovskaya said on her Telegram channel .
Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said Monday supporters were beginning a nationwide strike after her deadline expired for strongman Alexander Lukashenko to step down .
`` Employees of state factories and enterprises , transport workers and miners , teachers and students have gone on strike since this morning . ''
All major stores and pharmacies were open in the capital Minsk on Monday morning but some small business were shuttered , an AFP reporter said .
Tikhanovskaya had given Lukashenko until Sunday to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and release political prisoners , warning he would otherwise face a general strike from Monday .
The 66-year-old Lukashenko , who the opposition accuses of stealing August polls , ignored the ultimatum and police cracked down on the latest of a series of opposition protests on Sunday .
Several thousand pensioners and students took to the streets of Minsk on Monday to back the workers , an AFP reporter said .
Tikhanovskaya also called on employees at private businesses , clergy and athletes to join in with the strike .
The 38-year-old opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Aug. 9 election and is now based in EU member Lithuania , did not provide any figures on the number of people participating .
Independent reporting inside Belarus has been curtailed and it was not possible to immediately estimate the scale of the industrial action .
Citing witnesses , Onliner , a local news outlet , said that police deployed patrol vans and other vehicles outside major plants including the Grodno Azot chemical plant , the Minsk Automobile Plant and Minsk Tractor Works .
Rights group Viasna said more than 100 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities on Monday .
Elena Velichko , who works in the beauty industry , said she did not go to work on Monday in support of the strike .
`` There are thousands of people like me , '' the 43-year-old told AFP near a Minsk department store where more than a dozen protesters had formed a human chain .
Natalya Bezrukova , 54 , said she and several co-workers also went on strike from their jobs at a state construction company .
`` We are against the Lukashenko regime ... We do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repression .
We want to live in a free democratic country , '' she said .
Authorities denied the strike call was being followed , with government spokeswoman Alexandra Isaeva saying that on Monday morning all companies were `` operating in routine mode '' .
Alexander Yaroshuk , the head of the Belarusian Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions , said he was aware that some unions and individual workers were ready to strike .
`` But it 's hard to predict just how far people will go given the authorities ' massive pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ex-Soviet nation has been gripped by historic protests after Lukashenko claimed victory in the election over Tikhanovskaya , a political newcomer , who ran after her blogger husband was jailed and prevented from joining the race .
The protest movement has kept up a series of large-scale demonstrations for the past two months , with tens of thousands taking to the streets every Sunday .
More than 500 people were detained at protests in Minsk and other cities on Sunday , the interior ministry said .
Several people have died and thousands were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harrowing accounts emerging of abuse in jails .

"Today the People's Strike is beginning," Tikhanovskaya said on her Telegram channel.
Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said supporters launched Monday a nationwide strike after her deadline expired for strongman Alexander Lukashenko to step down.
"Employees of state factories and enterprises, transport workers and miners, teachers and students have gone on strike since this morning."
All major stores and pharmacies were open in the capital Minsk on Monday but some small business were shuttered, an AFP reporter said.
Several thousand pensioners and students took to the streets of Minsk to back the workers.
"We want to live in a free democratic country, we should defend those who have been beaten up," student Ivan Prokhorov told AFP at the protest.
Tikhanovskaya had given Lukashenko until Sunday to quit, halt violence against protesters and release political prisoners, warning he would otherwise face a general strike from Monday.
The 66-year-old Lukashenko, accused by the opposition of stealing August polls, ignored the ultimatum and police cracked down on the latest of a series of opposition protests on Sunday.
Tikhanovskaya praised the "incredible level of solidarity" among Belarusians and pledged the strikes would continue.
Speaking on YouTube, she said that over $7 million have been raised in support of the strikers.
The 38-year-old opposition figure, who claims to have won the Aug. 9 election and is now based in EU member Lithuania, did not provide any figures on the number of people participating.
Independent reporting inside Belarus has been curtailed and it was not possible to immediately estimate the scale of the action.
Citing witnesses, local news outlet Onliner said police deployed patrol vans and other vehicles outside major plants including Grodno Azot chemicals, the Minsk Automobile Plant and Minsk Tractor Works.
Rights group Viasna reported more than 170 people had been detained in Minsk and other cities on Monday.
'Thousands like me'
Elena Velichko, who works in the beauty industry, said she did not go to work on Monday in support of the strike.
"There are thousands of people like me," the 43-year-old told AFP near a Minsk department store where more than a dozen protesters had formed a human chain.
Natalya Bezrukova, 54, said she and several co-workers also went on strike from their jobs at a state construction company.
"We are against the Lukashenko regime. We don't need any deaths or murders or repression. We want to live in a free democratic country," she said.
Authorities denied the strike call was being followed, with government spokeswoman Alexandra Isaeva saying that on Monday morning all companies were "operating in routine mode."
Alexander Yaroshuk, head of the Belarusian Confederation of Democratic Trade Unions, said he was aware that some unions and individual workers were ready to strike.
"But it's hard to predict just how far people will go given the authorities' massive pressure," Yaroshuk told AFP.
The ex-Soviet nation has been gripped by historic protests since Lukashenko claimed election victory over Tikhanovskaya, a political newcomer, who ran after her blogger husband was jailed and prevented from joining the race.
The protest movement has kept up large-scale demonstrations for the past two months, with tens of thousands taking to the streets every Sunday.
More than 500 people were detained at protests in Minsk and other cities on Sunday, the interior ministry said.
Several people died and thousands were arrested in a post-election crackdown, with harrowing accounts emerging of abuse in jails.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-26--1 in 5 Russian Lawmakers Have Had Coronavirus – Speaker

The 450-member State Duma went partially remote last month to limit the spread of Covid-19 after more than a dozen federal lawmakers were hospitalized with the infection .
Previously , Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called on deputies at higher risk of a severe Covid-19 infection to work remotely from their offices .
At least one out of every five Russian lawmakers currently have or have had coronavirus , the speaker of Russia ’ s lower house of parliament told President Vladimir Putin on Monday .
“ We ’ re taking certain precautions to maintain the parliament ’ s efficiency , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed , we have 91 deputies who have been ill or are ill today , ” Volodin said .
Speaking during a rare face-to-face meeting with Putin , Volodin said 38 members of the Duma are currently hospitalized with Covid-19 , including one in intensive care .
At least one Duma member contracted coronavirus despite taking Russia ’ s highly touted Sputnik V vaccine ; he has said he believes he may have been administered a placebo .
Vakha Agayev , a 67-year-old Communist Party deputy from the republic of Chechnya , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duma to have died from complications caused by Covid-19 in September .
Volodin said that the Duma was on course despite the limitations to pass 20 bills enforcing a set of constitutional amendments that Putin put to a nationwide vote this summer .
Observers took note of Putin ’ s rare in-person meeting with Volodin , who had mysteriously stopped appearing at Duma sessions for around two weeks .
The timing appeared consistent with reporting that the Kremlin has required a two-week quarantine for anyone scheduled to meet Putin , who has sequestered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia confirmed another record number of new Covid-19 cases Monday , adding 17,347 infections to its total count that surpassed 1.5 million over the weekend .

The 450-member State Duma went partially remote last month to limit the spread of Covid-19 after more than a dozen federal lawmakers were hospitalized with the infection. Previously, Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called on deputies at higher risk of a severe Covid-19 infection to work remotely from their offices.
At least one out of every five Russian lawmakers currently have or have had coronavirus, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament told President Vladimir Putin on Monday.
“We’re taking certain precautions to maintain the parliament’s efficiency, but looking at the period that has passed, we have 91 deputies who have been ill or are ill today,” Volodin said.
Speaking during a rare face-to-face meeting with Putin, Volodin said 38 members of the Duma are currently hospitalized with Covid-19, including one in intensive care.
At least one Duma member contracted coronavirus despite taking Russia’s highly touted Sputnik V vaccine; he has said he believes he may have been administered a placebo.
Vakha Agayev, a 67-year-old Communist Party deputy from the republic of Chechnya, was the first and only member of the Duma to have died from complications caused by Covid-19 in September.
Volodin said that the Duma was on course despite the limitations to pass 20 bills enforcing a set of constitutional amendments that Putin put to a nationwide vote this summer.
Observers took note of Putin’s rare in-person meeting with Volodin, who had mysteriously stopped appearing at Duma sessions for around two weeks. The timing appeared consistent with reporting that the Kremlin has required a two-week quarantine for anyone scheduled to meet Putin, who has sequestered himself outside Moscow and limited public appearances.
Russia confirmed another record number of new Covid-19 cases Monday, adding 17,347 infections to its total count that surpassed 1.5 million over the weekend.


themoscowtimes--2020-10-26--Russia Opens Military Office in Central African Republic

The moves come amid President Vladimir Putin ’ s push to revive Soviet-era influence and challenge other powers ’ foothold in resource-rich Africa .
In the conflict-torn former French colony of CAR , Russia has donated small arms and sent trainers in recent years to bolster the government ’ s fight against militia groups .
Russia has opened a Defense Ministry representative office and donated 10 armored vehicles to the Central African Republic in Moscow ’ s latest effort to expand its influence on the continent , Reuters reported Saturday .
Russia ’ s Ambassador in CAR Vladimir Titorenko said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 BRDM-2 armored personnel vehicles to Bangui as a gift , according to Reuters .
The first batch arrived on Oct. 15 .
Russia also sent five members of the military , including senior officer Oleg Polguev , who will lead the Russian Defense Ministry ’ s representative office in CAR and will also advise the country ’ s defense ministry .
Titorenko said that Moscow was considering expanding its pool of military instructors in CAR , the Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported .
“ Russia ’ s strategic goal in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government control over the entire territory of the country and strengthen the armed forces , ” he told RIA Novosti after the first BRDM-2 delivery .
According to Retuers , Titorenko said that Bangui has asked Moscow for help in lifting a UN arms embargo “ so that it would be possible to supply heavy weaponry , including artillery and helicopters.
” The UN Security Council cleared Russia to deliver arms to CAR in 2017 .
The country has faced near-constant armed conflict since 2013 , when a mostly Muslim rebel coalition overthrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reprisals from Christian militias .
Russia has stepped up its activities in Africa in recent years with military support , nuclear energy and other services in exchange for mining rights .

The moves come amid President Vladimir Putin’s push to revive Soviet-era influence and challenge other powers’ foothold in resource-rich Africa. In the conflict-torn former French colony of CAR, Russia has donated small arms and sent trainers in recent years to bolster the government’s fight against militia groups.
Russia has opened a Defense Ministry representative office and donated 10 armored vehicles to the Central African Republic in Moscow’s latest effort to expand its influence on the continent, Reuters reported Saturday.
Russia’s Ambassador in CAR Vladimir Titorenko said that Moscow airlifted a second batch of 10 BRDM-2 armored personnel vehicles to Bangui as a gift, according to Reuters. The first batch arrived on Oct. 15.
Russia also sent five members of the military, including senior officer Oleg Polguev, who will lead the Russian Defense Ministry’s representative office in CAR and will also advise the country’s defense ministry.
Titorenko said that Moscow was considering expanding its pool of military instructors in CAR, the Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.
“Russia’s strategic goal in the CAR is to establish full central government control over the entire territory of the country and strengthen the armed forces,” he told RIA Novosti after the first BRDM-2 delivery.
According to Retuers, Titorenko said that Bangui has asked Moscow for help in lifting a UN arms embargo “so that it would be possible to supply heavy weaponry, including artillery and helicopters.”
The UN Security Council cleared Russia to deliver arms to CAR in 2017. The country has faced near-constant armed conflict since 2013, when a mostly Muslim rebel coalition overthrew the country’s then-president and sparked reprisals from Christian militias.
Russia has stepped up its activities in Africa in recent years with military support, nuclear energy and other services in exchange for mining rights.