themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Russia Records 940K Coronavirus Cases as Deaths Pass 16K

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

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


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Rosneft Head Gifts Putin With Bottle of Arctic Oil

Rosneft head Igor Sechin has presented Vladimir Putin with a souvenir from the state oil giant 's latest Arctic drilling project : A small bottle of the oil itself .
The oil extracted from the Zapadno-Irkinsky field contains only 0.02 % of sulphur , Sechin said as he handed the bottle to Putin during their meeting Tuesday .
It is the first oil extracted from the site , Sechin explained .
“ This is premium-quality oil , among the best in the world , the best in the world , ” he emphasized .
The development of the Zapadno-Irkinsky field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Arctic project Vostok Oil .
If the company gets its way , this will be one of the biggest energy projects in the Arctic ever .
Sechin showed the president a demonstration film of the project that will include the construction of about 2,000 kilometers of new long distance pipelines as well as 7,000 kilometers of local branch pipelines .
The project 's construction will include three new airports , 10 helipads and about 50 new ice-class tankers , Interfax reported .
The Vostok Oil project also includes the building of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast of the the Kara Sea .
The Sever terminal will be located on the western coast of the Taimyr Peninsula , not far from the town of Dikson .
It will be built to handle all shipments from the project , ultimately up to 115 million tons of oil per year by 2030 .
The Sever terminal is expected to be up and running by 2024 .
It will be instrumental in boosting shipments on the Northern Sea Route to more than 80 million tons , the grand target set by President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Sechin , Vostok Oil has a resource potential of up to 5 billion tons of light-quality oil .
Already in 2024 , up to 25 million tons are to be extracted .
Three years later , in 2027 , production will amount to 50 million tons and in 2030 — as much as 115 million .
Resources are based on 15 fields in the Taimyr region , including wells in the Vankor area .
In the estimates are also the resources of the Payakha fields , as well as the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rosneft is not only actively involved in the Taimyr Peninsula but currently also drills in the Kara Sea , Sechin told Putin in this week ’ s meeting .
In addition to the bottle of oil from Taimyr , the Rosneft leader gave the president a stack of books , including one titled “ Drilling in the Kara Sea.
” Offshore exploration is indeed taking place , Sechin said .
According to the Rosneft leader , two rigs are currently drilling in the waters off the Novaya Zemlya archipelago .
Well drilling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 22 and is carried out by two rigs that have been towed to the site from Murmansk .
The wells are located in the Vostochno-Prinovozemelsky 1-2 license areas , near the drillsite where Rosneft in 2014 made a major discovery in partnership with ExxonMobil .
According to Sechin , the area 's shallow waters and drifting icebergs have complicated operations and the company decided to drill a two-meter-wide , 15-meter-deep shaft to facilitate exploration .
It is the first time ever in Russia that such a procedure has been made in offshore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two rigs refered to by Sechin are likely to be the same that this summer drill two wells in the Kara Sea for Gazprom .
This is not the first time that Sechin has given the president a souvenir from his Arctic operations .
In 2017 , the Rosneft leader handed Putin a drillcore from the Tsentralny-Olginskaya well in the Laptev Sea .
According to Sechin , preliminarily technical studies indicated that the field holds geological reserves of up to 9.5 billion tons .
`` This will truly be a unique oil field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since then , however , little has been said about developments on site .
Nor is it the first time Putin and Sechin have discussed the Vostok Oil project .
The two also raised the topic during their meetings February and May this year .

Rosneft head Igor Sechin has presented Vladimir Putin with a souvenir from the state oil giant's latest Arctic drilling project: A small bottle of the oil itself. The oil extracted from the Zapadno-Irkinsky field contains only 0.02% of sulphur, Sechin said as he handed the bottle to Putin during their meeting Tuesday. It is the first oil extracted from the site, Sechin explained. “This is premium-quality oil, among the best in the world, the best in the world,” he emphasized. Vostok Oil The development of the Zapadno-Irkinsky field is part of Rosneft’s grand new Arctic project Vostok Oil. If the company gets its way, this will be one of the biggest energy projects in the Arctic ever. Sechin showed the president a demonstration film of the project that will include the construction of about 2,000 kilometers of new long distance pipelines as well as 7,000 kilometers of local branch pipelines. The project's construction will include three new airports, 10 helipads and about 50 new ice-class tankers, Interfax reported.
The Vostok Oil project also includes the building of a major new seaport and terminal on the coast of the the Kara Sea. The Sever terminal will be located on the western coast of the Taimyr Peninsula, not far from the town of Dikson. It will be built to handle all shipments from the project, ultimately up to 115 million tons of oil per year by 2030. The Sever terminal is expected to be up and running by 2024. It will be instrumental in boosting shipments on the Northern Sea Route to more than 80 million tons, the grand target set by President Putin in his so-called May Decrees. According to Sechin, Vostok Oil has a resource potential of up to 5 billion tons of light-quality oil. Already in 2024, up to 25 million tons are to be extracted. Three years later, in 2027, production will amount to 50 million tons and in 2030 — as much as 115 million.
Resources are based on 15 fields in the Taimyr region, including wells in the Vankor area. In the estimates are also the resources of the Payakha fields, as well as the East Taimyr cluster where Rosneft cooperates with BP. Drilling in Kara Sea Rosneft is not only actively involved in the Taimyr Peninsula but currently also drills in the Kara Sea, Sechin told Putin in this week’s meeting. In addition to the bottle of oil from Taimyr, the Rosneft leader gave the president a stack of books, including one titled “Drilling in the Kara Sea.” Offshore exploration is indeed taking place, Sechin said. According to the Rosneft leader, two rigs are currently drilling in the waters off the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. Well drilling at the Vikulovskaya and Ragozinskaya started on July 22 and is carried out by two rigs that have been towed to the site from Murmansk. The wells are located in the Vostochno-Prinovozemelsky 1-2 license areas, near the drillsite where Rosneft in 2014 made a major discovery in partnership with ExxonMobil. According to Sechin, the area's shallow waters and drifting icebergs have complicated operations and the company decided to drill a two-meter-wide, 15-meter-deep shaft to facilitate exploration. It is the first time ever in Russia that such a procedure has been made in offshore drilling, he told Putin. The two rigs refered to by Sechin are likely to be the same that this summer drill two wells in the Kara Sea for Gazprom.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--6 Prominent Russians Who Suffered Poisoning Attacks

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny remained in a coma in a Siberian hospital several hours after falling ill due to what was likely a toxic substance slipped in his tea , his spokeswoman said Thursday .
The incident echoed several other cases of poisoning or suspected poisoning attacks involving Russian activists , journalists and former spies stretching back more than a decade .
Below is a list of six other prominent Russian figures who have suffered similar fates in the past two decades : Former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were hospitalized in critical condition after being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British town of Salisbury .
They have since recovered and were reported to have fled to New Zealand under new identities .
Britain accused Russian military intelligence of poisoning the Skripals with Novichok , a military grade nerve agent .
Russia denies poisoning the Skripals .
Pussy Riot activist and Mediazona publisher Verzilov was rushed to a Moscow hospital after suddenly losing his sight , hearing and mobility .
He was later airlifted to Germany where doctors said his symptoms were strongly indicative of poisoning .
Russian investigators “ didn ’ t even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two years that passed , ” Verzilov said Thursday in the wake of Navalny ’ s suspected poisoning .
Opposition activist and journalist Kara-Murza Jr. almost died from kidney failure in the first incident in 2015 .
He was hospitalized with similar poisoning symptoms and placed in a medically induced coma in 2017 .
The former Russian spy and critic of President Vladimir Putin spent six years in exile in Britain when he was poisoned by tea laced with the radioactive isotope polonium-210 .
A British inquiry concluded 10 years later that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s killing .
The Kremlin has denied involvement .
The investigative journalist and critic of Russia ’ s brutal war against separatists in Chechnya felt sick and fainted after drinking tea on her flight to cover the siege of Beslan .
Politkovskaya was shot dead in her Moscow apartment block two years later in a killing opposition leaders blamed on the Kremlin .
Authorities denied involvement and five men were convicted of her murder in 2014 , though no one was convicted of ordering the contract-style killing .
Shchekochikhin , an investigative journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction and died mysteriously days before planning to meet FBI investigators in the United States .
Russian investigators initially ruled out foul play and said Shchekochikhin had died from an unspecified allergic reaction before reopening the case at least twice in the years since .
Colleagues maintain that he had been poisoned with a rare toxin .

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny remained in a coma in a Siberian hospital several hours after falling ill due to what was likely a toxic substance slipped in his tea, his spokeswoman said Thursday. The incident echoed several other cases of poisoning or suspected poisoning attacks involving Russian activists, journalists and former spies stretching back more than a decade.
Below is a list of six other prominent Russian figures who have suffered similar fates in the past two decades: Sergei and Yulia Skripal, 2018 Former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were hospitalized in critical condition after being found unconscious on a bench in the British town of Salisbury. They have since recovered and were reported to have fled to New Zealand under new identities. Britain accused Russian military intelligence of poisoning the Skripals with Novichok, a military grade nerve agent. Russia denies poisoning the Skripals. Pyotr Verzilov, 2018 Pussy Riot activist and Mediazona publisher Verzilov was rushed to a Moscow hospital after suddenly losing his sight, hearing and mobility. He was later airlifted to Germany where doctors said his symptoms were strongly indicative of poisoning.
Russian investigators “didn’t even attempt to investigate my assassination attempt in the two years that passed,” Verzilov said Thursday in the wake of Navalny’s suspected poisoning. Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., 2015 and 2017 Opposition activist and journalist Kara-Murza Jr. almost died from kidney failure in the first incident in 2015. He was hospitalized with similar poisoning symptoms and placed in a medically induced coma in 2017. Russia denied poisoning Kara-Murza. Alexander Litvinenko, 2006 The former Russian spy and critic of President Vladimir Putin spent six years in exile in Britain when he was poisoned by tea laced with the radioactive isotope polonium-210. A British inquiry concluded 10 years later that Putin “probably” approved Litvinenko’s killing. The Kremlin has denied involvement. Anna Politkovskaya, 2004 The investigative journalist and critic of Russia’s brutal war against separatists in Chechnya felt sick and fainted after drinking tea on her flight to cover the siege of Beslan.
news Remembering Slain Russian Journalist Anna Politkovskaya Read more


themoscowtimes--2020-08-20--Russian Opposition Leader Navalny in Critical Condition After ‘Poisoning’ as Aides Seek Evacuation t

Russian Opposition Leader Navalny in Critical Condition After ‘Poisoning’ as Aides Seek Evacuation to Europe

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny , who has been a thorn in the Kremlin ’ s side for years , is in a coma in a Siberian hospital after suffering an apparent poisoning .
A hospital representative in the Siberian city of Omsk told journalists on Thursday that the Kremlin critic is connected to a ventilator and in critical condition .
The representative said that all necessary tests were being taken .
“ We suspect Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into his tea .
It was the only thing he drank all morning , ” Navalny ’ s spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Doctors said that the toxin was absorbed more quickly through hot liquid.
” Navalny fell ill during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow .
A photo surfaced Thursday morning of the opposition leader drinking a cup of tea in an airport cafe , before another video circling on social media showed him being stretchered off the plane in obvious pain when it made an emergency landing in Omsk .
The state-run Tass news agency cited a law enforcement official as saying that so far investigators are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday afternoon , the Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Putin 's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the Kremlin wishes Navalny a speedy recovery and that if he needs to leave the country for treatment , the necessary travel requests will be considered .
Peskov also urged people not to speculate about the causes of Navalny ’ s illness and to wait for test results .
“ Of course this was an intentional poisoning , ” Yarmysh said later on a special broadcast of Navalny ’ s live YouTube talk show , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition leader ’ s stead .
“ When we were in the ambulance , the doctors said that it was toxins and he was poisoned.
” The Meduza news website cited Navalny ’ s personal doctor Anastasiya Vasiliyeva , who traveled to Omsk on Thursday , as saying that his blood tests showed good signs but that he was not receiving “ detoxification treatment.
” In a post on Twitter , Vasiliyeva wrote that Navalny ’ s team would seek to obtain permission to be flown abroad .
She also said that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain vital medical documents about Navalny ’ s condition .
The opposition leader ’ s aides are hoping he сan be moved to a clinic in Europe as they believe Russian doctors will be intimidated into not disclosing the true cause of his illness if it is indeed poisoning .
Navalny ’ s team in Omsk posted on Twitter that Vasiliyeva had already agreed with one clinic to take in the Kremlin critic and that transport had been readied , but that the Omsk hospital had refused to let him go on account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Russian capital on Thursday after touring Siberia in support of independent candidates running in local elections next month .
On Wednesday , he posted a photo on Instagram from the city of Tomsk with the caption : “ Crooks wont kick themselves out of the city parliament !
” A longtime critic of the Kremlin and Russia ’ s de facto opposition leader , Navalny has faced pressure for his activism before .
While serving a 30-day prison sentence last summer for calling on people to attend an anti-government protest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least one doctor said he may have been poisoned .
In 2017 , a pro-Kremlin activist threw a chemical dye at him that left him partially blind in one eye .
That year Navalny had triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in years after his Anti-Corruption Foundation published an investigation into corruption by then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev .
On Thursday , the local Taiga.info news website reported that Navalny may have been in Tomsk to work on an investigation into local deputies representing the ruling United Russia party .

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been a thorn in the Kremlin’s side for years, is in a coma in a Siberian hospital after suffering an apparent poisoning. A hospital representative in the Siberian city of Omsk told journalists on Thursday that the Kremlin critic is connected to a ventilator and in critical condition. The representative said that all necessary tests were being taken. “We suspect Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into his tea. It was the only thing he drank all morning,” Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on Twitter Thursday morning. “Doctors said that the toxin was absorbed more quickly through hot liquid.” Navalny fell ill during a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow. A photo surfaced Thursday morning of the opposition leader drinking a cup of tea in an airport cafe, before another video circling on social media showed him being stretchered off the plane in obvious pain when it made an emergency landing in Omsk. The state-run Tass news agency cited a law enforcement official as saying that so far investigators are not considering that Navalny was poisoned intentionally.
On Thursday afternoon, the Interfax news agency cited Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that the Kremlin wishes Navalny a speedy recovery and that if he needs to leave the country for treatment, the necessary travel requests will be considered. Peskov also urged people not to speculate about the causes of Navalny’s illness and to wait for test results. “Of course this was an intentional poisoning,” Yarmysh said later on a special broadcast of Navalny’s live YouTube talk show, hosted by ally Vladimir Milov in the opposition leader’s stead. “When we were in the ambulance, the doctors said that it was toxins and he was poisoned.” The Meduza news website cited Navalny’s personal doctor Anastasiya Vasiliyeva, who traveled to Omsk on Thursday, as saying that his blood tests showed good signs but that he was not receiving “detoxification treatment.” In a post on Twitter, Vasiliyeva wrote that Navalny’s team would seek to obtain permission to be flown abroad. She also said that his aides have so far been unable to obtain vital medical documents about Navalny’s condition. The opposition leader’s aides are hoping he сan be moved to a clinic in Europe as they believe Russian doctors will be intimidated into not disclosing the true cause of his illness if it is indeed poisoning. Navalny’s team in Omsk posted on Twitter that Vasiliyeva had already agreed with one clinic to take in the Kremlin critic and that transport had been readied, but that the Omsk hospital had refused to let him go on account of his condition.
news 6 Prominent Russians Who Suffered Poisoning Attacks Read more
Navalny was returning to the Russian capital on Thursday after touring Siberia in support of independent candidates running in local elections next month. On Wednesday, he posted a photo on Instagram from the city of Tomsk with the caption: “Crooks wont kick themselves out of the city parliament!” A longtime critic of the Kremlin and Russia’s de facto opposition leader, Navalny has faced pressure for his activism before. While serving a 30-day prison sentence last summer for calling on people to attend an anti-government protest, Navalny suffered an acute allergic reaction. At least one doctor said he may have been poisoned. In 2017, a pro-Kremlin activist threw a chemical dye at him that left him partially blind in one eye. That year Navalny had triggered some of the largest anti-government protests in years after his Anti-Corruption Foundation published an investigation into corruption by then Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. On Thursday, the local Taiga.info news website reported that Navalny may have been in Tomsk to work on an investigation into local deputies representing the ruling United Russia party.


themoscowtimes--2020-08-21--Opposition Figure Navalny 'Poisoned': The Latest News

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in a coma in a Siberian hospital with suspected poisoning after he became violently ill on a flight to Moscow on Thursday morning .
His team believes a toxic substance was added to a cup of tea he drank at an airport cafe .
Here are the latest updates : — Police specialists say they have identified an industrial chemical substance in Navalny 's body .
The substance , 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate , could have entered his body through contact with a plastic cup , the Omsk regional police department told Interfax .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for food .
— German medics who have arrived in Omsk on a plane sent to evacuate Navalny have been allowed to see the activist in his hospital room , his chief of staff Leonid Volkov said at a press conference in Berlin .
Members of Navalny 's team are being barred from speaking to the German medics .
`` Obviously [ the authorities ] are trying to hide something from us , '' Navalnaya says .
— Navalny 's wife Yulia Navalnaya has written a direct appeal to President Vladimir Putin to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital in Germany .
— The German government said it is in contact with Moscow to find a solution to the `` humanitarian emergency '' of Navalny 's hospitalization .
— The Kremlin said the decision not to evacuate Navalny is `` purely medical . ''
— Navalny may have experienced a steep drop in blood sugar during his flight that caused him to lose consciousness , the Omsk hospital 's chief doctor said .
He added that doctors have refused his evacuation by plane because `` this [ metabolic ] instability can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — The hospital 's deputy chief doctor said `` no trace '' of poison has been found in Navalny 's system during tests so far , contradicting previous claims by police .
— Doctors have five working diagnoses for Navalny 's condition , the head doctor at the Omsk Emergency Hospital told reporters without naming any of the potential diagnoses .
— Head of Navalny ’ s Anti-Corruption Foundation Ivan Zhdanov told journalists that police reported that a “ poison ” was found in Navalny ’ s system that is “ dangerous to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement wouldn ’ t name the substance .
— The plane flying from Germany to Russia to pick up Navalny will arrive in an hour but doctors aren ’ t allowing him to be transported because his condition is unstable , his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh tweeted early Friday morning , calling the refusal an “ attempt on his life . ''

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has arrived in Germany in a stable condition for treatment for a suspected poisoning. He became violently ill on a flight to Moscow on Thursday morning and fell into a coma. His team believes a toxic substance was added to a cup of tea he drank at an airport cafe.
Here are the latest updates:
— The air ambulance transporting Navalny to Germany for treatment has landed, with the opposition leader in a stable condition according to Jaka Bizilj, the head of the Cinema for Peace NGO that organized the flight.
— An air ambulance transporting Navalny to Germany for treatment has taken off from Omsk.
— Omsk doctors have agreed to Navalny's evacuation to a hospital in Berlin as his condition has stabilized, the hospital's deputy chief doctor said. The plane is expected to depart in a few hours.
— "There is a chance that Navalny will now be able to be transported. It is a pity that it took the doctors so long to make this decision," his spokeswoman tweeted.
— Navalny's aides have urged the European Court of Human Rights to ask the Russian government to allow his transfer to Germany, the court said.
— The German doctors who examined Navalny have determined it's safe to transfer him to a German hospital by plane. Doctors in Omsk, meanwhile, have announced that he will stay there "until his condition stabilizes."
— Police say they have identified an industrial chemical substance in Navalny's body. The substance, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, could have entered his body through contact with a plastic cup, the Omsk regional police department told Interfax. The chemical is mainly used in plastic packaging for food.
— German medics who have arrived in Omsk on a plane sent to evacuate Navalny have been allowed to see the activist in his hospital room, his chief of staff Leonid Volkov said at a press conference in Berlin. Members of Navalny's team are being barred from speaking to the German medics. "Obviously [the authorities] are trying to hide something from us," Navalnaya says.
— Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya has written a direct appeal to President Vladimir Putin to allow her husband's evacuation to a hospital in Germany.
— The German government said it is in contact with Moscow to find a solution to the "humanitarian emergency" of Navalny's hospitalization.
— The Kremlin said the decision not to evacuate Navalny is "purely medical."
— Navalny may have experienced a steep drop in blood sugar during his flight that caused him to lose consciousness, the Omsk hospital's chief doctor said. He added that doctors have refused his evacuation by plane because "this [metabolic] instability can increase during takeoff and landing."
— The hospital's deputy chief doctor said "no trace" of poison has been found in Navalny's system during tests so far, contradicting previous claims by police.
— Doctors have five working diagnoses for Navalny's condition, the head doctor at the Omsk Emergency Hospital told reporters without naming any of the potential diagnoses.
— Head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation Ivan Zhdanov told journalists that police reported that a “poison” was found in Navalny’s system that is “dangerous to those around him,” but that law enforcement wouldn’t name the substance.
— The plane flying from Germany to Russia to pick up Navalny will arrive in an hour but doctors aren’t allowing him to be transported because his condition is unstable, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh tweeted early Friday morning, calling the refusal an “attempt on his life."


themoscowtimes--2020-08-21--Lukashenko Rival Calls on Belarus Workers to ‘Expand’ Strikes

Tikhanovskaya ’ s video address took aim at Lukashenko ’ s traditionally loyal support base in the wake of strikes at major plants that threatened to shut down production and grind as much as 70 % of Belarus ’ economy to a halt .
Workers have since complained of being threatened with dismissal and in some cases being locked inside factories to prevent them from joining anti-Lukashenko protests .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , the main challenger to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in this month ’ s disputed elections , has urged workers of state-owned factories to continue striking against state violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure to stop .
“ You have already shown incredible unity , ” Tikhanovskya told the workers of Belaruskali potash manufacturer , Minsk Tractor Works ( MTZ ) , the Grodno Azot fertilizer group and other state-run companies Thursday .
“ The strikes have squeezed the dictatorship into a corner.
” “ The future of Belarus and the future of our children depends on your unity and determination .
That ’ s why I ask you to continue and expand the strikes , ” Tikhanovskaya said in a video address .
Belarusian authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers , she said , because their strikes “ wounded ” Lukashenko ’ s regime “ in the heart.
” “ Strikes are absolutely legal and powerful weapons against the regime , ” she said .
“ Don ’ t get bullied .
Unite.
” The opposition seeks to stop the violent crackdown on anti-Lukashenko protesters , free political prisoners and hold free and fair elections , political novice Tikhanovskaya said .
Tikhanovskaya ’ s campaign partner also pledged security guarantees to police officers , troops and investigators “ if you come over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said Thursday that around 360 industrial workers out of 650,000 have staged walkouts .
“ All factories in Belarus work as normal , output activity is not lowered anywhere , targets are met , ” Golovchenko told state television .
Tikhanovskaya , 37 , fled to neighboring Lithuania after claiming victory in the flawed Aug. 9 election whose official results showed an 80 % victory for Lukashenko .
Lukashenko ’ s claim of victory sparked the largest demonstrations in Belarus since it gained independence .
A harsh crackdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote saw nearly 7,000 demonstrators detained and sparked allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of security services .
Lukashenko , Europe 's longest-serving leader , has resisted calls to resign or hold new elections and accuses the opposition of attempting to “ seize power .
”

Tikhanovskaya’s video address took aim at Lukashenko’s traditionally loyal support base in the wake of strikes at major plants that threatened to shut down production and grind as much as 70% of Belarus’ economy to a halt. Workers have since complained of being threatened with dismissal and in some cases being locked inside factories to prevent them from joining anti-Lukashenko protests.
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the main challenger to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko in this month’s disputed elections, has urged workers of state-owned factories to continue striking against state violence and in favor of new elections despite pressure to stop.
“You have already shown incredible unity,” Tikhanovskya told the workers of Belaruskali potash manufacturer, Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ), the Grodno Azot fertilizer group and other state-run companies Thursday. “The strikes have squeezed the dictatorship into a corner.”
“The future of Belarus and the future of our children depends on your unity and determination. That’s why I ask you to continue and expand the strikes,” Tikhanovskaya said in a video address.
Belarusian authorities are pressuring and trying to divide the workers, she said, because their strikes “wounded” Lukashenko’s regime “in the heart.”
“Strikes are absolutely legal and powerful weapons against the regime,” she said. “Don’t get bullied. Unite.”
The opposition seeks to stop the violent crackdown on anti-Lukashenko protesters, free political prisoners and hold free and fair elections, political novice Tikhanovskaya said.
Tikhanovskaya’s campaign partner also pledged security guarantees to police officers, troops and investigators “if you come over to the people’s side.”
Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko said Thursday that around 360 industrial workers out of 650,000 have staged walkouts.
“All factories in Belarus work as normal, output activity is not lowered anywhere, targets are met,” Golovchenko told state television.
Tikhanovskaya, 37, fled to neighboring Lithuania after claiming victory in the flawed Aug. 9 election whose official results showed an 80% victory for Lukashenko. Lukashenko’s claim of victory sparked the largest demonstrations in Belarus since it gained independence.
A harsh crackdown on peaceful protesters in the days after the vote saw nearly 7,000 demonstrators detained and sparked allegations of abuse and torture at the hands of security services.
Lukashenko, Europe's longest-serving leader, has resisted calls to resign or hold new elections and accuses the opposition of attempting to “seize power.”


themoscowtimes--2020-08-21--Doctors Bar Navalny’s Evacuation to Germany as Confusion Surrounds Presence of Poison in System

A day after Alexei Navalny was hospitalized in an apparent poisoning attempt , doctors are barring his evacuation to Germany citing his unstable condition , while confusion surrounds the presence of poison in the prominent Russian opposition leader ’ s system .
Navalny , 44 , lost consciousness an hour into a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow on Thursday .
After his plane made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk , he was transported to a hospital , where the deputy doctor told journalists the hospital was “ working on saving his life.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was connected to a ventilator and in critical condition .
Navalny ’ s team has pushed for the Kremlin critic to be transferred to a leading European toxicology center , citing a lack of necessary equipment at the regional hospital and a worry that Russian doctors will be pressured by the authorities to withhold details of the cause of his illness .
An air ambulance departed from Germany early Friday morning to collect Navalny , but the regional hospital ’ s head doctor said his condition was unstable and he could not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh .
The head of Navalny ’ s Anti-Corruption Foundation Ivan Zhdanov , who was also at the scene , told journalists that police reported that a “ poison ” was found in Navalny ’ s system that is “ dangerous to those around him , ” but that law enforcement would n't name the substance .
Later on Friday morning , the hospital 's deputy chief doctor contradicted this statement , saying that `` no trace '' of poison had been found in Navalny 's system during tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had said that they are ready to authorize transportation .
That is why we organized it in the shortest possible time , ” Yarmysh wrote on Twitter .
“ Now , at the last moment , doctors are not giving permission .
This decision , of course , was not made by them but by the Kremlin.
” In a separate tweet Yarmysh called the move to bar Navalny from being transported an “ attempt on his life .
”

A day after Alexei Navalny was hospitalized in an apparent poisoning attempt, doctors are barring his evacuation to Germany citing his unstable condition, while confusion surrounds the presence of poison in the prominent Russian opposition leader’s system.
Navalny, 44, lost consciousness an hour into a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow on Thursday. After his plane made an emergency landing in the Siberian city of Omsk, he was transported to a hospital, where the deputy doctor told journalists the hospital was “working on saving his life.” He said that the opposition leader was connected to a ventilator and in critical condition.
Navalny’s team has pushed for the Kremlin critic to be transferred to a leading European toxicology center, citing a lack of necessary equipment at the regional hospital and a worry that Russian doctors will be pressured by the authorities to withhold details of the cause of his illness.
An air ambulance departed from Germany early Friday morning to collect Navalny, but the regional hospital’s head doctor said his condition was unstable and he could not be transferred, according to the Kremlin critic’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh.
The head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation Ivan Zhdanov, who was also at the scene, told journalists that police reported that a “poison” was found in Navalny’s system that is “dangerous to those around him,” but that law enforcement wouldn't name the substance.
Later on Friday morning, the hospital's deputy chief doctor contradicted this statement, saying that "no trace" of poison had been found in Navalny's system during tests so far.
“Until now doctors had said that they are ready to authorize transportation. That is why we organized it in the shortest possible time,” Yarmysh wrote on Twitter. “Now, at the last moment, doctors are not giving permission. This decision, of course, was not made by them but by the Kremlin.”
In a separate tweet Yarmysh called the move to bar Navalny from being transported an “attempt on his life.”


themoscowtimes--2020-08-21--Mexico to Test Russia’s Coronavirus Vaccine

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told Russia ’ s ambassador Wednesday that Mexico wanted to conduct trials of Russia ’ s “ Sputnik V ” Covid-19 vaccine , which President Vladimir Putin says is the first in the world to be registered .
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that he would be among the first to receive Sputnik V if it ’ s proven to be effective .
Mexico will receive at least 2,000 doses of Russia ’ s candidate coronavirus vaccine as part of the injection 's Phase 3 clinical trials , Mexico ’ s foreign minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 2,000 doses of the vaccine to do its protocol to start testing it in Mexico , which is very good news because again we buy ourselves time , ” Ebrard said , according to Reuters .
Mexico announced a deal last week with British-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca to manufacture its vaccine currently under development if clinical trials show it to be effective .
The Latin American country is also readying to conduct late-stage trials of the Covid-19 vaccine for Johnson & Johnson and two Chinese companies .
Sputnik V 's developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia and other countries .
Russia ’ s sovereign wealth fund which finances the Sputnik V project said Thursday that clinical trials will begin next week and involve more than 40,000 people in Russia .
More than 20 countries have made requests to purchase over 1 billion doses of the vaccine , the fund ’ s head said , adding that Russia had agreements with several countries to produce it .

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told Russia’s ambassador Wednesday that Mexico wanted to conduct trials of Russia’s “Sputnik V” Covid-19 vaccine, which President Vladimir Putin says is the first in the world to be registered. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Monday that he would be among the first to receive Sputnik V if it’s proven to be effective.
Mexico will receive at least 2,000 doses of Russia’s candidate coronavirus vaccine as part of the injection's Phase 3 clinical trials, Mexico’s foreign minister said Thursday.
“Mexico was offered at least 2,000 doses of the vaccine to do its protocol to start testing it in Mexico, which is very good news because again we buy ourselves time,” Ebrard said, according to Reuters.
Mexico announced a deal last week with British-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca to manufacture its vaccine currently under development if clinical trials show it to be effective. The Latin American country is also readying to conduct late-stage trials of the Covid-19 vaccine for Johnson & Johnson and two Chinese companies.
Sputnik V's developers previously said that it will be tested in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Russia’s sovereign wealth fund which finances the Sputnik V project said Thursday that clinical trials will begin next week and involve more than 40,000 people in Russia.
More than 20 countries have made requests to purchase over 1 billion doses of the vaccine, the fund’s head said, adding that Russia had agreements with several countries to produce it.
AFP contributed reporting.