southfront--2020-08-11--Crisis In Belarus: Democratic Neo-Nazis Against Last Emperor Of Europe

As of August 11 evening , it seems that forces of ‘ democracy and good ’ mostly led by radical Belarusian nationalists and leftfist Antifa groups are losing their battle against the ‘ dictatorship ’ of President Alexander Lukashenko .
Protests still continue , but their intensity is much lower than it was in the previous days .
The government overcame the most violent wave of protests on August 9 and August 10 and detained about 2,000-3,000 ( depending on sources ) most active participants in riots .
The most active part of the detained persons appeared to be havve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sitaution .
Security forces detained several people that they called a group of provocateurs : Two members of the “ Open Russia ” political organization founded by the exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky – Artem Varejnikov and Igor Rogov – appeared to be among the detained persons .
Khodorkovsky is an infamous Russian oligarch residing in London .
In October 2003 , he was arrested by Russian authorities and charged with fraud , and fled Russia fter he was released .
in 2013 .
Since then , Khodorkovsky , in coordination with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and organizing hardcore pro-Western and neo-liberal organizations in Russia .
The particiaption of “ Open Russia ” members in Belarus demonstrates that the riots there were staged in a close coordination with the same forces that aim to destabilize Russia .
After the failure of forceful scenario of the regime change in Belarus , opposition forces tried to employ the the ‘ nonviolent resistance ’ strategy against the government by promoting the national-wide strike ( without large successes ) , calling for wide-scale international sanctions and trying to undermine the economic and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global crisis .
Lukashenko appeared to be a much more tough guy than former Ukrainain President Viktor Yanukovych and used the force to supress attempts to stage the coup via street riots .
Drivers try to ram Police officers in Minsk on August 10 : Legionaries of the last Emperror of Eastern Europe : Meanwhile , the supposed leadre of the Belarusian opposition , Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania .
Before fleeing the country , she recorded a video calling on people to not participate in riots .
Opposition supporters claim that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the real situation in which the real statement was made , Tsikhanouskaya was just a formal figure and has never had a real influence on nationalist , leftfist and pro-Western groups that stand behind the riots .
Apparently , the only sphere in which the opposition really has an upper hand is social media platforms .
Pro-opposition Telegram channels and groups successfully paint the picture of the ‘ collapse of the regime ’ and pretend to gain an upper hand over security forces .
Unfortunately , for the opposition , these claims are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of these media resources are funded or coordinated from foreign states , mainly Poland and the Baltic states .
In particular , the chief editor of the Nexta Telegram channel ( 1,000,000 subscribers ) , Roman Protasevich , asked a political asylum in Poland in January 2020 and currently lives there .
As of August 11 evening , the situation in Belarus seems to be mostly under the control of the government .
Nonetheless , the recent developments have become a visual evidence that it has all chances to explode once again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE TOPIC : • Belarus Opposition Leader Flees The Country , US And EU Express Doubt In Election Process • Ukraine-Like Scenario In Belarus : First Confirmed Death During Protests In Minsk

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As of August 11 evening, it seems that forces of ‘democracy and good’ mostly led by radical Belarusian nationalists and leftfist Antifa groups are losing their battle against the ‘dictatorship’ of President Alexander Lukashenko. Protests still continue, but their intensity is much lower than it was in the previous days.
The government overcame the most violent wave of protests on August 9 and August 10 and detained about 2,000-3,000 (depending on sources) most active participants in riots. The most active part of the detained persons appeared to be havve some ‘interesting’ ideological vision of the sitaution.
Security forces detained several people that they called a group of provocateurs:
Two members of the “Open Russia” political organization founded by the exiled Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky – Artem Varejnikov and Igor Rogov – appeared to be among the detained persons. Khodorkovsky is an infamous Russian oligarch residing in London. In October 2003, he was arrested by Russian authorities and charged with fraud, and fled Russia fter he was released. in 2013.
Since then, Khodorkovsky , in coordination with various Euro-Atlantic structures, have been funding and organizing hardcore pro-Western and neo-liberal organizations in Russia. The particiaption of “Open Russia” members in Belarus demonstrates that the riots there were staged in a close coordination with the same forces that aim to destabilize Russia.
After the failure of forceful scenario of the regime change in Belarus, opposition forces tried to employ the the ‘nonviolent resistance’ strategy against the government by promoting the national-wide strike (without large successes), calling for wide-scale international sanctions and trying to undermine the economic and social situation in the country amid the developing global crisis.
Lukashenko appeared to be a much more tough guy than former Ukrainain President Viktor Yanukovych and used the force to supress attempts to stage the coup via street riots.
Drivers try to ram Police officers in Minsk on August 10:
Legionaries of the last Emperror of Eastern Europe:
Meanwhile, the supposed leadre of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania. Before fleeing the country, she recorded a video calling on people to not participate in riots. Opposition supporters claim that this statement was made under pressure. Regardless the real situation in which the real statement was made, Tsikhanouskaya was just a formal figure and has never had a real influence on nationalist, leftfist and pro-Western groups that stand behind the riots.
Apparently, the only sphere in which the opposition really has an upper hand is social media platforms. Pro-opposition Telegram channels and groups successfully paint the picture of the ‘collapse of the regime’ and pretend to gain an upper hand over security forces. Unfortunately, for the opposition, these claims are far from the reality. A large part of these media resources are funded or coordinated from foreign states, mainly Poland and the Baltic states. In particular, the chief editor of the Nexta Telegram channel (1,000,000 subscribers), Roman Protasevich, asked a political asylum in Poland in January 2020 and currently lives there.
As of August 11 evening, the situation in Belarus seems to be mostly under the control of the government. Nonetheless, the recent developments have become a visual evidence that it has all chances to explode once again at almost any moment.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-11--Crisis In Belarus As Sign Of Global Division

Over the past days , Belarus , an eastern European state bordering with Ukraine , Poland , Lithuania and Latvia , has become a scene of a new regime change attempt on the territory of the former USSR .
On August 9 , the country held presidential elections and saw a dramatic increase of activity of opposition forces .
The mobilized opposition and the wide-scale pro-opposition campaign in international and local media that took place exploited the existing issues in the economic and social sphere of the country as well as the general dissatisfaction of a part of the population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented by acting President Alexander Lukashenko .
Despite this , preliminary results showed that Lukashenko received approximately 80 % of votes , while the opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received about 10 % of the ballots .
Over 4 % of voters chose the “ against all candidates ” option .
The election turnout was 84.23 % .
Even if one imagines mass falsifications during the election process , that may lead to a 15-20 % increase of the result of Lukashenko , the election became a major failure for opposition forces .
Nevertheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world demonstrates that a consolidated and well-coordinated aggressive minority can seize power if it faces no proper response to its actions from the government .
Such situation happened during the so-called ‘ Maidan ’ coup in Ukraine in 2014 , when an aggressive group of radical nationalists supported by foreign forces exploited the criminal inaction of the Yanukovich government .
The overwhelming majority of the population did not support the coup and the further violence that expanded throughout Ukraine .
Nonetheless , the silent majority became a victim of the aggressive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition immediately declared the election rigged and did not recognize its results .
Violent protests started in Minsk and other large cities of Belarus .
On August 9 and August 10 , the protests strike force , led by radical Belarusian nationalists and leftist Antifa groups , clashed with police throwing at them rocks , bottles and beating isolated police officers .
Well-coordinated mobile groups of protesters tried to block local voting places and allegedly threw at least several petrol bombs at security personnel .
However , reports about the usage of so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Security forces responded with an increase of security measures across the country , the establishment of additional checkpoints and the usage of tear gas and rubber bullets .
According to the country ’ s Ministry of the Interior , dozens of police officers and protesters were injured in the clashes .
Authorities also said that a protester died from wounds received when an explosive device blew up in his hand .
He was allegedly planning to throw it at security forces .
A network of social media accounts , many of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poland and the Baltic states , with support from mainstream media outlets try to paint the picture of the total collapse of the government , releasing instructions for rioters , personal data of police officers , and spreading fake news about Lukashenko supposedly fleeing Belarus .
A special topic covered by these media outlets is the use of violence against the allegedly peaceful protesters .
How groups of radicals provoking and attacking police officers could be peaceful remains out of the question .
Pro-coup media also promote the idea of national-wide strike starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , according to local sources and evidence from the site of clashes , the Belarusian law enforcement has demonstrated a high motivation to act decisively in their effort to stop the spread of the chaos .
President Lukashenko , regardless the criticism of his economic or political strategies , apparently learnt the lessons of history and is taking active steps to prevent the coup .
The United States and the European Union already declared the elections in Belarus ‘ unfair ’ and ‘ not independent ’ .
As of August 11 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and several top members of her campaign fled to Lithuania , from where they are making loud statements calling for what she calls ‘ revolution ’ .
The pro-Western , neo-liberal part of the Russian opposition also held a rally in support of the coup attempt in Belarus in the front of the Belarusian embassy in Moscow .
Just a few weeks ago , Lukashenko was publicly flirting with Washington & Co and making anti-Russian statements .
With the start of the election crisis , his new friends immediately betrayed him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This once again demonstrated that arrangements with the Washington establishment and the European bureaucrats are not worth a row of beans .
The dividing line between constructive national forces and the coalition of various neo-liberal , pro-Western factions and radical nationalists financed by the West and trying to seize the power by any means once again became especially evident .
If the so-called ‘ supporters of democracy ’ achieve a victory , the area of instability currently localized in Ukraine will expand into Belarus and may ignite fires in all over eastern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .

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Over the past days, Belarus, an eastern European state bordering with Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, has become a scene of a new regime change attempt on the territory of the former USSR.
On August 9, the country held presidential elections and saw a dramatic increase of activity of opposition forces. The mobilized opposition and the wide-scale pro-opposition campaign in international and local media that took place exploited the existing issues in the economic and social sphere of the country as well as the general dissatisfaction of a part of the population with the corruption and fossilized elites, represented by acting President Alexander Lukashenko.
Despite this, preliminary results showed that Lukashenko received approximately 80% of votes, while the opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received about 10% of the ballots. Over 4% of voters chose the “against all candidates” option. The election turnout was 84.23%. Even if one imagines mass falsifications during the election process, that may lead to a 15-20% increase of the result of Lukashenko, the election became a major failure for opposition forces.
Nevertheless, the history of various coups around the world demonstrates that a consolidated and well-coordinated aggressive minority can seize power if it faces no proper response to its actions from the government. Such situation happened during the so-called ‘Maidan’ coup in Ukraine in 2014, when an aggressive group of radical nationalists supported by foreign forces exploited the criminal inaction of the Yanukovich government. The overwhelming majority of the population did not support the coup and the further violence that expanded throughout Ukraine. Nonetheless, the silent majority became a victim of the aggressive and vocal minority.
No surprise, the opposition immediately declared the election rigged and did not recognize its results. Violent protests started in Minsk and other large cities of Belarus. On August 9 and August 10, the protests strike force, led by radical Belarusian nationalists and leftist Antifa groups, clashed with police throwing at them rocks, bottles and beating isolated police officers. Well-coordinated mobile groups of protesters tried to block local voting places and allegedly threw at least several petrol bombs at security personnel. However, reports about the usage of so-called Molotov cocktails are yet to be confirmed.
Security forces responded with an increase of security measures across the country, the establishment of additional checkpoints and the usage of tear gas and rubber bullets. According to the country’s Ministry of the Interior, dozens of police officers and protesters were injured in the clashes. Authorities also said that a protester died from wounds received when an explosive device blew up in his hand. He was allegedly planning to throw it at security forces.
A network of social media accounts, many of them operated from places outside Belarus, like Poland and the Baltic states, with support from mainstream media outlets try to paint the picture of the total collapse of the government, releasing instructions for rioters, personal data of police officers, and spreading fake news about Lukashenko supposedly fleeing Belarus. A special topic covered by these media outlets is the use of violence against the allegedly peaceful protesters. How groups of radicals provoking and attacking police officers could be peaceful remains out of the question. Pro-coup media also promote the idea of national-wide strike starting on August 11.
At the same time, according to local sources and evidence from the site of clashes, the Belarusian law enforcement has demonstrated a high motivation to act decisively in their effort to stop the spread of the chaos. President Lukashenko, regardless the criticism of his economic or political strategies, apparently learnt the lessons of history and is taking active steps to prevent the coup.
The United States and the European Union already declared the elections in Belarus ‘unfair’ and ‘not independent’. As of August 11, the main Belarusian opposition candidate, Tikhanovskaya, and several top members of her campaign fled to Lithuania, from where they are making loud statements calling for what she calls ‘revolution’.
The pro-Western, neo-liberal part of the Russian opposition also held a rally in support of the coup attempt in Belarus in the front of the Belarusian embassy in Moscow.
Just a few weeks ago, Lukashenko was publicly flirting with Washington & Co and making anti-Russian statements. With the start of the election crisis, his new friends immediately betrayed him and in fact support the ongoing coup attempt. This once again demonstrated that arrangements with the Washington establishment and the European bureaucrats are not worth a row of beans.
The dividing line between constructive national forces and the coalition of various neo-liberal, pro-Western factions and radical nationalists financed by the West and trying to seize the power by any means once again became especially evident.
If the so-called ‘supporters of democracy’ achieve a victory, the area of instability currently localized in Ukraine will expand into Belarus and may ignite fires in all over eastern Europe, including the European part of Russia.
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southfront--2020-08-11--What If Beirut Port Explosion Was Attack?

On August 11 , 3 Israeli battle tanks crossed a technical fence on the Israeli-Lebanese contact line , the official Lebanese News Agency reported .
According to the Lebanese side , Israeli forces broke through the technical fence in the town of Mays al-Jabal and at least one of the battle tanks fired a phosphorous bomb was fired by one of the tanks .
Later , the battle tanks withdrew from the area .
No casualties were reported .
The Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF ) did not comment on the incident .
The technical fence is an Israeli constructed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Lebanese and Israeli forces .
In the recent weeks , tensions between Israel and Hezbollah/Iran were especially high on the Lebanese-Israeli contact line and in the Israeli-occupied area of the Syrian Golan Heights .
The IDF announced that it had deployed additional forces there and several times threatened Hezbollah with strikes inside Lebanon .
An earlier Israeli strike also killed a Hezbollah member in Syria .
The August 4 explosion in Beirut port contributed to even further escalation of tensions in the region .
The Beirut explosion , that left more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deep political and social crisis in Lebanon .
While the official version is still that it was a result of the accident with poorly stored 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate , the version about some ‘ attack ’ or ‘ sbotage act ’ in Beirut has been becoming more and more popular .
Probably , the most interesting fact is that this version is supported by the United States on the highest level .
US President Donald Trump was among first to say that the Beirut explosion may have been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident as a “ terrible attack.
” Later , Defense Secretary Mark Esper also confirmed that the United States is considering this version .
This stance of the United States contributed to the speculations with both pro-Iranian/Hezbollah and pro-Israeli sources accusing each others of the tragedy .
According to the Israeli version of the events , the explosion may have been caused by some incident at a Hezbollah weapon depot that triggered a larger explosion of ammonium nitrate .
In own turn , pro-Iranian sources even accused Israel of conducting a missile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 4 tragedy .
If one theoretically accepts this hypothesis as true , it would be interesting to look what players may have been interested in such a scenario .
1 .
Hezbollah and Iran can not be interested in staging any such situation because the ongoing crisis in Lebanon in fact undermined their positions in the country .
There are no doubts that the wide social instability and political crisis will impact negatively the popularity of Hezbollah as one of the main powerbrokers in Lebanon .
2 .
The Sunni Lebanese elites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and economic sphere .
The entire government , including Prime Minister Hassan Diab , resigned .
3 .
Hamas and forces affiliated with radical Sunni groups and movements operating across the Middle East also do not look like a real suspect .
The blast and the following crisis undermined positions of not only Hezbollah and Iran , but also the Sunni elites in Lebanon .
4 .
Turkey and Gulf states play own regional games , but they prefer the controlled development of the situation in this part of the region rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 .
In these conditions , the only parties that could be really interested in the destabilization of Lebanon is Israel and the United States .
Tel Aviv is not hiding that the cornerstone of its regional policy is to undermine positions of Hezbollah and Iran , and neutralize this ‘ threat ’ to the Israeli regional expansion , based on the full-scale and unconditional diplomatic support from Washington and the US military power .
The instability in Lebanon will also allow Israel and the United States to achieve their tactical geopolitical goals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources and attention of their main adversaries , and set conditions for additional diplomatic , economic and even limited military actions against them .
This will be especially effective after the US-Israeli bloc accuse Hezbollah and Iran of being responsible for the tragedy .
A one more opportunity for Tel Aviv and Washington is to exploit the political crisis to impact the forming of a new Lebanese government ( through clandestine measures for example ) in order to get a more ‘ pro-Western ’ variant of it .
The increasing diplomatic and military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies in Lebanon under pretext of the humanitarian mission is not even a secret .
The UK Royal Navy survey vessel HMS Enterprise is officially deploying to Beirut to supposedly survey the damage to the city ’ s port .
Another known ally of the modern United States , France is deploying the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Tonnerre .
The warship with an additional force of about 700 troops on board is set to deploy in Beirut on August 13 .
More foreign forces are expected to come .
Therefore , if one wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beirut on August 4 , it ’ s easy to find what foreign forces may have been interested in it .
Nonetheless , in this scenario , mainstream media outlets and the ‘ democratic world ’ will likely blame Hezbollah and Iran .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Lebanese Government Resigns Leaving A Void Many Would Like To Fill • Chaos In Lebanon Marked Start Of New Round Of Israeli-Iranian Standoff

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On August 11, 3 Israeli battle tanks crossed a technical fence on the Israeli-Lebanese contact line, the official Lebanese News Agency reported.
According to the Lebanese side, Israeli forces broke through the technical fence in the town of Mays al-Jabal and at least one of the battle tanks fired a phosphorous bomb was fired by one of the tanks.
Later, the battle tanks withdrew from the area. No casualties were reported.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not comment on the incident. The technical fence is an Israeli constructed fence along the 79 km contact line between Lebanese and Israeli forces.
In the recent weeks, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah/Iran were especially high on the Lebanese-Israeli contact line and in the Israeli-occupied area of the Syrian Golan Heights. The IDF announced that it had deployed additional forces there and several times threatened Hezbollah with strikes inside Lebanon. An earlier Israeli strike also killed a Hezbollah member in Syria.
The August 4 explosion in Beirut port contributed to even further escalation of tensions in the region. The Beirut explosion, that left more than 200 dead and 6,000 injured, caused a deep political and social crisis in Lebanon. While the official version is still that it was a result of the accident with poorly stored 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate, the version about some ‘attack’ or ‘sbotage act’ in Beirut has been becoming more and more popular. Probably, the most interesting fact is that this version is supported by the United States on the highest level.
US President Donald Trump was among first to say that the Beirut explosion may have been a result of the attack. Trump described the incident as a “terrible attack.”
“It would seem like it based on the explosion,” Trump said. “I’ve met with some of our great generals and they just seem to feel that it was not a — some kind of manufacturing explosion type of event. This was a… seems to be according to them, they would know better than I would, but they seem to think it was an attack. It was a bomb of some kind.”
Later, Defense Secretary Mark Esper also confirmed that the United States is considering this version.
“The bottom line is we still don’t know” what caused the explosion, Esper told Fox News. “On the first day, as President Trump rightly said, we thought it might have been an attack, some of us speculated it could have been, for example, a Hezbollah arms shipment that blew up, maybe a Hezbollah bomb making facility, who knows?”
This stance of the United States contributed to the speculations with both pro-Iranian/Hezbollah and pro-Israeli sources accusing each others of the tragedy. According to the Israeli version of the events, the explosion may have been caused by some incident at a Hezbollah weapon depot that triggered a larger explosion of ammonium nitrate. In own turn, pro-Iranian sources even accused Israel of conducting a missile or sabotage attack that resulted in the August 4 tragedy.
If one theoretically accepts this hypothesis as true, it would be interesting to look what players may have been interested in such a scenario.
1. Hezbollah and Iran cannot be interested in staging any such situation because the ongoing crisis in Lebanon in fact undermined their positions in the country. There are no doubts that the wide social instability and political crisis will impact negatively the popularity of Hezbollah as one of the main powerbrokers in Lebanon.
2. The Sunni Lebanese elites also suffered negative consequences in the political and economic sphere. The entire government, including Prime Minister Hassan Diab, resigned.
3. Hamas and forces affiliated with radical Sunni groups and movements operating across the Middle East also do not look like a real suspect. The blast and the following crisis undermined positions of not only Hezbollah and Iran, but also the Sunni elites in Lebanon.
4. Turkey and Gulf states play own regional games, but they prefer the controlled development of the situation in this part of the region rather than the new point of spreading chaos.
5. In these conditions, the only parties that could be really interested in the destabilization of Lebanon is Israel and the United States.
Tel Aviv is not hiding that the cornerstone of its regional policy is to undermine positions of Hezbollah and Iran, and neutralize this ‘threat’ to the Israeli regional expansion, based on the full-scale and unconditional diplomatic support from Washington and the US military power.
The instability in Lebanon will also allow Israel and the United States to achieve their tactical geopolitical goals more effective because the crisis will draw resources and attention of their main adversaries, and set conditions for additional diplomatic, economic and even limited military actions against them. This will be especially effective after the US-Israeli bloc accuse Hezbollah and Iran of being responsible for the tragedy.
A one more opportunity for Tel Aviv and Washington is to exploit the political crisis to impact the forming of a new Lebanese government (through clandestine measures for example) in order to get a more ‘pro-Western’ variant of it.
The increasing diplomatic and military presence of the US and its European allies in Lebanon under pretext of the humanitarian mission is not even a secret. The UK Royal Navy survey vessel HMS Enterprise is officially deploying to Beirut to supposedly survey the damage to the city’s port.
The @RoyalNavy survey ship @HMSEnterprise has arrived in Beirut this morning having sailed from Cyprus. Her crew will support the people of #Lebanon by offloading vital supplies of aid and surveying the damage done to the port. @ukinlebanon https://t.co/lYWRkz1Er8 pic.twitter.com/0cywXPyUsx — Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) August 10, 2020
Another known ally of the modern United States, France is deploying the Mistral-class helicopter carrier Tonnerre. The warship with an additional force of about 700 troops on board is set to deploy in Beirut on August 13. More foreign forces are expected to come.
Therefore, if one wants to speculate about the possible attack on Beirut on August 4, it’s easy to find what foreign forces may have been interested in it. Nonetheless, in this scenario, mainstream media outlets and the ‘democratic world’ will likely blame Hezbollah and Iran.
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southfront--2020-08-11--Greek Coast Guard Opened Fire At Turkish Boat In Aegean Sea

On August 11 , the Greek Coast Guard opened fire at a Turkish boat off the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea .
According to the Turkish side , two Turkish and one Syrian nationals were injured and the boat sank due to the attack .
The incident took place at 0040GMT in the Greek waters .
The injured people were taken to the Marmaris State Hospital by the Turkish rescue team , it added .
Tensions in the region are on the rise due to the Turkish exploration and drilling activities of the hydrocarbon sources in the Mediterranean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship to conduct a seismic survey in a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean .
Ankara is conducting the search for potentially rich oil and gas deposits south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo .
The Oruc Reis is accompanied by two auxiliary vessels and this mission goes contrary to the Greek-Egyptian gas exploration deal .
The Greek said described the situation as a “ new serious escalation ” which “ exposed ” Turkey ’ s “ destabilising role ” .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey Sends Military For ‘ Gunnery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Exploration Resumes • Syria To Build Replica Of Hagia Sophia Church In Hama , With Russian Funding

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On August 11, the Greek Coast Guard opened fire at a Turkish boat off the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea. According to the Turkish side, two Turkish and one Syrian nationals were injured and the boat sank due to the attack.
The incident took place at 0040GMT in the Greek waters. The injured people were taken to the Marmaris State Hospital by the Turkish rescue team, it added.
Tensions in the region are on the rise due to the Turkish exploration and drilling activities of the hydrocarbon sources in the Mediterranean Sea.
Earlier, Turkey sent a ship to conduct a seismic survey in a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean. Ankara is conducting the search for potentially rich oil and gas deposits south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo.
The Oruc Reis is accompanied by two auxiliary vessels and this mission goes contrary to the Greek-Egyptian gas exploration deal. The Greek said described the situation as a “new serious escalation” which “exposed” Turkey’s “destabilising role”.
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southfront--2020-08-11--Military Situation In Syria On August 11, 2020 (Map Update)

PKK leader is rejecting oil deal , calling it “ illegal ” and says the oil is not for Kurds @ @ @ @ @ nation .
Also says “ Syria is a recognized state ” .
Why is SF @ @ @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
An explosive device detonated in a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military vehicle in the town of Al-Shaafah;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the villages of Fatirah and Kansafra;
Family of murdered Akkidat’s elders rejected to meet a delegation of the US-led coalition, while meeting the Akkidat’s influencers to discuss the issues of the SDF-Held Deir Ezzor.
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southfront--2020-08-11--Don’t Stigmatise the Nuke! Opponents of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty

It would seem a logical step , at least from an existential perspective : to ban something so utterly horrendous to life ; to forbid its use in any circumstances , whatever rationale employed to justify its use .
But the nuclear weapon has its admirers .
There are those who continue to worship its sovereign properties , and those who leave gifts at the shrine of extended deterrence .
Be wary , they say , of the abolitionists .
The 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings should have encouraged much reflection on current attitudes to the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weapons .
Passed on July 7 , 2017 , it has become a focal point for advocates of a nuclear-weapons free world , and a source of irritation for nuclear weapons states who are not only dragging their feet but going in the opposite direction .
Increased interest in the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty is not accidental .
Jayantha Dhanapala , the second director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research , considered the document as arising from an unruly environment .
“ In the nuclear field , we are almost back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World War , when rules for the nuclear age had yet to be developed.
” He warned that humanity risked deluding itself into thinking “ that war between nuclear-weapon states is a malady of the past , no longer deserving attention.
” Dhanapala sketches the fault line in the nuclear disarmament debate .
Nuclear Weapons States ( NWS ) and their allies face non-nuclear-weapon states ( NNWS ) , both camps supposedly harbouring the same objective of eliminating nuclear weapons .
Both , however , make off from different stations : the NWS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then nuclear disarmament ” ; the NNWS group preferring to reach an agreement to banning nuclear weapons “ followed by its gradual implementation.
” The outcome of such different positions is clear : not a single nuclear weapons power has joined the regime , as they remain in love with their nukes , while all 43 ratifying states , to date , lack them .
The strangest spectacle in this disagreement is provided by those powers lacking nuclear weapons but relieved about those powers in guardianship that do .
The security argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous notion that an “ umbrella of extended nuclear deterrence ” exists to provide comfort .
For that reason Japan , despite being a noisy voice regarding the non-use and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons , has refused to endorse the weapons ban .
Hiroshima ’ s Mayor Kazumi Matsui will have none of it , and took the commemorative occasion to encourage the Japanese government to abandon that position .
“ Hiroshima considers it our duty to build in civil society a consensus that the people of the world must unite to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peace.
” At Nagasaki , similar sentiments were expressed by Mayor Tomihisa Taue , who found it “ incomprehensible ” that Japan ’ s treaty signature had been withheld .
He noted his concern that the appetite for nuclear disarmament had apparently been lost in recent years .
Both the United States and Russia had placed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on the rubbish tip of history .
“ As a result , the threat of nuclear weapons being used is increasingly becoming real.
” Despite the sterling efforts of the atomic bomb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagasaki the final place of such a tragedy , “ the true horror of nuclear weapons has not yet been adequately conveyed to the world at large ” .
Japan ’ s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dismissed the treaty as pie in the sky nonsense , showing that the abolition of nuclear weapons remains a dream kept symbolically necessary but practically unrealisable .
This serves ceremonial relevance , the sort of cant that has governed disarmament policies since the race for the nuke got away .
While essential to the cult of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizens suffered such bombings , nuclear weapons remained valuable even as these commemorations took place .
“ The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons , ” Abe explained dismissively , “ was adopted without taking into consideration the reality of the harsh national security environment.
” Japan continued to face the threats posed to modernised nuclear weapons programmes from “ neighbouring countries in the region.
” Foreign Minister Taro Kono , in justifying Japan ’ s continued refusal to append its signature , emphasised the divisions between the various schools of thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear nations .
There were those within non-nuclear states .
Rather deviously , Kono suggested that Japan might play a bridging role , seeking “ common ground ” between the camps that would lead to nuclear disarmament and abolition .
Australia , ever willing to deputise for the US in the Asia Pacific , has also shown marked reluctance to stigmatise the nuke .
Few can forget its role as foiled spoiler in the UN working group on nuclear disarmament in 2016 .
Australian diplomats made it clear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document banning nuclear weapons emerge from what they hoped would be a futile talking shop .
The attitudes of Australian officials in the group was exposed in documents obtained under Freedom of Information by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons ( ICAN ) .
“ So long as the threat of nuclear attack and coercion exists , ” states one document from foreign ministry officials , “ US extended deterrence will serve Australia ’ s fundamental national security interests.
” Wishing to be the vibrant dissenters at the party , they promised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against those states who wish to push a near-term ban treaty.
” During the course of negotiations , Australian officials thought it necessary to remain in “ close contact ” with Washington “ about our shared concerns ” on the working group ’ s disturbing move towards recommending “ negotiations on a ‘ ban treaty ’ ” .
It was good of them , seeing as the United States had boycotted the talks .
At stages , concerns were noted about the “ humanitarianism ” being pursued in the discussions – because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of extermination .
In 2017 , John Quinn , Australia ’ s ambassador for Disarmament and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations , delivered a classic display of repudiation and approbation on nuclear weapons .
There was the mandatory mention : Australia shared “ the widespread commitment to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.
” But the nuclear weapons prohibition treaty was not the way to go about it .
The humanitarian impulses behind the document had deepened division ( that word again ) , “ created damaging ambiguities ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The significance of Australia ’ s rejection of the treaty – and here , the gloves come off – is that it “ seeks to delegitimise extended deterrence .
The ban treaty will not advance nuclear disarmament or security.
” This is not a position that shows any sign of altering .
“ Australia does not support the ‘ ban treaty ’ which we believe would not eliminate a single nuclear weapon , ” states the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade .
Sounding much like Abe , it mocks the document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global security environment ” .
The treaty lacks the security assurances found in traditional mechanisms supplied by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and “ would be inconsistent with our US alliance obligations.
” It follows that those claiming a normative shift in the ban treaty towards stigmatising the use of such weapons have their work cut out for them .
In some cases , the more vigorous opposition has not even come from the expected quarter .
Nuclear weapons states have simply refused to abandon their crown jewels , leaving the loudest barking against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deluded allies who cling , desperately , to the fable of extended nuclear deterrence .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
It would seem a logical step, at least from an existential perspective: to ban something so utterly horrendous to life; to forbid its use in any circumstances, whatever rationale employed to justify its use. But the nuclear weapon has its admirers. There are those who continue to worship its sovereign properties, and those who leave gifts at the shrine of extended deterrence. Be wary, they say, of the abolitionists.
The 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings should have encouraged much reflection on current attitudes to the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Passed on July 7, 2017, it has become a focal point for advocates of a nuclear-weapons free world, and a source of irritation for nuclear weapons states who are not only dragging their feet but going in the opposite direction.
Increased interest in the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty is not accidental. Jayantha Dhanapala, the second director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, considered the document as arising from an unruly environment. “In the nuclear field, we are almost back to the years immediately after the Second World War, when rules for the nuclear age had yet to be developed.” He warned that humanity risked deluding itself into thinking “that war between nuclear-weapon states is a malady of the past, no longer deserving attention.”
Dhanapala sketches the fault line in the nuclear disarmament debate. Nuclear Weapons States (NWS) and their allies face non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS), both camps supposedly harbouring the same objective of eliminating nuclear weapons. Both, however, make off from different stations: the NWS group insisting on “first achieving security and then nuclear disarmament”; the NNWS group preferring to reach an agreement to banning nuclear weapons “followed by its gradual implementation.” The outcome of such different positions is clear: not a single nuclear weapons power has joined the regime, as they remain in love with their nukes, while all 43 ratifying states, to date, lack them.
The strangest spectacle in this disagreement is provided by those powers lacking nuclear weapons but relieved about those powers in guardianship that do. The security argument prevails, formally under that fanciful but dangerous notion that an “umbrella of extended nuclear deterrence” exists to provide comfort. For that reason Japan, despite being a noisy voice regarding the non-use and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons, has refused to endorse the weapons ban. Hiroshima’s Mayor Kazumi Matsui will have none of it, and took the commemorative occasion to encourage the Japanese government to abandon that position. “Hiroshima considers it our duty to build in civil society a consensus that the people of the world must unite to achieve nuclear weapons abolition and lasting world peace.”
At Nagasaki, similar sentiments were expressed by Mayor Tomihisa Taue, who found it “incomprehensible” that Japan’s treaty signature had been withheld. He noted his concern that the appetite for nuclear disarmament had apparently been lost in recent years. Both the United States and Russia had placed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on the rubbish tip of history. “As a result, the threat of nuclear weapons being used is increasingly becoming real.” Despite the sterling efforts of the atomic bomb survivors (the hibakusha) to make Nagasaki the final place of such a tragedy, “the true horror of nuclear weapons has not yet been adequately conveyed to the world at large”.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dismissed the treaty as pie in the sky nonsense, showing that the abolition of nuclear weapons remains a dream kept symbolically necessary but practically unrealisable. This serves ceremonial relevance, the sort of cant that has governed disarmament policies since the race for the nuke got away.
While essential to the cult of Japanese victimhood as the only country whose citizens suffered such bombings, nuclear weapons remained valuable even as these commemorations took place. “The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,” Abe explained dismissively, “was adopted without taking into consideration the reality of the harsh national security environment.” Japan continued to face the threats posed to modernised nuclear weapons programmes from “neighbouring countries in the region.”
Foreign Minister Taro Kono, in justifying Japan’s continued refusal to append its signature, emphasised the divisions between the various schools of thought. There were those testing disagreements between nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear nations. There were those within non-nuclear states. Rather deviously, Kono suggested that Japan might play a bridging role, seeking “common ground” between the camps that would lead to nuclear disarmament and abolition.
Australia, ever willing to deputise for the US in the Asia Pacific, has also shown marked reluctance to stigmatise the nuke. Few can forget its role as foiled spoiler in the UN working group on nuclear disarmament in 2016. Australian diplomats made it clear that they had no interest in seeing any document banning nuclear weapons emerge from what they hoped would be a futile talking shop. The attitudes of Australian officials in the group was exposed in documents obtained under Freedom of Information by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). “So long as the threat of nuclear attack and coercion exists,” states one document from foreign ministry officials, “US extended deterrence will serve Australia’s fundamental national security interests.” Wishing to be the vibrant dissenters at the party, they promised “a strong alternative viewpoint, notably against those states who wish to push a near-term ban treaty.”
During the course of negotiations, Australian officials thought it necessary to remain in “close contact” with Washington “about our shared concerns” on the working group’s disturbing move towards recommending “negotiations on a ‘ban treaty’”. It was good of them, seeing as the United States had boycotted the talks. At stages, concerns were noted about the “humanitarianism” being pursued in the discussions – because you would not want that when discussing weapons of extermination.
In 2017, John Quinn, Australia’s ambassador for Disarmament and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, delivered a classic display of repudiation and approbation on nuclear weapons. There was the mandatory mention: Australia shared “the widespread commitment to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.” But the nuclear weapons prohibition treaty was not the way to go about it. The humanitarian impulses behind the document had deepened division (that word again), “created damaging ambiguities” and creating a rival forum on disarmament. The significance of Australia’s rejection of the treaty – and here, the gloves come off – is that it “seeks to delegitimise extended deterrence. The ban treaty will not advance nuclear disarmament or security.”
This is not a position that shows any sign of altering. “Australia does not support the ‘ban treaty’ which we believe would not eliminate a single nuclear weapon,” states the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Sounding much like Abe, it mocks the document for rejecting “the realities of the global security environment”. The treaty lacks the security assurances found in traditional mechanisms supplied by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and “would be inconsistent with our US alliance obligations.”
It follows that those claiming a normative shift in the ban treaty towards stigmatising the use of such weapons have their work cut out for them. In some cases, the more vigorous opposition has not even come from the expected quarter. Nuclear weapons states have simply refused to abandon their crown jewels, leaving the loudest barking against the ban treaty to their faithful, deluded allies who cling, desperately, to the fable of extended nuclear deterrence.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-08-12--Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham Rearrested Controversial British Aid Worker In Syria’s Greater Idlib

British aid worker Tauqir Sharif has been arrested , once again , by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib , opposition sources reported on August 11 .
Sharif , who is known as “ Abu Hussam al-Birtani , ” was arrested by HTS ’ security forces last June .
The group officials claimed that he was arrested for mismanaging relief funds and for supporting some projects that incited division in Greater Idlib .
On July 15 it was reported that HTS released Sharif on bail .
The terrorist group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing any evidence against him .
After his second arrest , Sharif ’ s wife Raquell Hayden-Best revealed in an interview with the On the Ground News that her husband was tortured by HTS ’ security forces while in custody last June .
According to Raquell , Sharif confronted his torturer while on his way to an HTS court prior to his arrest on August 11 .
The group may have rearrested him because of this confrontation .
Sharif , who was stripped from his British citizenship in 2017 , runs a vast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His alleged support to al-Qaeda ’ s newly-founded Fa Ithbatu Operations Room was likely behind his recent conflict with HTS ’ security forces .
HTS is actively working against Fa Ithbatu and its factions , especially so-called Horas al-Din .
The group sees such factions as a threat to its influence in Greater Idlib .
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British aid worker Tauqir Sharif has been arrested, once again, by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, opposition sources reported on August 11.
Sharif, who is known as “Abu Hussam al-Birtani,” was arrested by HTS’ security forces in June. The group officials claimed that he was arrested for mismanaging relief funds and for supporting some projects that incited division in Greater Idlib.
On July 15, it was reported that HTS released Sharif on bail. The terrorist group faced a backlash for arresting Sharif without providing any evidence against him.
After his second arrest, Sharif’s wife Raquell Hayden-Best revealed in an interview with the On the Ground News that her husband was tortured by HTS’ security forces while he was in custody in June.
According to Raquell, Sharif confronted his torturer while on his way to an HTS court prior to his arrest on August 11. The group may have rearrested him because of this confrontation.
Sharif, who was stripped from his British citizenship in 2017, runs a vast network of organizations in Greater Idlib. His alleged support to al-Qaeda’s newly-founded Fa Ithbatu coalition was likely behind his recent conflict with HTS’ security forces.
HTS is actively working against Fa Ithbatu and its factions, especially Horas al-Din. The group sees such factions as a threat to its influence in Greater Idlib.
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southfront--2020-08-12--Ansar Allah Forces Avdance On Positions Of Saudi-led Forces In Najran, Marib, Bayda (Video, Map)

Click to see the full-size image Ansar Allah ( the Houthis ) has been developing their offensive operations against Saudi-led @ @ @ @ @ along the Yemeni-Saudi border .
The intense fighting has been reported in the provinces of @ @ @ @ @ .
The Ansar Allah media wing also released a video showing the attack on Saudi-led @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC :

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Ansar Allah (the Houthis) has been developing their offensive operations against Saudi-led forces in central Yemen and along the Yemeni-Saudi border. The intense fighting has been reported in the provinces of Narjan, Marib and Bayda. The Ansar Allah media wing also released a video showing the attack on Saudi-led forces in Narjan.
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southfront--2020-08-12--Military Situation In Northwestern Syria On August 12, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in northwestern Syria : • Joint Turkish-Russian @ @ @ @ @ M4 highway ; • Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants ’ @ @ @ @ @ Deir Sonbol ; • SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants ’ positions in the village of @ @ @ @ @ artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants ’ positions in the villages of Nayrab and Majdaliya .
MORE @ @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in northwestern Syria:
Joint Turkish-Russian patrol was held on the M4 highway;
Syrian Arab Army (SAA) artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Deir Sonbol;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Duwair al-Akrad;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the villages of Nayrab and Majdaliya.
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southfront--2020-08-12--Russian, Turksih Forces Resume Joint Patrols In Southern Idlib (Video, Photos)

On August 12 , the Russian Military Police and the Turkish military conducted their 24th joint patrol on the M4 highway in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib .
The joint patrol set off from the town of Tronba in southern Idlib and reached the town of Ain Hawr in northern Lattakia , completing its entire route .
No incidents whatsoever were reported during the patrol .
This was the second joint Russian-Turkish patrol to complete its entire route .
The first patrol to complete the route was the 23th , which took place on July 22 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
Three Russian service members were injured in the attack , that also delayed Russian and Turkish plans to patrol the M4 .
The M4 links the port city of Lattakia with Aleppo city , Syria ’ s industrial hub .
Turkey must make steps to secure the highway under the March 5 agreement with Russia .
Despite many delays , Ankara is honoring this term of the agreement .
While the work to secure the M4 highway is going as planned , tensions are mounting in Greater Idlib .
The remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more hostile .
Turkey is encouraging the terrorists by deploying more and more troops in the region .
Ankara ’ s forces are even attacking Syrian government troops on a regular basis .
This could soon lead to a new escalation .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Syria To Build Replica Of Hagia Sophia Church In Hama , With Russian Funding

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On August 12, the Russian Military Police and the Turkish military conducted their 24th joint patrol on the M4 highway in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
The joint patrol set off from the town of Tronba in southern Idlib and reached the town of Ain Hawr in northern Lattakia, completing its entire route. No incidents whatsoever were reported during the patrol.
Türkiye-Rusya Federasyonu Mutabakatı çerçevesinde; İdlib’teki M4 Karayolunda belirlenen Trumbah-Ayn Al Havr güzergâhının tamamında, kara ve hava unsurlarının katılımıyla 24’üncü Türk-Rus Birleşik Kara Devriyesi icra edilmiştir.#MSB #TSK pic.twitter.com/68iyeHP51d — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) August 12, 2020
This was the second joint Russian-Turkish patrol to complete its entire route. The first patrol to complete the route was the 23th, which took place on July 22.
A suicide bombing targeted the 21th patrol in July. Three Russian service members were injured in the attack, that also delayed Russian and Turkish plans to patrol the M4.
The M4 links the port city of Lattakia with Aleppo city, Syria’s industrial hub. Turkey must make steps to secure the highway under the March 5 agreement with Russia. Despite many delays, Ankara is honoring this term of the agreement.
While the work to secure the M4 highway is going as planned, tensions are mounting in Greater Idlib. The remaining terrorists in the region have been becoming more hostile. Turkey is encouraging the terrorists by deploying more and more troops in the region. Ankara’s forces are even attacking Syrian government troops on a regular basis. This could soon lead to a new escalation.
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southfront--2020-08-12--Belarus Protests’ Main Propaganda Channel Operated Out Of Poland

The Belarus protests are happening with full force , and it is interesting to look into how exactly information between protesters is being transmitted .
One of the main channels is Nexta Live , a Telegram channel , operated by Roman Protasevich and Stepan Putil ( or as he presents himself in social media as Svetlov ) , both of whom live in Warsaw , Poland , but somehow coordinate the Belarusian opposition .
The Telegram channel is growing exponentially .
On August 10th it had approximately 980,000 subscribers , as of midday on August 12th , it sits at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be escalating during the protests , and no clear leadership appears to be present , at least not physically .
The main platform for communication amongst President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s opponents is the Telegram messenger .
Opposition public channels announce the action plans of the protesters .
It also gives advice on what to do at a particular moment of riots , where to run , where to gather .
In addition , the channels perform a propaganda function – they constantly talk about the atrocities of the authorities , illustrating this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last night it was they who threw in information about the appearance of “ Russian special forces ” on the streets of Minsk .
On top of this , apart from the two main figures , every other post is entirely anonymous .
That is , they are not conducted on behalf of specific people or political forces .
This is a significant difference from the Maidan in Ukraine , during which specific journalists , bloggers , public figures , politicians presented themselves and spoke on their own behalf and pursued their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely anonymous group is pursuing somewhat unclear interests .
As mentioned above , the main supplier of news from the streets of Minsk and other cities of Belarus is the Nexta Live channel .
It has a sister channel – called only “ Nexta ” with approximately 500,000 subscribers .
Both sites mainly forward messages to each other .
But the basic one is the channel with the Live prefix in the name .
The most popular propaganda videos with alleged scenes from the protests appear there .
And most importantly , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are published – at what time and where to gather for a rally , when to start a strike , and so on .
Round the clock , and especially during nighttime opposition rallies , this public is updated at a rate of several messages per minute .
Most of which are exclusive videos and photos directly from the hotbeds of protests .
In addition to the video , the channel is constantly coordinating the actions of the protesters .
They are informed of the movements of the riot police , and sympathizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another function of the channel are is its constant calls for citizens to go out and encouraging attacks on police officers .
On the very first day of the protests , Nexta was marked with a joyful message “ People are beating the riot police ” , in which law enforcement officers are , as it were , not people .
The vocabulary in relation to the police incites the maximum hatred – “ fascists ” , “ bastards ” , “ Lukashist scum ” , “ bandits in black ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , the authors of the messages simultaneously call on law enforcement officers “ to be with the people ” , and participants in the actions – to burn the police and riot policemen .
The leaders , as mentioned above are Roman Protasevich , who can be seen below , and Stepan Putila .
Roman , thanks to the success of the Telegram channel , has become the hero of numerous interviews in recent days .
In them , he says that content for publications is supplied by caring Belarusians , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find the Internet through VPN services .
The other co-founder of the Nexta channel is another oppositional Belarusian journalist , Stepan Putila .
A YouTube channel with the same name and logo , created back in 2015 , is registered to him .
Putila worked for the Polish-Belarusian channel Belsat ( , which is based in Warsaw and is funded by the Polish Foreign Ministry .
This , in itself , is more than enough to show that the protesters aren ’ t led by “ the hand of the Kremlin ” or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PMC , as Lukashenko attempted to present it , initially .
At the same time , Lukashenko probably understood who was actually behind the organization of the protest actions , but they deliberately untwisted the “ Russian trail ” , apparently trying to enlist the support of the West and avoid its sanctions after the elections .
The US and the EU have already condemned what is happening in Belarus and are discussing the introduction of sanctions .
This is further worsened by the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin had the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election victory .
Now , Lukashenko turned 180 degrees and began proclaiming that the protests are being organized by Poland , the Czech Republic and the UK .
These fluctuations in the narrative in Belarus caused confusion amongst those who voted for Lukashenko and who are oriented towards Russia , since Russian media covered the protests , and how Russian journalists were being detained .
Against this background , the pro-Western propaganda channels in Belarus , such as Nexta are gaining popularity and momentum and appear to be the only media platforms that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The Saker : “ Putin And Russia Are Facing A Very Serious Crisis In Belarus ” • Crisis In Belarus As Sign Of Global Division • Crisis In Belarus : Democratic Neo-Nazis Against Last Emperor Of Europe • Belarus Opposition Leader Flees The Country , US And EU Express Doubt In Election Process

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The Belarus protests are happening with full force, and it is interesting to look into how exactly information between protesters is being transmitted.
One of the main channels is Nexta Live, a Telegram channel, operated by Roman Protasevich and Stepan Putil (or as he presents himself in social media as Svetlov), both of whom live in Warsaw, Poland, but somehow coordinate the Belarusian opposition.
The Telegram channel is growing exponentially. On August 10th it had approximately 980,000 subscribers, as of midday on August 12th, it sits at 1.4 million.
The violence appears to be escalating during the protests, and no clear leadership appears to be present, at least not physically.
The main platform for communication amongst President Alexander Lukashenko’s opponents is the Telegram messenger. Opposition public channels announce the action plans of the protesters. It also gives advice on what to do at a particular moment of riots, where to run, where to gather.
In addition, the channels perform a propaganda function – they constantly talk about the atrocities of the authorities, illustrating this with vivid videos and photos. And last night it was they who threw in information about the appearance of “Russian special forces” on the streets of Minsk.
On top of this, apart from the two main figures, every other post is entirely anonymous.
That is, they are not conducted on behalf of specific people or political forces. This is a significant difference from the Maidan in Ukraine, during which specific journalists, bloggers, public figures, politicians presented themselves and spoke on their own behalf and pursued their own interests. In this situation, a largely anonymous group is pursuing somewhat unclear interests.
As mentioned above, the main supplier of news from the streets of Minsk and other cities of Belarus is the Nexta Live channel.
It has a sister channel – called only “Nexta” with approximately 500,000 subscribers. Both sites mainly forward messages to each other. But the basic one is the channel with the Live prefix in the name. The most popular propaganda videos with alleged scenes from the protests appear there.
And most importantly, it is there that plans for a protest are published – at what time and where to gather for a rally, when to start a strike, and so on.
Round the clock, and especially during nighttime opposition rallies, this public is updated at a rate of several messages per minute. Most of which are exclusive videos and photos directly from the hotbeds of protests.
In addition to the video, the channel is constantly coordinating the actions of the protesters. They are informed of the movements of the riot police, and sympathizers are told how to shelter the protesters.
Another function of the channel are is its constant calls for citizens to go out and encouraging attacks on police officers.
On the very first day of the protests, Nexta was marked with a joyful message “People are beating the riot police”, in which law enforcement officers are, as it were, not people.
The vocabulary in relation to the police incites the maximum hatred – “fascists”, “bastards”, “Lukashist scum”, “bandits in black”, “punishers”. At the same time, the authors of the messages simultaneously call on law enforcement officers “to be with the people”, and participants in the actions – to burn the police and riot policemen.
The leaders, as mentioned above are Roman Protasevich, who can be seen below, and Stepan Putila.
Roman, thanks to the success of the Telegram channel, has become the hero of numerous interviews in recent days. In them, he says that content for publications is supplied by caring Belarusians, and in conditions of complete blackout they somehow find the Internet through VPN services.
The other co-founder of the Nexta channel is another oppositional Belarusian journalist, Stepan Putila. A YouTube channel with the same name and logo, created back in 2015, is registered to him.
Putila worked for the Polish-Belarusian channel Belsat (, which is based in Warsaw and is funded by the Polish Foreign Ministry.
“Formally, the creation of the TV channel was the result of an agreement signed in 2007 between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Polish TV. The agreement provides for long-term cooperation and financing of the Belsat TV channel,” the channel’s website says.
This, in itself, is more than enough to show that the protesters aren’t led by “the hand of the Kremlin” or by supposed mercenaries from the mythical Wagner PMC, as Lukashenko attempted to present it, initially.
At the same time, Lukashenko probably understood who was actually behind the organization of the protest actions, but they deliberately untwisted the “Russian trail”, apparently trying to enlist the support of the West and avoid its sanctions after the elections.
His plan evidently failed.
The US and the EU have already condemned what is happening in Belarus and are discussing the introduction of sanctions. This is further worsened by the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin had the “audacity” of congratulating Lukashenko on his election victory.
Now, Lukashenko turned 180 degrees and began proclaiming that the protests are being organized by Poland, the Czech Republic and the UK.
These fluctuations in the narrative in Belarus caused confusion amongst those who voted for Lukashenko and who are oriented towards Russia, since Russian media covered the protests, and how Russian journalists were being detained.
Against this background, the pro-Western propaganda channels in Belarus, such as Nexta are gaining popularity and momentum and appear to be the only media platforms that have any traction as of now.
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southfront--2020-08-12--The Winds Of Populism Are Blowing: Kamala Harris Announced As Biden’s Vice President Nominee

On August 11th , US presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his vice president nominee – California Senator Kamala Harris .
She is the third female nominee ever for a major party in the US , following Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin .
Initially , Harris attempted to run for president , announcing her candidacy in January 2019 , but in December 2019 she announced that she would give up , as she lacked enough funds .
After Biden and Harris launched their campaigns , in May 2019 , senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus said that a Biden-Harris ticket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump and Mike Pence .
On April 17 , 2020 , Harris responded to media speculation and said that she “ would be honored ” to be Biden ’ s running mate .
In late May , in relation to the death of George Floyd in an incident of police brutality and ensuing protests and demonstrations , Biden faced renewed calls to select a black woman to be his running mate , highlighting the law enforcement credentials of Harris and Val Demings .
On June 12 , The New York Times reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be Biden ’ s running mate , as she is the only African American woman with the political experience typical of vice presidents .
On June 26 , CNN reported that more than a dozen people close to the Biden search process considered Harris one of Biden ’ s top four contenders , along with Elizabeth Warren , Val Demings , and Keisha Lance Bottoms .
She is the first African-American woman and the first South Asian woman to be picked as the vice-presidential running mate by the presumptive presidential nominee for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she is the first Democratic presumptive running mate from a state west of the Rocky Mountains ( since Barack Obama was from Hawaii ) .
Kamala Harris is exactly what the current narrative needs , she is an avid social justice warrior , fighting for law enforcement accountability , absolving police killers .
She is also known as somebody who defends LGBTQ rights , but it would be more correct to say she simply doesn ’ t oppose them , since what ’ s generally done in her work as Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not provide any significant support , but also no significant opposition .
And as media presented it prior to her being announced , and the vetting process – more than anything the VP candidate needed to be a woman , if possible , a black woman , and the more dissatisfied she appears with law enforcement – the better .
That is how votes are currently won – with populism , since she has some typical political experience , and it is questionable if its enough , but she fits the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Democratic party .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Joe Biden Promises $ 150 Billion Bribe To Communities Of Color For His Election

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On August 11th, US presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his vice president nominee – California Senator Kamala Harris.
She is the third female nominee ever for a major party in the US, following Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin.
“I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” Biden tweeted.
Back when Kamala was Attorney General, she worked closely with Beau. I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I'm proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) August 11, 2020
Initially, Harris attempted to run for president, announcing her candidacy in January 2019, but in December 2019 she announced that she would give up, as she lacked enough funds.
After Biden and Harris launched their campaigns, in May 2019, senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus said that a Biden-Harris ticket would be an ideal combination to defeat Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
On April 17, 2020, Harris responded to media speculation and said that she “would be honored” to be Biden’s running mate. In late May, in relation to the death of George Floyd in an incident of police brutality and ensuing protests and demonstrations, Biden faced renewed calls to select a black woman to be his running mate, highlighting the law enforcement credentials of Harris and Val Demings.
On June 12, The New York Times reported that Harris was emerging as the frontrunner to be Biden’s running mate, as she is the only African American woman with the political experience typical of vice presidents.
On June 26, CNN reported that more than a dozen people close to the Biden search process considered Harris one of Biden’s top four contenders, along with Elizabeth Warren, Val Demings, and Keisha Lance Bottoms.
She is the first African-American woman and the first South Asian woman to be picked as the vice-presidential running mate by the presumptive presidential nominee for a major party ticket; in addition, she is the first Democratic presumptive running mate from a state west of the Rocky Mountains (since Barack Obama was from Hawaii).
That’s a lot of firsts.
Kamala Harris is exactly what the current narrative needs, she is an avid social justice warrior, fighting for law enforcement accountability, absolving police killers.
She is also known as somebody who defends LGBTQ rights, but it would be more correct to say she simply doesn’t oppose them, since what’s generally done in her work as Attorney General of California is to avoid the matter, and not provide any significant support, but also no significant opposition.
And as media presented it prior to her being announced, and the vetting process – more than anything the VP candidate needed to be a woman, if possible, a black woman, and the more dissatisfied she appears with law enforcement – the better.
That is how votes are currently won – with populism, since she has some typical political experience, and it is questionable if its enough, but she fits the demographic required by the current supporter group of the Democratic party.
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southfront--2020-08-12--Turkish Drone Strike Killed Two Iraqi Border Guard Commanders In Northern Iraq

On August 11th , a Turkish drone strike on a military vehicle north of Erbil resulted in the death of two Iraqi border guard battalion commanders and their driver , the Iraqi military said .
Ihsan Chalabi , mayor of Sidakan said that the two slain officers were Zubair Hali Bradosti and Mohammed Rashid Sulaiman , both Kurds .
The Iraqi Security Media Cell later confirmed the strike , attributing it to Turkey .
The body ’ s tweet clarified that the two border officials , as well as a driver were killed in a military vehicle .
The strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) members opened fire on Iraqi border guards earlier on August 11th .
Iraqi border guards have established a number of new bases for its border force bases on the Kurdistan Region-Turkey border in past months currently heightened PKK-Turkey conflict into towns and villages .
Turkey began air and ground military operations – Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger – in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq ’ s disputed territories in mid-June , with the stated aim of removing suspected PKK targets from the area .
Seven civilians have been killed in the operations .
Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the PKK within Iraq ’ s borders for years , accusing the federal Iraqi government and Kurdistan Regional Government of failing to take measures against the group .
The deaths announced by the military marked the first time members of the regular Iraqi forces have been killed since Turkey began its operations .
The Iraqi foreign ministry has summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad twice , but this has failed to de-escalate the tensions or halt Turkey ’ s offensive .
Turkey has defended its operations in northern Iraq , saying neither the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraqi Kurdish administration have acted to remove PKK fighters who allegedly use Iraq ’ s territory to stage attacks on Turkey .
Witnesses had reported clashes earlier in the day , as mentioned above , between PKK and Iraqi forces , and local sources told AFP the drone strike targeted an emergency meeting called to try to calm the tensions .
The Iraqi presidency earlier denounced “ a dangerous violation of Iraqi sovereignty ” and called on Ankara to “ stop all its military operations ” in the region .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not Far From Iraqi Border , All 7 On Board Dead

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On August 11th, a Turkish drone strike on a military vehicle north of Erbil resulted in the death of two Iraqi border guard battalion commanders and their driver, the Iraqi military said.
Ihsan Chalabi, mayor of Sidakan said that the two slain officers were Zubair Hali Bradosti and Mohammed Rashid Sulaiman, both Kurds.
اعتداء تركي سافر مِن خلال طائرة مسيرة استهدفت عجلة عسكرية لحرس الحدود في منطقة سيدكان وتسببت في استشهاد آمر اللواء الثاني حرس حدود المنطقة الاولى وامر الفوج الثالت / اللواء الثاني وسائق العجلة .
والتفاصيل لاحقا — خلية الإعلام الأمني?? (@SecMedCell) August 11, 2020
The Iraqi Security Media Cell later confirmed the strike, attributing it to Turkey. The body’s tweet clarified that the two border officials, as well as a driver were killed in a military vehicle.
The strike came after Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members opened fire on Iraqi border guards earlier on August 11th.
“Last night, a number of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters neared the Border Guards’ berms in the vicinity of the Sidakan sub-district resulting in a quarrel at first and later some bullets were fired, resulting in no casualties,” Maj. Gen. Hemad Dizayee, commander of the Border Guards Command said.
Iraqi border guards have established a number of new bases for its border force bases on the Kurdistan Region-Turkey border in past months currently heightened PKK-Turkey conflict into towns and villages.
Turkey began air and ground military operations – Claw-Eagle and Claw-Tiger – in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s disputed territories in mid-June, with the stated aim of removing suspected PKK targets from the area. Seven civilians have been killed in the operations.
Turkey has conducted airstrikes and ground operations against the PKK within Iraq’s borders for years, accusing the federal Iraqi government and Kurdistan Regional Government of failing to take measures against the group.
The deaths announced by the military marked the first time members of the regular Iraqi forces have been killed since Turkey began its operations.
The Iraqi foreign ministry has summoned the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad twice, but this has failed to de-escalate the tensions or halt Turkey’s offensive. Turkey has defended its operations in northern Iraq, saying neither the central government in Baghdad nor the regional Iraqi Kurdish administration have acted to remove PKK fighters who allegedly use Iraq’s territory to stage attacks on Turkey.
Witnesses had reported clashes earlier in the day, as mentioned above, between PKK and Iraqi forces, and local sources told AFP the drone strike targeted an emergency meeting called to try to calm the tensions.
The Iraqi presidency earlier denounced “a dangerous violation of Iraqi sovereignty” and called on Ankara to “stop all its military operations” in the region.
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southfront--2020-08-12--6 French Humanitarian Workers Killed In Militant Attack In Niger

On August 9th , gunmen killed 8 people in an attack in a wildlife park in Niger .
Out of those 8 , 6 were French humanitarian workers from the non-governmental organization “ Agence d ’ Aide à la Coopération Technique Et au Développement ” ( ACTED ) .
The other two are the guide and driver .
The group was attacked in a giraffe reserve near Koure , a town about 65km from the capital , Niamey .
There was no immediate claim of responsibility .
The six worked for an international aid group , Niger ’ s Defence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an aid group , confirmed its staff members were targeted in the attack .
In a statement , the Association of Koure Giraffe Reserve Guides described the attackers as a “ unit of terrorists ” and said the dead included its president , Kadri Abdou .
French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s office earlier confirmed French nationals had been killed in Niger , without providing any additional details .
It said Macron spoke on the phone with Niger ’ s President Mahamadou Issoufou .
Photographs and videos were also released showing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the corpses of some of the victims , and burned out remains of a car .
A source close to the environmental services said the assault took place at around 11:30 am local time , east of the town of Koure , which is an hour ’ s drive from the capital Niamey .
“ Most of the victims were shot… We found a magazine emptied of its cartridges at the scene , ” the source told AFP .
“ We do not know the identity of the attackers but they came on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arrival of the tourists.
” Around 20 years ago , a small herd of West African giraffes , a subspecies distinguished by its lighter colour , found a safe haven from poachers and predators in the Koure area .
The giraffes now number in the hundreds and are a big tourist attraction .
Still , the Tillaberi region is in a hugely unstable location , near the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso .
The region has become a hideout for Sahel jihadist groups such as the Islamic State in the Greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The use of motorcycles has been totally banned since January in an attempt to curb the movements of such jihadists .
Any activities against the terrorists have proven ineffective , since their attacks continue being increasingly deadly .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Group Of Five For The Sahel Joint Force • Boko Haram Militants Killed 16 In Refugee Camp In Cameroon By Throwing Grenade In Sleeping Group

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On August 9th, gunmen killed 8 people in an attack in a wildlife park in Niger.
Out of those 8, 6 were French humanitarian workers from the non-governmental organization “Agence d’Aide à la Coopération Technique Et au Développement” (ACTED).
The other two are the guide and driver.
The group was attacked in a giraffe reserve near Koure, a town about 65km from the capital, Niamey. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
“They were intercepted and killed,” Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella, the governor of Tillaberi region said. “We are managing the situation, we will give more information later,” Katiella said, without indicating who was behind the attack.
The six worked for an international aid group, Niger’s Defence Minister Issoufou Katambe told Reuters. ACTED, an aid group, confirmed its staff members were targeted in the attack.
In a statement, the Association of Koure Giraffe Reserve Guides described the attackers as a “unit of terrorists” and said the dead included its president, Kadri Abdou.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office earlier confirmed French nationals had been killed in Niger, without providing any additional details. It said Macron spoke on the phone with Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou.
Photographs and videos were also released showing the location where the attack happened, including the corpses of some of the victims, and burned out remains of a car.
A source close to the environmental services said the assault took place at around 11:30 am local time, east of the town of Koure, which is an hour’s drive from the capital Niamey.
“Most of the victims were shot… We found a magazine emptied of its cartridges at the scene,” the source told AFP. “We do not know the identity of the attackers but they came on motorcycles through the bush and waited for the arrival of the tourists.”
Around 20 years ago, a small herd of West African giraffes, a subspecies distinguished by its lighter colour, found a safe haven from poachers and predators in the Koure area. The giraffes now number in the hundreds and are a big tourist attraction.
Still, the Tillaberi region is in a hugely unstable location, near the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso.
The region has become a hideout for Sahel jihadist groups such as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) and Boko Haram.
The use of motorcycles has been totally banned since January in an attempt to curb the movements of such jihadists.
Any activities against the terrorists have proven ineffective, since their attacks continue being increasingly deadly.
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southfront--2020-08-12--Russia Registered Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine, Says It Already Has 1 Billion Worldwide Orders

On August 11th , a conference took placededicated to the registration of the first Russian vaccine against coronavirus , Sputnik V. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the registration of the first vaccine .
It is due to enter mass production soon , and will be available to the general public from January 2021 .
Despite being registered , the vaccine will still go through more clinical trials in Russia and the Middle East .
Director General of the Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) Kirill Dmitriev said that the fund had already received requests for 1 billion doses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , in particular , negotiations are underway in the markets of Latin America , the Middle East and Asia .
The vaccine was developed by the Russian National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology ( NF Gamaleya NITsEM ) .
In addition to NITsEM itself , the pharmaceutical plant Binnopharm , which is part of AFK Sistema , will also produce the product .
Gamaleya has developed vaccines before , and Mikhail Murashko , the Russian minister of health , said in a government press release that the COVID-19 vaccine showed “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were no serious side effects .
The same release suggested the vaccine would confer 2 years of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 .
That estimate is apparently based on vaccines Gamaleya has made with similar technology .
There is still very limited information regarding the vaccine .
The registration certificate can openly be seen .
According to it , Binnopharm in Zelenograd produces it .
The vaccine consists of two shots that use different versions of adenoviruses , some of which cause the common cold , that Gamaleya researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the surface protein , or spike , of SARS-CoV-2 .
Apparently , the studies are comparing a single shot of adenovirus 26 with the spike gene to a scheme , known as prime-boost , that also gives a second dose 21 days later of a vaccine that contains the spike gene in adenovirus 5 .
As expected , some vaccine experts have raised concerns about COVID-19 vaccines that use adenovirus 5 in this way .
In 2007 , researchers stopped an HIV vaccine trial that used adenovirus 5 to shuttle in the gene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after they found that it increased the likelihood of its transmission .
In 2017 , Gamelaya received approval in Russia for a vaccine that also used the adenovirus 5 vector to deliver the surface protein gene from the virus that causes Ebola .
Researchers there used a similar strategy for a vaccine for Middle East respiratory syndrome , a disease caused by a coronavirus like the one responsible for COVID-19 .
It is still under development and has entered early stage clinical trials .
Regardless , clinical trials of Sputnik V began in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Burdenko Military Hospital in Moscow , 38 volunteers took part in each of them .
In the third phase of the clinical study , according to the Ministry of Health , 2 thousand people will take part .
According to the head of the RDIF , the third phase of clinical trials of the Russian vaccine will also take place abroad .
The Fund has reached agreements on this with partners from the UAE , Saudi Arabia and several other countries .
A website for Sputnik V says a phase III efficacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin on 12 August in Russia , the United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Brazil , and Mexico .
Mass production of the vaccine is slated to begin in September .
The vaccine production is financed by RDIF in cooperation with its portfolio companies Alium and R-Pharm , as well as with strategic partners – international pharmaceutical companies ( which are not specified ) , the volume of investments amounted to 4 billion rubles ( $ 54.6 million ) .
MSM are losing no time in attempting to discredit the vaccine immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Guardian “ the only discernible difference between Russia ’ s vaccine and others is that this one has skipped most of the testing phases.
” It describes , in brief , how the usual four-stage trials go for medication and that Russia has essentially rushed through the first two and the third is yet to happen , the fourth , apparently is less important .
“ This is why we do these studies .
It ’ s not for fun , it ’ s because sometimes things that look really good early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Which brings us back to Russia .
While phase one and two trials of the vaccine have been pre-registered , they are reportedly ongoing and have not yet posted any results .
There is no evidence a phase three trial has even been started , never mind completed .
This leaves us with the obvious conclusion : no one really knows if this vaccine actually works .
Phase one and two trials can inform this question , but because they only measure antibody titers or another surrogate outcome they can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease it ’ s meant to stop .
By all accounts , people inoculated with the Russian vaccine do have antibodies , but these may not last , may not provide enough protection , or may fail for another reason because the immune system is fiendishly complex .
We just don ’ t know.
” Similar articles came from Science Magazine , and also CNN , and other MSM outlets , which all share the same concern – whether it is tested enough and whether it will really be effective .
MORE ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industrial Production Of COVID-19 Vaccine In September 2020 , Mass Production By 2021 • “ Putin Hacked Our Coronavirus Vaccine ” Is The Dumbest Story Yet

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On August 11th, a conference took placededicated to the registration of the first Russian vaccine against coronavirus, Sputnik V.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the registration of the first vaccine. It is due to enter mass production soon, and will be available to the general public from January 2021. Despite being registered, the vaccine will still go through more clinical trials in Russia and the Middle East.
Director General of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Kirill Dmitriev said that the fund had already received requests for 1 billion doses of the vaccine.
They came from 20 countries, in particular, negotiations are underway in the markets of Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.
The vaccine was developed by the Russian National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology (NF Gamaleya NITsEM). In addition to NITsEM itself, the pharmaceutical plant Binnopharm, which is part of AFK Sistema, will also produce the product.
Gamaleya has developed vaccines before, and Mikhail Murashko, the Russian minister of health, said in a government press release that the COVID-19 vaccine showed “high efficacy and safety” and there were no serious side effects. The same release suggested the vaccine would confer 2 years of immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. That estimate is apparently based on vaccines Gamaleya has made with similar technology.
There is still very limited information regarding the vaccine.
The registration certificate can openly be seen.
According to it, Binnopharm in Zelenograd produces it.
The vaccine consists of two shots that use different versions of adenoviruses, some of which cause the common cold, that Gamaleya researchers have engineered to carry the gene for the surface protein, or spike, of SARS-CoV-2. Apparently, the studies are comparing a single shot of adenovirus 26 with the spike gene to a scheme, known as prime-boost, that also gives a second dose 21 days later of a vaccine that contains the spike gene in adenovirus 5.
As expected, some vaccine experts have raised concerns about COVID-19 vaccines that use adenovirus 5 in this way. In 2007, researchers stopped an HIV vaccine trial that used adenovirus 5 to shuttle in the gene for the surface protein of that virus after they found that it increased the likelihood of its transmission.
In 2017, Gamelaya received approval in Russia for a vaccine that also used the adenovirus 5 vector to deliver the surface protein gene from the virus that causes Ebola. Researchers there used a similar strategy for a vaccine for Middle East respiratory syndrome, a disease caused by a coronavirus like the one responsible for COVID-19. It is still under development and has entered early stage clinical trials.
Regardless, clinical trials of Sputnik V began in June 2020 at the Sechenov University and the Burdenko Military Hospital in Moscow, 38 volunteers took part in each of them. In the third phase of the clinical study, according to the Ministry of Health, 2 thousand people will take part.
According to the head of the RDIF, the third phase of clinical trials of the Russian vaccine will also take place abroad. The Fund has reached agreements on this with partners from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and several other countries.
A website for Sputnik V says a phase III efficacy trial involving more than 2000 people will begin on 12 August in Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Mexico. Mass production of the vaccine is slated to begin in September.
The vaccine production is financed by RDIF in cooperation with its portfolio companies Alium and R-Pharm, as well as with strategic partners – international pharmaceutical companies (which are not specified), the volume of investments amounted to 4 billion rubles ($54.6 million).
MSM are losing no time in attempting to discredit the vaccine immediately after it was registered.
According to the Guardian “the only discernible difference between Russia’s vaccine and others is that this one has skipped most of the testing phases.”
It describes, in brief, how the usual four-stage trials go for medication and that Russia has essentially rushed through the first two and the third is yet to happen, the fourth, apparently is less important.
“This is why we do these studies. It’s not for fun, it’s because sometimes things that look really good early on turn out to be pretty useless. Which brings us back to Russia. While phase one and two trials of the vaccine have been pre-registered, they are reportedly ongoing and have not yet posted any results. There is no evidence a phase three trial has even been started, never mind completed. This leaves us with the obvious conclusion: no one really knows if this vaccine actually works. Phase one and two trials can inform this question, but because they only measure antibody titers or another surrogate outcome they can’t tell us whether the vaccine prevents the disease it’s meant to stop. By all accounts, people inoculated with the Russian vaccine do have antibodies, but these may not last, may not provide enough protection, or may fail for another reason because the immune system is fiendishly complex. We just don’t know.”
Similar articles came from Science Magazine, and also CNN, and other MSM outlets, which all share the same concern – whether it is tested enough and whether it will really be effective.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront