tass--2020-09-07--Japan cancels up to 600 flights over typhoon Haishen

TOKYO , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
Up to 600 air flights were cancelled in Japan starting on Sunday after @ @ @ @ @ parts of the country , Japan ’ s NHK television channel reported .
`` Airline @ @ @ @ @ for Sunday , mostly to and from the southern parts of Kyushu and Okinawa , @ @ @ @ @ `` They include 158 flights of All Nippon Airways and 136 of Japan Airlines .
@ @ @ @ @ citing airline operators that `` more cancellations or delays will be likely through Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ channel , 36 people were injured and 440,000 households were left without power supplies .
@ @ @ @ @ Japan to the Korean Peninsula at a speed of approximately 40 kilometers per hour ( @ @ @ @ @ .
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an extraordinary session of the government officials on @ @ @ @ @ to their all possible means to safeguard all citizens in areas , which may be @ @ @ @ @

TOKYO, September 7. /TASS/. Up to 600 air flights were cancelled in Japan starting on Sunday after typhoon Haishen approached the southwestern parts of the country, Japan’s NHK television channel reported.
"Airline companies have canceled 528 flights for Sunday, mostly to and from the southern parts of Kyushu and Okinawa," the broadcaster reported. "They include 158 flights of All Nippon Airways and 136 of Japan Airlines."
NHK TV also reported citing airline operators that "more cancellations or delays will be likely through Monday."
According to the television channel, 36 people were injured and 440,000 households were left without power supplies.
Typhoon Haishen currently moves from Japan to the Korean Peninsula at a speed of approximately 40 kilometers per hour (24.9 miles per hour).
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convened an extraordinary session of the government officials on Sunday tasking them to resort to their all possible means to safeguard all citizens in areas, which may be hit by the disaster.


tass--2020-09-07--Russia-China trade down by 3.2% in January-August

BEIJING , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
A volume of trade between Russia and China in January and August this @ @ @ @ @ against the same period last year , reaching a figure of $ 68.62 billion , @ @ @ @ @ Chinese Customs Service reported .
According to data from the Chinese Customs Service , the @ @ @ @ @ and services declined by 0.8 % , totaling $ 31.09 billion , while the import @ @ @ @ @ to China declined by 5.2 % reaching the figure of $ 37.53 billion .
A @ @ @ @ @ and the United States in the period between January and August this year decreased by @ @ @ @ @ period of the previous year , reaching the figure of $ 344.43 billion .
According @ @ @ @ @ Customs Service , the import volume of US goods and services declined by 2.9 % @ @ @ @ @ totaling $ 78.24 billion , while the Chinese export had dropped by 3.6 % hitting @ @ @ @ @ billion .

BEIJING, September 7. /TASS/. A volume of trade between Russia and China in January and August this year decreased by 3.2% against the same period last year, reaching a figure of $68.62 billion, the press service of the Chinese Customs Service reported.
According to data from the Chinese Customs Service, the export volume of Russian goods and services declined by 0.8%, totaling $31.09 billion, while the import of Russian goods and services to China declined by 5.2% reaching the figure of $37.53 billion.
A volume of trade between China and the United States in the period between January and August this year decreased by 3.5% against the same period of the previous year, reaching the figure of $344.43 billion.
According to data from the Chinese Customs Service, the import volume of US goods and services declined by 2.9% within the stated period, totaling $78.24 billion, while the Chinese export had dropped by 3.6% hitting the figure of $266.06 billion.


tass--2020-09-07--Worldwide COVID-19 cases exceed 27 million

TASS , September 7 .
A number of the confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide exceeded on Monday the figure of 27 million , according to data from the Johns Hopkins University , which relies on the data of international organizations , federal and local authorities .
The US-based research university reports that as of today the global number of people infected with the novel coronavirus stands at 27,002,224 , while the rate of fatalities reached 882,053 .
Over 18,054,580 have been reported to recover from the disease , according Johns Hopkins University , which added that the United States is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus cases .
The university data also shows that the currently top-three countries , following the United States in terms of the confirmed COVID-19 figures , are Brazil ( 4,137,521 cases ) and India ( 4,113,811 ) .
In late December 2019 , Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization ( WHO ) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan , in central China .
Since then , cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On March 11 , 2020 , the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic .

TASS, September 7. A number of the confirmed novel coronavirus cases worldwide exceeded on Monday the figure of 27 million, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University, which relies on the data of international organizations, federal and local authorities.
The US-based research university reports that as of today the global number of people infected with the novel coronavirus stands at 27,002,224, while the rate of fatalities reached 882,053.
Over 18,054,580 have been reported to recover from the disease, according Johns Hopkins University, which added that the United States is the leading country in terms of confirmed novel coronavirus cases.
The university data also shows that the currently top-three countries, following the United States in terms of the confirmed COVID-19 figures, are Brazil (4,137,521 cases) and India (4,113,811).
In late December 2019, Chinese officials informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the outbreak of a previously unknown pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, in central China. Since then, cases of the novel coronavirus - named COVID-19 by the WHO - have been reported in every corner of the globe, including Russia. On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.


tass--2020-09-07--Japanese meteorologists report 5.2 magnitude quake east of Honshu; no tsunami threat

TOKYO , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was reported to hit the eastern part of the @ @ @ @ @ Japan on early Monday , the Japanese Meteorological Agency reported , adding that no tsunami @ @ @ @ @ epicenter of the reported seismic incident was registered near the Ibaraki Prefecture , which neighbors @ @ @ @ @ capital of Tokyo , and was booked at the depth of 20 kilometers under the @ @ @ @ @ There have been no reports about casualties or injuries , while local residents in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ Miaygi and Fukushima Prefectures said earlier they experienced tremors , caused by the reported earthquake @

TOKYO, September 7. /TASS/. A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was reported to hit the eastern part of the main island of Honshu in Japan on early Monday, the Japanese Meteorological Agency reported, adding that no tsunami threat was announced.
The epicenter of the reported seismic incident was registered near the Ibaraki Prefecture, which neighbors on the country’s capital of Tokyo, and was booked at the depth of 20 kilometers under the bed of the ocean.
There have been no reports about casualties or injuries, while local residents in Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Miaygi and Fukushima Prefectures said earlier they experienced tremors, caused by the reported earthquake.


tass--2020-09-07--Russian military inspectors to hold observation flight over the Czech Republic this week

MOSCOW , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
A group of Russian military inspectors will carry out this week an observation flight over the territory of the Czech Republic within the frames of the international Open Skies Treaty , according to a Russian senior military official .
`` The observation flight over the territory of the Czech Republic will be held between September 7 and 11 with the aircraft taking off from Pardubice Airport , '' Sergey Ryzhkov , the head of the Russian Defense Ministry ’ s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center , stated .
`` An approximate range of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kilometers [ over 497 miles ] , '' Ryzhkov added .
The observation flight is carried out with the use of an An-30B aircraft , which will be strictly following an earlier approved route , Ryzhkov stated .
Military experts from the Czech Republic will be present on board of the plane supervising the use of the surveillance equipment and observation of the Treaty provisions .
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 in Helsinki by 23 member-nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ( OSCE ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are to build transparency , render assistance in monitoring compliance with existing or future arms control agreements , broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations .
The accord establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants .
Now , the treaty has more than 30 signatory states .
Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26 , 2001 .

MOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. A group of Russian military inspectors will carry out this week an observation flight over the territory of the Czech Republic within the frames of the international Open Skies Treaty, according to a Russian senior military official.
"The observation flight over the territory of the Czech Republic will be held between September 7 and 11 with the aircraft taking off from Pardubice Airport," Sergey Ryzhkov, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, stated.
"An approximate range of the observation flight is estimated at 800 kilometers [over 497 miles]," Ryzhkov added.
The observation flight is carried out with the use of an An-30B aircraft, which will be strictly following an earlier approved route, Ryzhkov stated. Military experts from the Czech Republic will be present on board of the plane supervising the use of the surveillance equipment and observation of the Treaty provisions.
The Treaty on Open Skies was signed in March 1992 in Helsinki by 23 member-nations of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The Open Skies’ main goals are to build transparency, render assistance in monitoring compliance with existing or future arms control agreements, broaden possibilities for preventing crises and managing crisis situations. The accord establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. Now, the treaty has more than 30 signatory states. Russia ratified the Treaty on Open Skies on May 26, 2001.


tass--2020-09-06--EU chief diplomat says Belarus needs national dialogue to overcome crisis

BRUSSELS , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Belarus needs national dialogue to overcome the current crisis , High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Sunday , commenting on ongoing protests in that country .
`` Once again , impressive mass demonstrations in Minsk and other cities show determination of Belarusian people to achieve their freedoms , rights and democracy .
All this in spite of arrests , intimidation and violence from Belarus authorities .
Inclusive national dialogue is needed , '' he wrote on his Twitter account .
Grass-root rallies in protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections in Belarus have been held practically every day for nearly a month .
Hundreds take part in rallies on working days and tens of thousands gather for protest actions on weekends .
On August 9 , Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991 .
According to the final results of Sunday ’ s voting , the incumbent president , Alexander Lukashenko , won 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , scored 10.12 % of votes but refused to recognize the voting outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities after exit poll results were made public .
As a result , some 7,000 people were detained , dozens of law enforcers and demonstrators were injured during the first days of protests .
The authorities demand illegal rallies be stopped , while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls for further protests .

BRUSSELS, September 6. /TASS/. Belarus needs national dialogue to overcome the current crisis, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Sunday, commenting on ongoing protests in that country.
"Once again, impressive mass demonstrations in Minsk and other cities show determination of Belarusian people to achieve their freedoms, rights and democracy. All this in spite of arrests, intimidation and violence from Belarus authorities. Inclusive national dialogue is needed," he wrote on his Twitter account.
Grass-root rallies in protest against the results of the recent presidential elections in Belarus have been held practically every day for nearly a month. Hundreds take part in rallies on working days and tens of thousands gather for protest actions on weekends.
On August 9, Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991. According to the final results of Sunday’s voting, the incumbent president, Alexander Lukashenko, won 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, scored 10.12% of votes but refused to recognize the voting outcome. She soon left Belarus for Lithuania
Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities after exit poll results were made public. As a result, some 7,000 people were detained, dozens of law enforcers and demonstrators were injured during the first days of protests. The authorities demand illegal rallies be stopped, while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls for further protests.


tass--2020-09-06--Fourteen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow in past day

MOSCOW , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Fourteen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with @ @ @ @ @ exceeding 4,900 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of @ @ @ @ @ reached 4,905 .
To date , 1,025,505 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , @ @ @ @ @ from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 17,820 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, September 6. /TASS/. Fourteen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 4,900, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Sunday.
"Fourteen coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 4,905.
To date, 1,025,505 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 840,949 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 17,820 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-06--Germany claims it has approved Russia’s request on Navalny case long ago

BERLIN , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Germany ’ s authorities see no reasons not to satisfy Russia ’ s request for legal assistance on opposition figure Alexei Navalny ’ s case and gave the green light to it long ago but medical examination of the patient is not yet over , German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Sunday .
`` We approved this request for legal assistance long ago .
When we spoke with the Russian ambassador , we told him about that , '' he said in an interview with the ARD television channel , commenting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s statement that Berlin was delaying reply to Russia ’ s request .
`` And , as a matter of fact , there is no reason to turn it down , '' he added .
`` Currently , medical examination continues at Berlin ’ s Charite [ clinic ] .
But we put it clearly that when we receive a formal request we will issue all necessary permissions to exchange information on that matter , '' he said .
`` So , it is yet another ‘ smokescreen ’ we have already seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am afraid more will follow within days . ''
According to the German top diplomat , new information on Navalny keeps on coming from his doctors and that is why it will take time to reply to the request .
He repeated his call on Moscow to investigate the incident with Navalny .
`` It has not been done until now , '' he said .
He stressed that the use of a chemical warfare agent constitutes a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention .
`` This not the matter of Germany only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community , '' Maas stressed .
`` That is why we discussed this matter with our EU and NATO partners and will soon discuss with the European partners which reaction is to follow and its possible impacts . ''
Navalny felt sick on August 20 while flying from Tomsk to Moscow and the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk .
The man was taken to hospital in a state of coma and was connected to a lung ventilator .
He was airlifted to the Berlin-based Charite clinic in the morning on August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of poisoning had been found in his body .
According to the doctors , the symptoms of poisoning have gradually abated .
On Wednesday , the German government said that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been exposed to a nerve agent of the Novichok family .
Berlin demanded Moscow clarify the circumstances of the incident .
Russian president ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready for all-round cooperation with Germany on that matter .
He noted that no toxic agent had been spotted in Navalny ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Russian foreign ministry stressed that Moscow was still waiting for a reply from Germany to the inquiry of the Russian prosecutor general ’ s office and the ministry ’ s spokeswoman , Maria Zakharova , pointed to the fact that Germany had provided no evidence to the Russian ambassador .

BERLIN, September 6. /TASS/. Germany’s authorities see no reasons not to satisfy Russia’s request for legal assistance on opposition figure Alexei Navalny’s case and gave the green light to it long ago but medical examination of the patient is not yet over, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Sunday.
"We approved this request for legal assistance long ago. When we spoke with the Russian ambassador, we told him about that," he said in an interview with the ARD television channel, commenting on Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s statement that Berlin was delaying reply to Russia’s request.
"And, as a matter of fact, there is no reason to turn it down," he added.
"Currently, medical examination continues at Berlin’s Charite [clinic]. But we put it clearly that when we receive a formal request we will issue all necessary permissions to exchange information on that matter," he said. "So, it is yet another ‘smokescreen’ we have already seen in the recent days. And I am afraid more will follow within days."
According to the German top diplomat, new information on Navalny keeps on coming from his doctors and that is why it will take time to reply to the request.
He repeated his call on Moscow to investigate the incident with Navalny. "It has not been done until now," he said.
He stressed that the use of a chemical warfare agent constitutes a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. "This not the matter of Germany only, it a matter of the international community," Maas stressed. "That is why we discussed this matter with our EU and NATO partners and will soon discuss with the European partners which reaction is to follow and its possible impacts."
Navalny felt sick on August 20 while flying from Tomsk to Moscow and the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk. The man was taken to hospital in a state of coma and was connected to a lung ventilator. He was airlifted to the Berlin-based Charite clinic in the morning on August 22. His doctors said that indicators of poisoning had been found in his body. According to the doctors, the symptoms of poisoning have gradually abated.
On Wednesday, the German government said that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been exposed to a nerve agent of the Novichok family. Berlin demanded Moscow clarify the circumstances of the incident.
Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready for all-round cooperation with Germany on that matter. He noted that no toxic agent had been spotted in Navalny’s samples before he was taken to Germany. The Russian foreign ministry stressed that Moscow was still waiting for a reply from Germany to the inquiry of the Russian prosecutor general’s office and the ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, pointed to the fact that Germany had provided no evidence to the Russian ambassador.


tass--2020-09-06--Over 100 people detained during Sunday’s protests in Belarus

MINSK , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
More than 100 protesters have been detained in Belarus and more may be @ @ @ @ @ not yet over , Belarusian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told TASS on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ have been detained by now .
Unauthorized protests still continue , so , more people @ @ @ @ @ she said .
When asked whether the police used tear gas against the protesters , @ @ @ @ @ such information .
She also promised that the interior ministry would probe into an incident @ @ @ @ @ hoses , according to witnesses , had broken a window of a caf· in Minsk @ @ @ @ @ Vesna human rights center said that 151 people had been detained during protests in Minsk @ @ @ @ @ people were also detained during protests in Grodno , Brest , and Baranovichi .
Mach @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday across Belarus .
In Minsk , thousands of protesters came up to Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ residence , Independence Palace .
By now , the rally is practically over .

MINSK, September 6. /TASS/. More than 100 protesters have been detained in Belarus and more may be detained as unauthorized protests are not yet over, Belarusian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova told TASS on Sunday.
"More than 100 people have been detained by now. Unauthorized protests still continue, so, more people may be detained," she said.
When asked whether the police used tear gas against the protesters, she said she had no such information. She also promised that the interior ministry would probe into an incident when unidentified people with rubber hoses, according to witnesses, had broken a window of a caf· in Minsk while detaining people.
The Vesna human rights center said that 151 people had been detained during protests in Minsk. According to Vesna, people were also detained during protests in Grodno, Brest, and Baranovichi.
Mach of Unity protests were held on Sunday across Belarus. In Minsk, thousands of protesters came up to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s residence, Independence Palace. By now, the rally is practically over.


tass--2020-09-06--Russian delegation led by Deputy PM Borisov arrives on visit to Damascus

TASS , September 6 .
A Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov has arrived in the Syrian @ @ @ @ @ news agency reported on Sunday .
According to SANA , the Russian delegation will hold @ @ @ @ @ issues of the development of bilateral cooperation in various spheres .
During a two-day visit @ @ @ @ @ delegation will take part in a meeting of the Russian-Syrian intergovernmental commission on trade , @ @ @ @ @ cooperation .
The previous meeting of the commission was held in Moscow in December 2019 @ @ @ @ @ the Russian delegation ’ s arrival featuring Russian president ’ s special envoy for the @ @ @ @ @ and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov meeting with Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister Ayman Sousan @

TASS, September 6. A Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov has arrived in the Syrian capital city Damascus, SANA news agency reported on Sunday.
According to SANA, the Russian delegation will hold talks with Syria officials on issues of the development of bilateral cooperation in various spheres.
During a two-day visit to Damascus, the Russian delegation will take part in a meeting of the Russian-Syrian intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, technical and scientific cooperation. The previous meeting of the commission was held in Moscow in December 2019.
SANA released photos of the Russian delegation’s arrival featuring Russian president’s special envoy for the Middle East and African countries and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov meeting with Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister Ayman Sousan.


tass--2020-09-06--Pepper spray used near Lukashenko’s residence in Minsk

MINSK , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Pepper spray was used near riot police cordons around Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s residence in central Minsk , Independence Palace , where thousands of protesters gathered on Sunday , a TASS correspondent reports from the site .
It is yet unknown who did it .
The protesters stepped aside for a while and when they came close to the police cordons again pepper spray was used again .
Grass-root rallies in protest of the results of the recent presidential elections in Belarus have been held practically every day for nearly a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on working days and tens of thousands gather for protest actions on weekends .
On August 9 , Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991 .
According to the final results of Sunday ’ s voting , the incumbent president , Alexander Lukashenko , won 80.10 % of the vote .
His closest rival , Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , scored 10.12 % of votes but refused to recognize the voting outcome .
She soon left Belarus for Lithuania Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made public .
As a result , some 7,000 people were detained , dozens of law enforcers and demonstrators were injured during the first days of protests .
The authorities demand illegal rallies be stopped , while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls for further protests .

MINSK, September 6. /TASS/. Pepper spray was used near riot police cordons around Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s residence in central Minsk, Independence Palace, where thousands of protesters gathered on Sunday, a TASS correspondent reports from the site.
It is yet unknown who did it.
The protesters stepped aside for a while and when they came close to the police cordons again pepper spray was used again.
Grass-root rallies in protest of the results of the recent presidential elections in Belarus have been held practically every day for nearly a month. Hundreds take part in rallies on working days and tens of thousands gather for protest actions on weekends.
On August 9, Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991. According to the final results of Sunday’s voting, the incumbent president, Alexander Lukashenko, won 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, scored 10.12% of votes but refused to recognize the voting outcome. She soon left Belarus for Lithuania
Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities after exit poll results were made public. As a result, some 7,000 people were detained, dozens of law enforcers and demonstrators were injured during the first days of protests. The authorities demand illegal rallies be stopped, while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls for further protests.


tass--2020-09-06--Two journalists detained while covering protests in Belarus

MINSK , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Two journalists have been detained in Belarus while covering Sunday ’ s protests @ @ @ @ @ Journalists wrote on its Telegram channel .
`` Artyom Sizintsev , a Radio Ratsiya journalist @ @ @ @ @ Belarusian Association of Journalists , was detained when the police was dispersing protesters near Chebotareva @ @ @ @ @ .
He only reported he was being taken to a police station in a prison @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Ales Osipov , a BelaPAN correspondent was detained in Mogilev .
The man @ @ @ @ @ and had journalists IDs . ''
Police in Belarus have detained journalists covering protests in @ @ @ @ @ Accredited TASS correspondents were among them .
As a rule , journalists were released after @ @ @ @ @ six journalists were placed in custody in a pre-trial facility on September 1 and court @ @ @ @ @ of administrative arrest on charges of participating in an unauthorized student protest rally .
Law @ @ @ @ @ called on the protesters to continue the rally .

MINSK, September 6. /TASS/. Two journalists have been detained in Belarus while covering Sunday’s protests, the Belarusian Association of Journalists wrote on its Telegram channel.
"Artyom Sizintsev, a Radio Ratsiya journalist and a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, was detained when the police was dispersing protesters near Chebotareva Street (in Minsk). He only reported he was being taken to a police station in a prison van," it said. "Ales Osipov, a BelaPAN correspondent was detained in Mogilev. The man was wearing a special vest and had journalists IDs."
Police in Belarus have detained journalists covering protests in Minsk more than once. Accredited TASS correspondents were among them. As a rule, journalists were released after identity checks.
However, six journalists were placed in custody in a pre-trial facility on September 1 and court sentenced them to three days of administrative arrest on charges of participating in an unauthorized student protest rally. Law enforcers claimed the journalists had called on the protesters to continue the rally.


tass--2020-09-06--Vesna human rights center reports over 70 detentions during protests in Minsk

MINSK , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Seventy-six participants in Sunday ’ s protest rallies organized by the Belarusian opposition @ @ @ @ @ Vesna human rights center said .
The center has posted on its website a list @ @ @ @ @ in Minsk .
The list includes Olga Pavlova , a member of the opposition Coordination @ @ @ @ @ , according to Vesna , people were also detained during protests in Grodno , Baranovichi @ @ @ @ @ of Unity protests are held across Belarus on Sunday .
Earlier in the day , @ @ @ @ @ came up to President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s residence in central Minsk .

MINSK, September 6. /TASS/. Seventy-six participants in Sunday’s protest rallies organized by the Belarusian opposition have been detained, the Vesna human rights center said.
The center has posted on its website a list of those taken in custody in Minsk. The list includes Olga Pavlova, a member of the opposition Coordination Council. Apart from that, according to Vesna, people were also detained during protests in Grodno, Baranovichi, and Brest.
March of Unity protests are held across Belarus on Sunday. Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of protesters came up to President Alexander Lukashenko’s residence in central Minsk.


tass--2020-09-06--Serbian president informed Lavrov about results of his visit to Washington

MOSCOW , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the results of his visit to Washington , the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday after their telephone conversation .
`` Vucic informed [ Lavrov ] about the results of his meeting in Washington and upcoming talks in Brussels , '' the ministry said .
The sides also reiterated their commitment to the development of relations of strategic partnership and political dialogue .
`` In the context of coordinating their approaches on the Kosovo problem , the Russian side stressed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favor of lasting and sustainable settlement on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 , '' the ministry added .
On September 4 , Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister of unrecognized Kosovo Avdullah Hoti in Washington signed an agreement on the normalization of economic relations .
The agreement was brokered by US President Donald Trump .
According to media reports , the agreement envisages $ 13 billion worth of investments into joint projects , including in the infrastructure sphere .
Belgrade and Pristina will continue talks on September 7 @ @ @

MOSCOW, September 6. /TASS/. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has informed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the results of his visit to Washington, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday after their telephone conversation.
"Vucic informed [Lavrov] about the results of his meeting in Washington and upcoming talks in Brussels," the ministry said.
The sides also reiterated their commitment to the development of relations of strategic partnership and political dialogue. "In the context of coordinating their approaches on the Kosovo problem, the Russian side stressed that Russia stays committed to its position in favor of lasting and sustainable settlement on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244," the ministry added.
On September 4, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister of unrecognized Kosovo Avdullah Hoti in Washington signed an agreement on the normalization of economic relations. The agreement was brokered by US President Donald Trump. According to media reports, the agreement envisages $13 billion worth of investments into joint projects, including in the infrastructure sphere.
Belgrade and Pristina will continue talks on September 7 in Brussels.


tass--2020-09-06--Thousands of protesters heading to Lukashenko’s residence in Minsk

MINSK , September 6 .
/TASS/ .
Several thousand participants of protests in the Belarusian capital are heading along Victors @ @ @ @ @ the residence of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , a TASS correspondent reported from the scene @ @ @ @ @ marched on the roadway , passing Minsk Hero City Obelisk .
Police warn the protesters @ @ @ @ @ but do not prevent their movement .
The law enforcement officers are calling on journalists @ @ @ @ @ Palace even after document checks .
During the day , journalists in various parts of @ @ @ @ @ document checks and were asked to work in Press vests .
Police installed water cannons @ @ @ @ @ wire barriers in the streets near Victors Avenue .

MINSK, September 6. /TASS/. Several thousand participants of protests in the Belarusian capital are heading along Victors Avenue to Independence Palace, the residence of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a TASS correspondent reported from the scene on Sunday.
The participants marched on the roadway, passing Minsk Hero City Obelisk. Police warn the protesters that the rally is illegal but do not prevent their movement.
The law enforcement officers are calling on journalists to stay away from Independence Palace even after document checks.
During the day, journalists in various parts of the city were stopped for document checks and were asked to work in Press vests.
Police installed water cannons, armored vehicles and barbed wire barriers in the streets near Victors Avenue.


tass--2020-09-08--Latvia notified IIHF about refusal to hold world championship with Belarus

MOSCOW , September 8 .
/TASS/ .
Latvia ’ s government has submitted a letter to the International Ice Hockey Federation ( IIHF ) requesting to hold the 2021 ice hockey world championship with another country instead of Belarus , Latvian portal Skaties reported , citing the letter .
In August , Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Karins announced that the republic would launch talks with the IIHF on possibly holding the championship with another country amid the tense political situation in Belarus after the presidential election .
`` The Latvian government calls to hand over the status of the 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to another country .
If the situation in Belarus remains unchanged and the IIHF does not take the respective decisions , the Latvian government asks to revoke the guarantees on organizing the 2021 world hockey championship , '' the letter said .
Meanwhile , the Latvian Hockey Federation is calling not to link politics to sport .
The organization ’ s President Aigars Kalvitis believes that the refusal to hold the championship will lead to the loss of the IIHF ’ s trust .
According to him , the IIHF is not expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it is due to make a final decision on holding the world championship in late January .
The Belarusian hockey federation said in late August that it could host the championship alone if needed .
The world championship is due to be held in Riga and Minsk on May 21-June 6 .
The Russian team is scheduled to conduct all matches of the preliminary stage in the Belarusian capital .

MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. Latvia’s government has submitted a letter to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) requesting to hold the 2021 ice hockey world championship with another country instead of Belarus, Latvian portal Skaties reported, citing the letter.
In August, Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Karins announced that the republic would launch talks with the IIHF on possibly holding the championship with another country amid the tense political situation in Belarus after the presidential election.
"The Latvian government calls to hand over the status of the 2021 ice hockey world champion’s host to another country. If the situation in Belarus remains unchanged and the IIHF does not take the respective decisions, the Latvian government asks to revoke the guarantees on organizing the 2021 world hockey championship," the letter said.
Meanwhile, the Latvian Hockey Federation is calling not to link politics to sport. The organization’s President Aigars Kalvitis believes that the refusal to hold the championship will lead to the loss of the IIHF’s trust. According to him, the IIHF is not expected to come up with a quick response since it is due to make a final decision on holding the world championship in late January.
The Belarusian hockey federation said in late August that it could host the championship alone if needed.
The world championship is due to be held in Riga and Minsk on May 21-June 6. The Russian team is scheduled to conduct all matches of the preliminary stage in the Belarusian capital.


tass--2020-09-08--Berlin is under pressure with use of anti-Russian card, Russian MP says

MOSCOW , September 8 .
/TASS/ .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel ’ s statements that the incident with Alexei Navalny could affect the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project signal that Berlin could be under pressure with the use of `` the anti-Russian card , '' Chairman of the Russian State Duma ( the lower house of parliament ) Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky told reporters .
`` The statements of German Chancellor Angela Merkel following the remarks of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas regarding the possible influence of the situation around Alexei Navalny on the Nord Stream 2 project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire story with his alleged poisoning , '' the lawmaker said .
Slutsky did not rule out that `` Berlin , which used to consistently oppose US plans on slapping sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 , is now under pressure with the anti-Russian card being played . ''
`` All this could be one major provocation , '' he said .
`` The ball is in Germany ’ s court now .
Russia still expects full and confirmed actual information about Navalny ’ s condition and the causes of the incident , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not receive information , which had been sent to the EU and NATO .
`` Until there are facts it is difficult to speak about providing any explanation , '' he said .
Russia is interested in establishing the truth more than any other country , Slutsky stressed .
`` As for new sanction threats , again until there is evidence all accusations are unfounded and we are dealing with highly likely 2.0 , '' he pointed out .
German government 's spokesman Steffen Seibert told a briefing on Monday that Chancellor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Heiko Maas that Berlin 's position on Nord Stream 2 may depend on Russia 's further steps on the incident with Alexei Navalny .
Earlier , Maas did not rule out that Berlin could change its position on Nord Stream 2 , depending on Russia 's actions after the incident with Navalny .
In turn , the Ministry of Economy of the Federal Republic of Germany said that they `` do not speculate '' on the possible consequences of the suspension or termination of the Nord Stream 2 .

MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s statements that the incident with Alexei Navalny could affect the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project signal that Berlin could be under pressure with the use of "the anti-Russian card," Chairman of the Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Leonid Slutsky told reporters.
"The statements of German Chancellor Angela Merkel following the remarks of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas regarding the possible influence of the situation around Alexei Navalny on the Nord Stream 2 project just confirm the geopolitical underpinning of the entire story with his alleged poisoning," the lawmaker said.
Slutsky did not rule out that "Berlin, which used to consistently oppose US plans on slapping sanctions on the Nord Stream 2, is now under pressure with the anti-Russian card being played." "All this could be one major provocation," he said.
"The ball is in Germany’s court now. Russia still expects full and confirmed actual information about Navalny’s condition and the causes of the incident," Slutsky said, noting that Moscow did not receive information, which had been sent to the EU and NATO. "Until there are facts it is difficult to speak about providing any explanation," he said.
Russia is interested in establishing the truth more than any other country, Slutsky stressed. "As for new sanction threats, again until there is evidence all accusations are unfounded and we are dealing with highly likely 2.0," he pointed out.
German government's spokesman Steffen Seibert told a briefing on Monday that Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas that Berlin's position on Nord Stream 2 may depend on Russia's further steps on the incident with Alexei Navalny. Earlier, Maas did not rule out that Berlin could change its position on Nord Stream 2, depending on Russia's actions after the incident with Navalny.
In turn, the Ministry of Economy of the Federal Republic of Germany said that they "do not speculate" on the possible consequences of the suspension or termination of the Nord Stream 2.


tass--2020-09-08--Minister: Russia’s growing mortality rate during pandemic not only related to COVID-19

MOSCOW , September 8 .
/TASS/ .
The rising mortality rate in Russia during the pandemic is linked to both COVID-19 and other diseases , which were aggravated by this infection , Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Monday .
`` As the accumulated experience and analysis of deaths during the epidemic rise shows , the increase in mortality rate among the population during the COVID-19 pandemic is related to both directly the coronavirus infection and the decompensation of other diseases , where COVID-19 contributed to their more severe course , for example , diabetes , diseases of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister was quoted by the press service as saying .
The procedure of counting deaths and establishing their causes meets the requirements of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases , Murashko said .
Earlier , the head of Russia ’ s healthcare watchdog ( Roszdravnadzor ) , Alla Samoylova , noted that some inaccuracies were discovered while registering the deaths of coronavirus patients .
Murashko noted that these inaccuracies were not based on the analysis of statistics across the country , but were found during the checks at some medical facilities .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cause of deaths could take a long time and statistics is reviewed after it ends .
`` Already in April , in accordance with the World Health Organization ’ s recommendations , Russia began coding the cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus infection .
Subsequently , in order to improve statistical records , increase its reliability , and comparability of statistical data in our country and abroad , based on the WHO recommendations , the guidelines for coding COVID-19 cases and mortality rate were released , '' he said .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed in Russia , with 843,277 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 17,871 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. The rising mortality rate in Russia during the pandemic is linked to both COVID-19 and other diseases, which were aggravated by this infection, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Monday.
"As the accumulated experience and analysis of deaths during the epidemic rise shows, the increase in mortality rate among the population during the COVID-19 pandemic is related to both directly the coronavirus infection and the decompensation of other diseases, where COVID-19 contributed to their more severe course, for example, diabetes, diseases of the circulatory system and cancer," the minister was quoted by the press service as saying.
The procedure of counting deaths and establishing their causes meets the requirements of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Murashko said.
Earlier, the head of Russia’s healthcare watchdog (Roszdravnadzor), Alla Samoylova, noted that some inaccuracies were discovered while registering the deaths of coronavirus patients. Murashko noted that these inaccuracies were not based on the analysis of statistics across the country, but were found during the checks at some medical facilities. According to him, the process of establishing the cause of deaths could take a long time and statistics is reviewed after it ends.
"Already in April, in accordance with the World Health Organization’s recommendations, Russia began coding the cases and deaths from the novel coronavirus infection. Subsequently, in order to improve statistical records, increase its reliability, and comparability of statistical data in our country and abroad, based on the WHO recommendations, the guidelines for coding COVID-19 cases and mortality rate were released," he said.
To date, 1,030,690 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 843,277 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 17,871 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-08--First batch of Sputnik V vaccine for civilian circulation produced in Russia

MOSCOW , September 8 .
/TASS/ .
The first batch of the vaccine against COVID-19 known as Sputnik V was produced in Russia for civilian circulation .
The supplies of the medication to the Russian regions are expected soon , the Health Ministry told reporters .
`` The first batch of the vaccine for preventing the novel coronavirus infection , Gam-COVID-Vac ( Sputnik V ) developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry passed the required quality tests in the laboratories of Roszdravnadzor ( the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the near future the supplies of the first batches of the vaccine to the regions are expected , '' the ministry said .
Earlier Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko explained that civilian production at this stage meant vaccination of citizens from the risk groups , namely teachers and doctors , which will be carried out simultaneously with post-registration clinical trials .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country across the globe to register a vaccine against the coronavirus infection , named Sputnik V. The vaccine underwent clinical trials in June-July .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Ministry ’ s Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology .
It is based on a well-known platform , which was used of creating a range of other vaccines .
On August 15 , the Health Ministry announced the launch of the vaccine production .

MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. The first batch of the vaccine against COVID-19 known as Sputnik V was produced in Russia for civilian circulation. The supplies of the medication to the Russian regions are expected soon, the Health Ministry told reporters.
"The first batch of the vaccine for preventing the novel coronavirus infection, Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry passed the required quality tests in the laboratories of Roszdravnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare) and was produced for civilian circulation. In the near future the supplies of the first batches of the vaccine to the regions are expected," the ministry said.
Earlier Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko explained that civilian production at this stage meant vaccination of citizens from the risk groups, namely teachers and doctors, which will be carried out simultaneously with post-registration clinical trials.
On August 11, Russia became the first country across the globe to register a vaccine against the coronavirus infection, named Sputnik V. The vaccine underwent clinical trials in June-July. The vaccine was developed by the Russian Health Ministry’s Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology. It is based on a well-known platform, which was used of creating a range of other vaccines. On August 15, the Health Ministry announced the launch of the vaccine production.


tass--2020-09-08--Russian diplomat regrets her post on Vucic-Trump meeting was misinterpreted

MOSCOW , September 8 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed regret that her post about a visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to the United States was misinterpreted .
`` The idea was clear .
[ The post was ] that US partners use various protocol tricks in order not to create the feeling of equality during the talks .
< ... > Really , this is regrettable that all this was read not the way it was written , '' Zakharova told YouTube channel on Solovyov LIVE .
The diplomat stressed that Russia had also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We went through this ourselves at the example of other countries , '' she noted .
Zakharova earlier published a protocol photo that pictured the Serbian leader sitting on a chair in front of Donald Trump ’ s table .
The diplomat also posted a photo with the well-known scene from `` Basic Instinct '' movie and a comment : `` If you are invited to the White House and the chair is placed as if you are being interrogated , sit down like on photo number two .
No matter who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Later on , Zakharova said that her Facebook post with a photo of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the meeting with US President Donald Trump had been misinterpreted and that it just criticized US arrogance .

MOSCOW, September 8. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed regret that her post about a visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to the United States was misinterpreted.
"The idea was clear. [The post was] that US partners use various protocol tricks in order not to create the feeling of equality during the talks. <...> Really, this is regrettable that all this was read not the way it was written," Zakharova told YouTube channel on Solovyov LIVE.
The diplomat stressed that Russia had also faced such situations at the negotiations. "We went through this ourselves at the example of other countries," she noted.
Zakharova earlier published a protocol photo that pictured the Serbian leader sitting on a chair in front of Donald Trump’s table. The diplomat also posted a photo with the well-known scene from "Basic Instinct" movie and a comment: "If you are invited to the White House and the chair is placed as if you are being interrogated, sit down like on photo number two. No matter who you are. Just believe me." Later on, Zakharova said that her Facebook post with a photo of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the meeting with US President Donald Trump had been misinterpreted and that it just criticized US arrogance.


tass--2020-09-08--Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman says situation around Navalny is politicized

MOSCOW , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
The situation around Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has obviously been politicized , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday .
`` One thing is obvious : everything spins around in the political sphere .
It is also obvious that no evidence has been provided .
Not even evidence , there are no data at all because if information is given it may turn out to be anti-evidence , '' she told Solovyov LIVE YouTube channel .
She pointed to the fact that there is no single source of information about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just look how many of them .
It looks like someone is pulling the speakers by the strings in various directions .
< … > First it is medics , then laboratories , then the family , then the foreign ministry , then government spokespersons , '' she noted .
The Russian side insists that Berlin must share the required information .
`` We have had no reply .
Neither officially - to the inquiry from the Russian prosecutor general ’ s office , nor to inquiries from our medics , I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been .
< … > I have a strong feeling that the scenarios was written beforehand , '' Zakharova said .
Navalny felt sick on August 20 while flying from Tomsk to Moscow and the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk .
The man was taken to hospital in a state of coma and was connected to a ventilator .
He was airlifted to the Berlin-based Charite clinic in the morning on August 22 .
Its doctors said that indicators of poisoning had been found in his body .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gradually abated .
Last week , the German government said that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been exposed to a nerve agent of the Novichok family .
Berlin demanded Moscow clarify the circumstances of the incident .
Russian president ’ s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready for all-round cooperation with Germany on that matter .
He noted that no toxic agent had been spotted in Navalny ’ s samples before he was taken to Germany .

MOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. The situation around Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny has obviously been politicized, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.
"One thing is obvious: everything spins around in the political sphere. It is also obvious that no evidence has been provided. Not even evidence, there are no data at all because if information is given it may turn out to be anti-evidence," she told Solovyov LIVE YouTube channel.
She pointed to the fact that there is no single source of information about the Navalny situation in Germany. "Just look how many of them. It looks like someone is pulling the speakers by the strings in various directions. <…> First it is medics, then laboratories, then the family, then the foreign ministry, then government spokespersons," she noted.
The Russian side insists that Berlin must share the required information. "We have had no reply. Neither officially - to the inquiry from the Russian prosecutor general’s office, nor to inquiries from our medics, I can say how many of them there have been. <…> I have a strong feeling that the scenarios was written beforehand," Zakharova said.
Navalny felt sick on August 20 while flying from Tomsk to Moscow and the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk. The man was taken to hospital in a state of coma and was connected to a ventilator. He was airlifted to the Berlin-based Charite clinic in the morning on August 22. Its doctors said that indicators of poisoning had been found in his body. According to the doctors, the symptoms of poisoning have gradually abated.
Last week, the German government said that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been exposed to a nerve agent of the Novichok family. Berlin demanded Moscow clarify the circumstances of the incident.
Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Russia was ready for all-round cooperation with Germany on that matter. He noted that no toxic agent had been spotted in Navalny’s samples before he was taken to Germany.


tass--2020-09-07--Sixteen more coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past day

MOSCOW , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
Sixteen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day , with @ @ @ @ @ exceeding 4,920 , the city ’ s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia have died in Moscow , '' it said , adding the overall number of @ @ @ @ @ reached 4,921 .
By today , Moscow has reported more than 267,000 confirmed coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ recovered .
A campaign of voluntary testing for coronavirus antibodies is underway in the capital @ @ @ @ @ 1,030,690 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 843,277 patients having recovered from @ @ @ @ @ s latest data indicates 17,871 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up @ @ @ @ @ the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. Sixteen more coronavirus patients died in Moscow during the past day, with the overall number of fatalities exceeding 4,920, the city’s anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Monday.
"Sixteen coronavirus-positive patients diagnosed with pneumonia have died in Moscow," it said, adding the overall number of coronavirus-related deaths in Moscow has reached 4,921.
By today, Moscow has reported more than 267,000 confirmed coronavirus cases. Some 222,300 patients have recovered. A campaign of voluntary testing for coronavirus antibodies is underway in the capital city.
To date, 1,030,690 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 843,277 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 17,871 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-09-07--Russian fighter scrambles to escort British reconnaissance plane over Barents Sea

MOSCOW , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
A Russian MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled to escort a British reconnaissance aircraft over the Barents Sea , Russia ’ s National Defense Management Center reported on Monday .
According to the Center , Russian airspace control systems detected an aerial target over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea approaching Russia ’ s state border .
`` A MiG-29 fighter from the Northern Fleet ’ s air defense quick reaction alert forces were scrambled to identify the targets , '' the Center said .
`` The crew of the Russian fighter approached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and identified it as a British Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance plane . ''
The Russian border was not violated .
After the British plane moved away from Russia ’ s state border , the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield .
`` The entire flight of the Russian MiG-29 fighter proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace , '' the Center stressed .
It was the third such case over the Barents Sea during the day .
The Center reported earlier in the day that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian Northern Fleet had intercepted a Norwegian Orion patrol aircraft .
Later in the day , a MiG-29 fighter escorted a British R.1 Sentinel reconnaissance plane .
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on September 5 that NATO ’ s reconnaissance activity near Russia ’ s aerial borders had increased by more than 30 % as compared with the previous year .
Thus , in his words , 87 such flights were reported in August 2019 , whereas in August 2020 there were around 120 .

MOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. A Russian MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled to escort a British reconnaissance aircraft over the Barents Sea, Russia’s National Defense Management Center reported on Monday.
According to the Center, Russian airspace control systems detected an aerial target over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea approaching Russia’s state border. "A MiG-29 fighter from the Northern Fleet’s air defense quick reaction alert forces were scrambled to identify the targets," the Center said. "The crew of the Russian fighter approached the aerial target at a safe distance and identified it as a British Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance plane."
The Russian border was not violated. After the British plane moved away from Russia’s state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to its home airfield.
"The entire flight of the Russian MiG-29 fighter proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace," the Center stressed.
It was the third such case over the Barents Sea during the day. The Center reported earlier in the day that a Russian MiG-31 fighter jet of the Russian Northern Fleet had intercepted a Norwegian Orion patrol aircraft. Later in the day, a MiG-29 fighter escorted a British R.1 Sentinel reconnaissance plane.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on September 5 that NATO’s reconnaissance activity near Russia’s aerial borders had increased by more than 30% as compared with the previous year. Thus, in his words, 87 such flights were reported in August 2019, whereas in August 2020 there were around 120 of them.


tass--2020-09-07--At least 12 Russian vacationers catch coronavirus in Turkey

ANKARA , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
At least 12 Russian vacationers have caught the coronavirus infection in Turkey .
Two of them have been taken to hospital , Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said on Monday .
`` As of now , we , i.e .
the embassy [ in Turkey ] and the consulate general in Antalya know about 12 infected tourists .
Two of them are in hospital and ten are self-isolated in hotels , '' he said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel .
The diplomat recommended those who plan to visit Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Yerkhov , one of the two hospitalized Russians had problems because he did not have a corresponding insurance cover .
Nevertheless , he finally received medical assistance .
Russia suspended international air service in late March because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Regular flights to London , Istanbul , and Tanzania were resumed from August 1 .
Direct flights to Turkey ’ s Antalya , Dalaman , and Bodrum were resumed from August 10 .
The first coronavirus case in Turkey was confirmed on March 10 .
The patient was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By now , the number of coronavirus cases in Turkey has exceeded 279,000 , with 6,673 fatalities and 251,105 recoveries .

ANKARA, September 7. /TASS/. At least 12 Russian vacationers have caught the coronavirus infection in Turkey. Two of them have been taken to hospital, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said on Monday.
"As of now, we, i.e. the embassy [in Turkey] and the consulate general in Antalya know about 12 infected tourists. Two of them are in hospital and ten are self-isolated in hotels," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel.
The diplomat recommended those who plan to visit Turkey buy a medical insurance covering coronavirus treatment. According to Yerkhov, one of the two hospitalized Russians had problems because he did not have a corresponding insurance cover. Nevertheless, he finally received medical assistance.
Russia suspended international air service in late March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Regular flights to London, Istanbul, and Tanzania were resumed from August 1. Direct flights to Turkey’s Antalya, Dalaman, and Bodrum were resumed from August 10.
The first coronavirus case in Turkey was confirmed on March 10. The patient was a local resident who returned from Europe. By now, the number of coronavirus cases in Turkey has exceeded 279,000, with 6,673 fatalities and 251,105 recoveries.


tass--2020-09-07--Allegations against Russia on Libya not corroborated by facts — Foreign Minister Lavrov

DAMASCUS , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
Media publications claiming that Russia uses Syria as a foothold to move arms and mercenaries to Libya are not proven by any facts , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference in the wake of his visit to Damascus .
`` As for Libya , I would like to reiterate : some allegations are constantly being put forward against Russia , both regarding Libya and other countries , from Africa to Europe and the US .
No facts have ever been presented to us , '' he said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media , without employing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to clarify concerns , raises questions about their authors ’ intent , Lavrov said .
Back in the day , Russia supported introduction of the weapons embargo against Libya via a special UN Security Council resolution , he recalled .
`` We remember how , mere months thereafter , certain European countries announced publicly , via their General Staffs and military representatives , without any shame , that they support the extremists against [ Muammar ] Gaddafi and ship weapons to those extremists , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomat added that the Berlin conference on Libya , which took place in January , confirmed the necessity of the weapons embargo , and the conference ’ s outcome was cemented in another UN Security Council resolution .
The weapons embargo on Libya was introduced by the UN Security Council on February 26 , 2011 .

DAMASCUS, September 7. /TASS/. Media publications claiming that Russia uses Syria as a foothold to move arms and mercenaries to Libya are not proven by any facts, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference in the wake of his visit to Damascus.
"As for Libya, I would like to reiterate: some allegations are constantly being put forward against Russia, both regarding Libya and other countries, from Africa to Europe and the US. No facts have ever been presented to us," he said.
The fact that such statements get straight into the media, without employing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to clarify concerns, raises questions about their authors’ intent, Lavrov said.
Back in the day, Russia supported introduction of the weapons embargo against Libya via a special UN Security Council resolution, he recalled.
"We remember how, mere months thereafter, certain European countries announced publicly, via their General Staffs and military representatives, without any shame, that they support the extremists against [Muammar] Gaddafi and ship weapons to those extremists," Lavrov pointed out.
The top diplomat added that the Berlin conference on Libya, which took place in January, confirmed the necessity of the weapons embargo, and the conference’s outcome was cemented in another UN Security Council resolution.
The weapons embargo on Libya was introduced by the UN Security Council on February 26, 2011.


tass--2020-09-07--Belarusian prime minister inoculated with Russian COVID-19 vaccine

`` The prime minister took the vaccine on Thursday , after the talks with his Russian counterpart .
He feels great , '' the spokeswoman said .
MINSK , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko was inoculated with the Russian COVID-19 vaccine , his spokeswoman Alexandra Isayeva said Monday , adding that the prime minister feels fine .
Golovchenko ’ s decision to test the Russian coronavirus vaccine was announced by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during his meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko .
`` I am happy that Roman Alexandrovich Golovchenko decided to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything will be fine , '' Mishustin said back then .
Earlier , Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko agreed that Belarus would become one of the first countries where the COVID-19 vaccine , developed by Russia ’ s Gamaleya Institute , would be shipped .
Besides , the republic will join the final stage of the vaccine ’ s post-registration testing , allowing its citizens to volunteer for the third testing stage .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country in the world to register a COVID-19 vaccine , under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , developed by the Gamaleya Institute , passed clinical trials in July .
It is based on a previously developed platform , used for many other vaccines .
On August 15 , the Ministry of Health announced mass production of the medicine .
According to Russian Direct Investment Fund Head Kirill Dmitriev , Russia has already received orders from 20 countries for shipment of 1 billion doses of the vaccine .

"The prime minister took the vaccine on Thursday, after the talks with his Russian counterpart. He feels great," the spokeswoman said.
MINSK, September 7. /TASS/. Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko was inoculated with the Russian COVID-19 vaccine, his spokeswoman Alexandra Isayeva said Monday, adding that the prime minister feels fine.
Golovchenko’s decision to test the Russian coronavirus vaccine was announced by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin during his meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
"I am happy that Roman Alexandrovich Golovchenko decided to get vaccinated today. I am certain that everything will be fine," Mishustin said back then.
Earlier, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko agreed that Belarus would become one of the first countries where the COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute, would be shipped.
Besides, the republic will join the final stage of the vaccine’s post-registration testing, allowing its citizens to volunteer for the third testing stage.
On August 11, Russia became the first country in the world to register a COVID-19 vaccine, under the name of Sputnik V. The medicine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute, passed clinical trials in July. It is based on a previously developed platform, used for many other vaccines. On August 15, the Ministry of Health announced mass production of the medicine. According to Russian Direct Investment Fund Head Kirill Dmitriev, Russia has already received orders from 20 countries for shipment of 1 billion doses of the vaccine.


tass--2020-09-07--Russian ambassador to UK stresses inadmissibility of ungrounded accusations around Navalny

LONDON , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin , who was summoned to the UK Foreign Office on Monday , pointed to the inadmissibility of ungrounded accusations concerning the incident with Russian opposition blogger Alexei Navalny , a spokesperson for the Russian embassy told TASS .
`` The Russian side pointed to the inadmissibility of ungrounded accusations and politicization of the incident , which has a purely medical and judicial character .
The Russian side also stressed it is interested in establishing all the facts related to the incident .
It clarified the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Russian diplomat drew attention to Germany ’ s unpreparedness to respond to an official inquiry filed by Russian relevant agencies , '' he said .
`` Commenting on theories that Alexei Navalny was poisoned by a prohibited chemical agent , Andrei Kelin reiterated Russia ’ s commitment to its liabilities under the Chemical Weapons Convention , '' the spokesperson added .
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on his Twitter account that the Russian ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Office `` to register deep concern about the poisoning '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s completely unacceptable that a banned chemical weapon has been used and Russia must hold a full , transparent investigation , '' he wrote .

LONDON, September 7. /TASS/. Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrei Kelin, who was summoned to the UK Foreign Office on Monday, pointed to the inadmissibility of ungrounded accusations concerning the incident with Russian opposition blogger Alexei Navalny, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy told TASS.
"The Russian side pointed to the inadmissibility of ungrounded accusations and politicization of the incident, which has a purely medical and judicial character. The Russian side also stressed it is interested in establishing all the facts related to the incident. It clarified the actions taken in Russia for these purposes. The Russian diplomat drew attention to Germany’s unpreparedness to respond to an official inquiry filed by Russian relevant agencies," he said.
"Commenting on theories that Alexei Navalny was poisoned by a prohibited chemical agent, Andrei Kelin reiterated Russia’s commitment to its liabilities under the Chemical Weapons Convention," the spokesperson added.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on his Twitter account that the Russian ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Office "to register deep concern about the poisoning" of Alexei Navalny. "It’s completely unacceptable that a banned chemical weapon has been used and Russia must hold a full, transparent investigation," he wrote.


tass--2020-09-07--Current pandemic not the last, world must prepare for future ones, WHO head warns

GENEVA , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is not the last one , so the world must brace for a new pandemic in advance , World Health Organization ( WHO ) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing Monday .
`` This will not be the last pandemic .
History teaches us that outbreaks and pandemics are a fact of life .
But when the next pandemic comes , the world must be ready - more ready than it was this time , '' the director-general said .
According to Ghebreyesus , the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lessons . ''
`` One of them is that health is not a luxury item for those who can afford it ; it ’ s a necessity , and a human right , '' the director-general underscored , adding that the public health is `` the foundation of social , economic and political stability . ''
That means that states must invest in `` preventing , detecting and responding to disease , '' he continued .
He called on all states to `` invest in public health , and especially in primary health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s efforts to boost healthcare as a positive example .
He also noted `` hard decisions '' made by Italy which allowed it to `` bring the outbreak under control . ''
He also named Mongolia , Mauritius , Uruguay and a number of other states as examples of successful fighting the infection spread .

GENEVA, September 7. /TASS/. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is not the last one, so the world must brace for a new pandemic in advance, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a briefing Monday.
"This will not be the last pandemic. History teaches us that outbreaks and pandemics are a fact of life. But when the next pandemic comes, the world must be ready - more ready than it was this time," the director-general said.
According to Ghebreyesus, the COVID-19 pandemic is "teaching all of us many lessons."
"One of them is that health is not a luxury item for those who can afford it; it’s a necessity, and a human right," the director-general underscored, adding that the public health is "the foundation of social, economic and political stability."
That means that states must invest in "preventing, detecting and responding to disease," he continued. He called on all states to "invest in public health, and especially in primary health care."
He cited Thailand’s efforts to boost healthcare as a positive example. He also noted "hard decisions" made by Italy which allowed it to "bring the outbreak under control."
He also named Mongolia, Mauritius, Uruguay and a number of other states as examples of successful fighting the infection spread.


tass--2020-09-07--Lukashenko will hardly manage to dot all i’s during visit to Moscow, says analyst

MOSCOW , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
Russian and Belarusian presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko will hardly manage to iron out all problems in bilateral relations at their forthcoming talks , although the Belarusian leader said he hoped to `` dot all i ’ s '' on the most sensitive and painful issues existing in bilateral relations , the deputy director of the Institute of the CIS Countries , Vladimir Zharikhin , told TASS on Monday .
`` The way I see it , Lukashenko is being a little bit impulsive .
It is impossible to dot all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems of Russia-Belarus integration are subjective and have subjective problems behind them .
One is that Russia is an energy-excessive country , while Belarus is energy-deficient , '' Zharikhin said .
`` Very often the national interests of the two countries contradict each other and it takes compromises to settle them .
This factor is bound to last . ''
Zharikhin believes that further steps to build and develop the Union State of Russia and Belarus will be impeded by disproportions between the two partners , such as the size of their territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the same time , he hopes that these problems will be gradually eliminated provided there is the political will in Moscow and Minsk .
But it should not be expected , though , that synchronization of positions will be achieved at the first personal meeting between the two leaders following Lukashenko ’ s re-election , Zharikhin stressed .
Zharikhin stressed that the internal political crisis in Belarus will have a certain effect on Lukashenko ’ s negotiating positions and his readiness to compromise on major issues .
`` But if Lukashenko ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusively on the internal political situation in Belarus , it will be certainly a temporary factor .
This is bad , because interstate relations are a lengthy process and they should not depend on the position in which the national leaders are at the moment , '' he noted .
`` Incentives for integration should stem not only from Lukashenko ’ s precarious internal political position . ''
At their forthcoming meeting , Zharikhin believes , Putin and Lukashenko will apparently focus on the political crisis in Belarus , the international situation involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the grave situation in the global economy .
The complexities and controversies that occurred in bilateral negotiations in recent years were a result of the Belarusian leader ’ s reluctance to ease up on some of his demands in view of the objective economic difficulties facing both countries , the analyst thinks .
`` The Russian leadership asks Lukashenko to bear in mind the complex situation in the world economy and the sanctions .
We , Russians , it says , have had to tighten the belts .
You are our partner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit .
But he says ‘ No .
We want to have gas at a price identical to that in the neighboring Smolensk Region right away .
Let ’ s ease the belt as much as possible .
’ ''

MOSCOW, September 7. /TASS/. Russian and Belarusian presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko will hardly manage to iron out all problems in bilateral relations at their forthcoming talks, although the Belarusian leader said he hoped to "dot all i’s" on the most sensitive and painful issues existing in bilateral relations, the deputy director of the Institute of the CIS Countries, Vladimir Zharikhin, told TASS on Monday.
"The way I see it, Lukashenko is being a little bit impulsive. It is impossible to dot all the i’s so fast. Many problems of Russia-Belarus integration are subjective and have subjective problems behind them. One is that Russia is an energy-excessive country, while Belarus is energy-deficient," Zharikhin said. "Very often the national interests of the two countries contradict each other and it takes compromises to settle them. This factor is bound to last."
Zharikhin believes that further steps to build and develop the Union State of Russia and Belarus will be impeded by disproportions between the two partners, such as the size of their territory, the population and the GDP. At the same time, he hopes that these problems will be gradually eliminated provided there is the political will in Moscow and Minsk. But it should not be expected, though, that synchronization of positions will be achieved at the first personal meeting between the two leaders following Lukashenko’s re-election, Zharikhin stressed.
Context is important
Zharikhin stressed that the internal political crisis in Belarus will have a certain effect on Lukashenko’s negotiating positions and his readiness to compromise on major issues.
"But if Lukashenko’s readiness to come to terms depends exclusively on the internal political situation in Belarus, it will be certainly a temporary factor. This is bad, because interstate relations are a lengthy process and they should not depend on the position in which the national leaders are at the moment," he noted. "Incentives for integration should stem not only from Lukashenko’s precarious internal political position."
At their forthcoming meeting, Zharikhin believes, Putin and Lukashenko will apparently focus on the political crisis in Belarus, the international situation involving Moscow, Minsk and the West, and the grave situation in the global economy. The complexities and controversies that occurred in bilateral negotiations in recent years were a result of the Belarusian leader’s reluctance to ease up on some of his demands in view of the objective economic difficulties facing both countries, the analyst thinks.
"The Russian leadership asks Lukashenko to bear in mind the complex situation in the world economy and the sanctions. We, Russians, it says, have had to tighten the belts. You are our partner, and we expect you to follow suit. But he says ‘No. We want to have gas at a price identical to that in the neighboring Smolensk Region right away. Let’s ease the belt as much as possible.’"
Invigoration of contacts


tass--2020-09-07--Russian ambassador to UK summoned to Foreign Office over Navalny

LONDON , September 7./TASS/ .
Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin was summoned on Monday to the Foreign and @ @ @ @ @ with Russian blogger Alexei Navalny , Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a tweet .
@ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s Ambassador to the UK to register deep concern about the poisoning of @ @ @ @ @ said on Twitter .
`` It ’ s completely unacceptable that a banned chemical weapon @ @ @ @ @ must hold a full , transparent investigation , '' he said .
`` Relieved to @ @ @ @ @ been taken out of the medically induced coma .
I hope his condition continues to @ @ @ @ @ added .

LONDON, September 7./TASS/. Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin was summoned on Monday to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the situation with Russian blogger Alexei Navalny, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a tweet.
"Today the UK summoned Russia’s Ambassador to the UK to register deep concern about the poisoning of Alexey Navalny," Raab said on Twitter. "It’s completely unacceptable that a banned chemical weapon has been used and Russia must hold a full, transparent investigation," he said.
"Relieved to hear that Alexei Navalny has been taken out of the medically induced coma. I hope his condition continues to improve," Dominic Raab added.


tass--2020-09-07--Merkel does not rule out Berlin stance on Nord Stream 2 may depend on Navalny case

BERLIN , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel agrees with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas that Berlin 's position on Nord Stream 2 may depend on Russia 's further steps on the incident with Alexei Navalny , the German Government 's Spokesman Steffen Seibert told a briefing on Monday .
Earlier , Maas did not rule out that Berlin could change its position on the Nord Stream 2 , depending on Russia 's actions after the incident with the blogger .
In turn , the economy ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany said that they `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consequences of the suspension or termination of the Nord Stream 2 .
Earlier , the leaders of Alliance 90/The Greens party demanded termination of the Nord Stream 2 project .
The Free Democratic Party proposed a temporary moratorium on construction until all issues are clarified .
Candidate for the post of chairman of the Christian Democratic Union , Friedrich Merz , also spoke for the suspension of the project .
Klaus Ernst , the leader of the parliamentary committee for economy and energy , said he did not consider it necessary to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the German government announced that the toxicologists of the Bundeswehr ( the unified armed forces of Germany ) tested Alexei Navalny ’ s samples and concluded that the Russian blogger had been exposed to a poisonous substance of the Novichok group .
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was ready to fully cooperate with Germany in order to establish all circumstances of the Alexei Navalny case .
He noted that before the transfer of Navalny to Berlin , no poisonous substances had been detected in his body .
Navalny was hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became ill on board a plane bound for Moscow from Tomsk .
He fell into a coma and was connected to a ventilator .
Later he was taken to the Charite clinic in Berlin .

BERLIN, September 7. /TASS/. German Chancellor Angela Merkel agrees with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas that Berlin's position on Nord Stream 2 may depend on Russia's further steps on the incident with Alexei Navalny, the German Government's Spokesman Steffen Seibert told a briefing on Monday.
Earlier, Maas did not rule out that Berlin could change its position on the Nord Stream 2, depending on Russia's actions after the incident with the blogger.
In turn, the economy ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany said that they "do not speculate" on the possible consequences of the suspension or termination of the Nord Stream 2.
Earlier, the leaders of Alliance 90/The Greens party demanded termination of the Nord Stream 2 project. The Free Democratic Party proposed a temporary moratorium on construction until all issues are clarified. Candidate for the post of chairman of the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, also spoke for the suspension of the project. Klaus Ernst, the leader of the parliamentary committee for economy and energy, said he did not consider it necessary to stop the project.
On September 2, the German government announced that the toxicologists of the Bundeswehr (the unified armed forces of Germany) tested Alexei Navalny’s samples and concluded that the Russian blogger had been exposed to a poisonous substance of the Novichok group.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was ready to fully cooperate with Germany in order to establish all circumstances of the Alexei Navalny case. He noted that before the transfer of Navalny to Berlin, no poisonous substances had been detected in his body.
Navalny was hospitalized in Omsk on August 20 after he became ill on board a plane bound for Moscow from Tomsk. He fell into a coma and was connected to a ventilator. Later he was taken to the Charite clinic in Berlin.


tass--2020-09-07--Russia, Turkey, Iran united by goal to avoid Libyan scenario in Syria, top diplomat says

DAMASCUS , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
There are differences of opinion in the approaches of the Astana process guarantor states ( Russia , Iran and Turkey ) to the settlement in Syria but they are united by the common aspiration not to allow the repetition of Libyan and Iraqi scenario in Syria , Russia ’ s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Monday at a press conference on the results of his visit to Damascus .
`` Of course , there are significant nuances and significant differences in the approaches of Moscow , Ankara , and Teheran .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official statements and through the situation in the country , '' he said .
`` Yet we are united with Turkey and Iran by the common aspiration not to allow in any case the repetition of what was done to Libya and Iraq , '' he added .
Russia ’ s top diplomat stressed that a `` complete consensus does not exist anywhere . ''
The minister reiterated that the `` Astana format ’ is based on the respect for Syria ’ s sovereignty , independence , territorial integrity , on the principle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , on the inadmissibility of attempts to ignite , particularly from abroad , separatist moods .
Answering the question whether reports that Russia works on removing Iran from the region correspond to reality , the top diplomat said : `` Iranian presence is Syria is determined neither by the Russian side or any other , nor by somebody else ’ s wish with the exception of the position of the leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic , so this question should be addressed to Damascus .
`` .

DAMASCUS, September 7. /TASS/. There are differences of opinion in the approaches of the Astana process guarantor states (Russia, Iran and Turkey) to the settlement in Syria but they are united by the common aspiration not to allow the repetition of Libyan and Iraqi scenario in Syria, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Monday at a press conference on the results of his visit to Damascus.
"Of course, there are significant nuances and significant differences in the approaches of Moscow, Ankara, and Teheran. One can observe these differences both through the official statements and through the situation in the country," he said. "Yet we are united with Turkey and Iran by the common aspiration not to allow in any case the repetition of what was done to Libya and Iraq," he added.
Russia’s top diplomat stressed that a "complete consensus does not exist anywhere."
The minister reiterated that the "Astana format’ is based on the respect for Syria’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, on the principle of noninterference into internal affairs of this country, on the inadmissibility of attempts to ignite, particularly from abroad, separatist moods.
Answering the question whether reports that Russia works on removing Iran from the region correspond to reality, the top diplomat said: "Iranian presence is Syria is determined neither by the Russian side or any other, nor by somebody else’s wish with the exception of the position of the leadership of the Syrian Arab Republic, so this question should be addressed to Damascus.".


tass--2020-09-07--Presidential elections in Syria not linked with elaboration of new constitution - Lavrov

DAMASCUS , September 7 .
/TASS/ .
The issue of presidential elections in Syria in a matter of the country ’ s government and has nothing to do with the work on a new constitution , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday .
`` The issue of elections in Syria is a matter of the Syrian government .
And until a new constitution is elaborated or the existing one is amended , the current constitution remains in force as it is , '' he told a news conference after his visit to Damascus .
Commenting on a possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period until a new constitution is adopted , the Russian top diplomat recalled that `` there were attempts to discuss this topic within the United Nations under the direction of ( former United Nations Secretary General ’ s Special Envoy for Syria ) Staffan de Mistura . ''
`` At a certain point , without any coronavirus infection , they suddenly announced a ‘ negotiations quarantine ’ for a term of ten months and did nothing at all , '' he said .
`` The Astana format was set up in a bid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utter dead end it had been driven to .
A year later , the Syrian National Dialogue Congress was established at the Astana format ’ s initiative .
The Congress was supported by all Syrians and set a priority task of establishing a constitutional committee we now have . ''
`` We should let it ( the committee ) work normally , '' Lavrov stressed .
Earlier on Monday , Syria ’ s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid Muallen said that presidential elections in Syria would be held in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He also said that all the recommendations on amendments to the Syrian constitution , as well as possible text of the new constitution that would be approved by the Constitutional Committee would be later put for nationwide voting at a referendum .

DAMASCUS, September 7. /TASS/. The issue of presidential elections in Syria in a matter of the country’s government and has nothing to do with the work on a new constitution, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.
"The issue of elections in Syria is a matter of the Syrian government. And until a new constitution is elaborated or the existing one is amended, the current constitution remains in force as it is," he told a news conference after his visit to Damascus.
Commenting on a possibility of establishing an interim government for a period until a new constitution is adopted, the Russian top diplomat recalled that "there were attempts to discuss this topic within the United Nations under the direction of (former United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Syria) Staffan de Mistura."
"At a certain point, without any coronavirus infection, they suddenly announced a ‘negotiations quarantine’ for a term of ten months and did nothing at all," he said. "The Astana format was set up in a bid to bring this situation out of the utter dead end it had been driven to. A year later, the Syrian National Dialogue Congress was established at the Astana format’s initiative. The Congress was supported by all Syrians and set a priority task of establishing a constitutional committee we now have."
"We should let it (the committee) work normally," Lavrov stressed.
Earlier on Monday, Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid Muallen said that presidential elections in Syria would be held in 2021 in line with the current constitution. He also said that all the recommendations on amendments to the Syrian constitution, as well as possible text of the new constitution that would be approved by the Constitutional Committee would be later put for nationwide voting at a referendum.