tass--2020-09-15--Lukashenko’s resignation is just a question of time, Tikhanovskaya claims

WASHINGTON , September 15 .
/TASS/ .
Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s giving up power was just a question of time .
In her article published by The Washington Post newspaper , Tikhanovskaya confirmed that she still did not recognize the official results of the August 9 presidential election declared by the Belarusian Central Election Commission .
`` As the candidate of the opposition movement , I won the majority of the votes in the Aug. 9 presidential election , '' Tikhanovskaya insisted .
Therefore , the opposition plans to continue protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful protest , and we refuse to engage in violence , '' she said .
According to her , `` many people ask if that will be enough . ''
`` I believe the answer is yes .
We as a nation have passed the point of no return .
Lukashenko has no future as a leader of this country , and it is only a question of time until he leaves power , '' the politician said .
The opposition plans to continue mass demonstrations , boycott the state apparatus and exert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as to `` seek support from the international community . ''
`` We ask other governments to stop collaborating with the regime and impose sanctions on individuals who forged the results of the election and committed crimes against their own citizens .
We warn that all the agreements made with the current illegal regime in Belarus are made by other countries at their own risk , and we can not guarantee that the future legally and freely elected government will uphold such agreements .
< ... > Contrary to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our side .
< ... > There is no question of whether we will win , '' Tikhanovskaya claimed .
The presidential election in Belarus was held on August 9 .
According to the Central Election Commission , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured 80.10 % of the vote .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who was considered as his key rival , came in second with 10.12 % of the vote .
She refused to recognize the election results and fled to Lithuania .
Shortly after the exit poll results were announced , mass protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morphed into clashes with law enforcement officers in the first days .
The authorities demand the end of illegal rallies , while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls to continue protests .

WASHINGTON, September 15. /TASS/. Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claimed that President Alexander Lukashenko’s giving up power was just a question of time.
In her article published by The Washington Post newspaper, Tikhanovskaya confirmed that she still did not recognize the official results of the August 9 presidential election declared by the Belarusian Central Election Commission.
"As the candidate of the opposition movement, I won the majority of the votes in the Aug. 9 presidential election," Tikhanovskaya insisted. Therefore, the opposition plans to continue protests in Belarus. "We insist on peaceful protest, and we refuse to engage in violence," she said.
According to her, "many people ask if that will be enough." "I believe the answer is yes. We as a nation have passed the point of no return. Lukashenko has no future as a leader of this country, and it is only a question of time until he leaves power," the politician said.
The opposition plans to continue mass demonstrations, boycott the state apparatus and exert pressure on the institutions of the state, as well as to "seek support from the international community."
"We ask other governments to stop collaborating with the regime and impose sanctions on individuals who forged the results of the election and committed crimes against their own citizens. We warn that all the agreements made with the current illegal regime in Belarus are made by other countries at their own risk, and we cannot guarantee that the future legally and freely elected government will uphold such agreements. <...> Contrary to what state propaganda claims, time is on our side. <...> There is no question of whether we will win," Tikhanovskaya claimed.
The presidential election in Belarus was held on August 9. According to the Central Election Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured 80.10% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was considered as his key rival, came in second with 10.12% of the vote. She refused to recognize the election results and fled to Lithuania. Shortly after the exit poll results were announced, mass protests broke out in the country, which morphed into clashes with law enforcement officers in the first days. The authorities demand the end of illegal rallies, while the Coordination Council set up by the opposition calls to continue protests.


tass--2020-09-15--Navalny plans to return to Russia, NYT reports

NEW YORK , September 15 .
/TASS/ .
Russian blogger Alexei Navalny is not planning to stay in Germany forever @ @ @ @ @ Russia once he recovers in order to continue his mission , a senior German security @ @ @ @ @ Times .
`` He ’ s not planning to go into exile in Germany , @ @ @ @ @ according to the newspaper .
`` He wants to go home to Russia and he @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Navalny , who spoke to a German prosecutor , refused to cooperate with @ @ @ @ @ investigate the case with Germany , the security official said .

NEW YORK, September 15. /TASS/. Russian blogger Alexei Navalny is not planning to stay in Germany forever and wants to return to Russia once he recovers in order to continue his mission, a senior German security official told The New York Times.
"He’s not planning to go into exile in Germany," the official said, according to the newspaper. "He wants to go home to Russia and he wants to continue his mission."
Navalny, who spoke to a German prosecutor, refused to cooperate with a Russian request to jointly investigate the case with Germany, the security official said.


tass--2020-09-14--Scientist: Great Norilsk Expedition’s studies bound to continue in winter

MOSCOW , September 14 .
/TASS/ .
The Great Norilsk Expedition , organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences ’ Siberian Branch , successfully finalized all field works .
Scientists will analyze collected samples at labs .
At the same time , they are ready for new field studies in winter and during next summer to evaluate air conditions in addition to those of the soil and water , the expedition ’ s leader Nikolai Yurkevich of the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics told TASS , pointing to the expedition ’ s importance for Nornickel and other businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results will show whether the expedition has made new discoveries , ” he said .
“ Taimyr is most interesting for conducting scientific studies - climate zones , complex combination of industrial enterprises , chemical tests of soils , water , plants and minerals .
No doubt , results of the lab tests will be most interesting for the scientific community .
No discoveries are made on the spot but they are rather fundamental conclusions , new mechanisms or laws based on the analyses and comparisons of big data .
We shall get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expedition ’ s all participants from 14 research institutes have by now returned to their labs to analyze samples .
According to the expert , the lab stage will finish in mid-October .
The first ones to accomplish that stage would be , of course , botanists and zoologists , followed by permafrost researchers , he continued .
Geophysicists will also complete their reports rather quickly , as their conclusions will be based on field studies .
They have taken measurements and will not be conducting any studies at labs , thus we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
A complex report will be put together by the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics .
Scientists will also give their recommendations on how to develop Norilsk and how to further explore the Arctic region .
“ Our institute and the participating institutes will issue recommendations on forming such new approaches , ” Yurkevich said .
“ They will be included in the final report .
And the task of working out new approaches will most likely be assigned to academician Kryukov.
” The expert shared with TASS his opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nature over the past 100 years .
“ We can not say for sure what the nature there was like 100 years ago .
But we may say that all the major changes that we have registered took place close to industrial facilities .
At the same time , not far from the sanitary protection zone , which is about five-six kilometers , the conditions are close to normal .
However , those are just observations .
Clearly , the accumulated impact is quite substantial .
One of the tasks is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those contaminations , ” the scientist said .
Researchers are in favor of regular studies and monitoring .
“ One-time studies are fine and interesting , but what matters is dynamics .
Besides , we shall issue recommendations and will then need to make sure they are being implemented , by monitoring plants ’ activities for environmental impact .
Thus , it should rather be an ongoing project .
Unfortunately , usually such projects are triggered by disasters .
We wish studies were a regular thing that would not be necessarily preceded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more interested in scientific studies .
That is , if we speak about high concentrations of sulphur , we want to see in what forms they are found , how they move and spread , ” the expedition ’ s leader said .
The scientist told TASS it would be necessary to attract additional institutes .
“ We have many institutes , some of them have been left out .
It is a matter of reasons .
If we see that water and soil are more or less fine , but the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should build up the team of permafrost scientists .
Or , on the contrary , if we see that the main problem is the water conditions , we shall build up teams of hydrochemists or hydrobiologists , ” he said , stressing that studies in winter are absolutely necessary .
“ This is absolutely necessary at least to study the snow .
Some contaminations may be registered in snow , and , most importantly , the snow may show the dynamics .
While in soils , when we see heavy metals , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dynamics , in snow it is much easier - we can see how the contamination has grown over the season.
” The best time for such studies is April , he continued .
Winter research could focus not only on the snow though .
“ Clearly , working with water or soil is harder in winter .
On the other hand , in August , access to Lake Pyasino was hampered .
It is a shallow lake , the coasts are silty , and accessing the lake was not easy .
Thus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonable to do certain jobs , like drilling and sampling , in winter , off the ice , ” he concluded .

MOSCOW, September 14. /TASS/. The Great Norilsk Expedition, organized by the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Siberian Branch, successfully finalized all field works. Scientists will analyze collected samples at labs. At the same time, they are ready for new field studies in winter and during next summer to evaluate air conditions in addition to those of the soil and water, the expedition’s leader Nikolai Yurkevich of the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics told TASS, pointing to the expedition’s importance for Nornickel and other businesses working in the region.
“Test results will show whether the expedition has made new discoveries,” he said. “Taimyr is most interesting for conducting scientific studies - climate zones, complex combination of industrial enterprises, chemical tests of soils, water, plants and minerals. No doubt, results of the lab tests will be most interesting for the scientific community. No discoveries are made on the spot but they are rather fundamental conclusions, new mechanisms or laws based on the analyses and comparisons of big data. We shall get the results by the yearend.”
The expedition’s results
The expedition’s all participants from 14 research institutes have by now returned to their labs to analyze samples. According to the expert, the lab stage will finish in mid-October. The first ones to accomplish that stage would be, of course, botanists and zoologists, followed by permafrost researchers, he continued. Geophysicists will also complete their reports rather quickly, as their conclusions will be based on field studies. They have taken measurements and will not be conducting any studies at labs, thus we expect their results quite soon, he said.
A complex report will be put together by the Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics. Scientists will also give their recommendations on how to develop Norilsk and how to further explore the Arctic region. “Our institute and the participating institutes will issue recommendations on forming such new approaches,” Yurkevich said. “They will be included in the final report. And the task of working out new approaches will most likely be assigned to academician Kryukov.”
Further plans
The expert shared with TASS his opinion on the man-made impact on Taimyr’s nature over the past 100 years. “We cannot say for sure what the nature there was like 100 years ago. But we may say that all the major changes that we have registered took place close to industrial facilities. At the same time, not far from the sanitary protection zone, which is about five-six kilometers, the conditions are close to normal. However, those are just observations. Clearly, the accumulated impact is quite substantial. One of the tasks is to trace the chronology and the mechanism of those contaminations,” the scientist said.
Researchers are in favor of regular studies and monitoring. “One-time studies are fine and interesting, but what matters is dynamics. Besides, we shall issue recommendations and will then need to make sure they are being implemented, by monitoring plants’ activities for environmental impact. Thus, it should rather be an ongoing project. Unfortunately, usually such projects are triggered by disasters. We wish studies were a regular thing that would not be necessarily preceded by accidents. In fact, we are more interested in scientific studies. That is, if we speak about high concentrations of sulphur, we want to see in what forms they are found, how they move and spread,” the expedition’s leader said.
Working in winter
The scientist told TASS it would be necessary to attract additional institutes. “We have many institutes, some of them have been left out. It is a matter of reasons. If we see that water and soil are more or less fine, but the main problem is the permafrost, then we should build up the team of permafrost scientists. Or, on the contrary, if we see that the main problem is the water conditions, we shall build up teams of hydrochemists or hydrobiologists,” he said, stressing that studies in winter are absolutely necessary.
“This is absolutely necessary at least to study the snow. Some contaminations may be registered in snow, and, most importantly, the snow may show the dynamics. While in soils, when we see heavy metals, we can barely understand the contamination’s dynamics, in snow it is much easier - we can see how the contamination has grown over the season.”
The best time for such studies is April, he continued. Winter research could focus not only on the snow though. “Clearly, working with water or soil is harder in winter. On the other hand, in August, access to Lake Pyasino was hampered. It is a shallow lake, the coasts are silty, and accessing the lake was not easy. Thus, in that lake, it would be reasonable to do certain jobs, like drilling and sampling, in winter, off the ice,” he concluded.


tass--2020-09-18--Russian embassy asks US to explain report on assistance to "Ukrainian units in Crimea"

WASHINGTON , September 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s embassy in Washington has demanded that American authorities explain the NBC News report which mentions the US support of the `` Ukrainian units '' in Crimea , the statement published on the embassy ’ s Facebook page said .
`` The statements provided in the NBC News report about the US involvement in `` Ukrainian units fighting Russian forces in Crimea '' were noticed with grave concern by the Embassy .
In other words , unnamed US officials speak about their country ’ s support of terrorist activities in third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk specifically about Russia , '' the diplomats noted .
`` If it is true ( and not the channel ’ s geographical myopia ) , we then demand the US side to clarify whether or not Washington directly or indirectly has facilitated the SBU ( Ukraine ’ s security service - TASS ) in organizing terrorist attacks against the people of Crimea , '' the embassy added .
The TV channel mentioned `` Ukrainian units < … > in Crimea '' in the context of the alleged `` bounty program '' by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groundlessly claimed , involved compensation by Russia to Afghan militants for killing US military personnel .
NBC asserted that some `` current and former US officials have said '' that such actions were `` a proportional response to the US arming of Ukrainian units .
`` .

WASHINGTON, September 18. /TASS/. Russia’s embassy in Washington has demanded that American authorities explain the NBC News report which mentions the US support of the "Ukrainian units" in Crimea, the statement published on the embassy’s Facebook page said.
"The statements provided in the NBC News report about the US involvement in "Ukrainian units fighting Russian forces in Crimea" were noticed with grave concern by the Embassy. In other words, unnamed US officials speak about their country’s support of terrorist activities in third countries. In this case, they talk specifically about Russia," the diplomats noted.
"If it is true (and not the channel’s geographical myopia), we then demand the US side to clarify whether or not Washington directly or indirectly has facilitated the SBU (Ukraine’s security service - TASS) in organizing terrorist attacks against the people of Crimea," the embassy added.
The TV channel mentioned "Ukrainian units <…> in Crimea" in the context of the alleged "bounty program" by Moscow which, as the US media groundlessly claimed, involved compensation by Russia to Afghan militants for killing US military personnel. NBC asserted that some "current and former US officials have said" that such actions were "a proportional response to the US arming of Ukrainian units.".


tass--2020-09-18--Germany, other Western states actively "cultivated" OPCW in Navalny situation - diplomat

MOSCOW , September 18 .
/TASS/ .
Germany and other Western countries have most actively `` cultivated '' the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) in the situation with Russian blogger Alexey Navalny , Spokeswoman for Russia ’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova stated on the Solovyev Live YouTube channel .
She reiterated that Russia ’ s Permanent Representative to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin had requested the files on the Navalny situation but hasn ’ t received a definite response yet .
`` According to our data , the Western partners , these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were cultivating the OPCW at the moment , '' she said .
The diplomat also noted that Russia hasn ’ t received `` a single coherent '' response yet from Germany to the inquires of the Prosecutor-General ’ s office on the situation around Navalny .
`` They ’ ve summoned our ambassador .
Our ambassador used the opportunity and said : `` When [ will we get ] the files ? ''
The German side told him that `` we do not have an intention not to respond to your inquires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least general information : when the information will be provided , in which format , to whom , along which lines - nobody says anything , '' the diplomat added .
On September 2 , the German government said that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been exposed to a nerve agent belonging to the Novichok family .
On September 14 , Berlin stated that three EU labs , including the ones in France and Sweden , confirmed their conclusions .
According to Germany ’ s Federal Foreign Office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the OPCW experts , they were sent to the organization ’ s reference labs .
Kremlin official spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia was interested in a comprehensive investigation of the Navalny case and is ready for cooperation with Germany .
He noted that before Navalny ’ s departure to Germany no traces of poisonous substances had been found in his samples .

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Germany and other Western countries have most actively "cultivated" the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in the situation with Russian blogger Alexey Navalny, Spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova stated on the Solovyev Live YouTube channel.
She reiterated that Russia’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW Alexander Shulgin had requested the files on the Navalny situation but hasn’t received a definite response yet. "According to our data, the Western partners, these are Germany and a whole number of countries, were cultivating the OPCW at the moment," she said.
The diplomat also noted that Russia hasn’t received "a single coherent" response yet from Germany to the inquires of the Prosecutor-General’s office on the situation around Navalny. "They’ve summoned our ambassador. Our ambassador used the opportunity and said: "When [will we get] the files?" The German side told him that "we do not have an intention not to respond to your inquires." There is no detailed or at least general information: when the information will be provided, in which format, to whom, along which lines - nobody says anything," the diplomat added.
On September 2, the German government said that German military toxicologists had found that Navalny had been exposed to a nerve agent belonging to the Novichok family. On September 14, Berlin stated that three EU labs, including the ones in France and Sweden, confirmed their conclusions. According to Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, Navalny’s samples were also collected by the OPCW experts, they were sent to the organization’s reference labs. Kremlin official spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia was interested in a comprehensive investigation of the Navalny case and is ready for cooperation with Germany. He noted that before Navalny’s departure to Germany no traces of poisonous substances had been found in his samples.


tass--2020-09-18--Over 30 mln people worldwide infected with COVID-19

TASS , September 18 .
The number of detected cases of the coronavirus infection worldwide has surpassed 30 mln on @ @ @ @ @ the American Johns Hopkins University website said which calculates the total based on the information @ @ @ @ @ federal and local authorities .
According to the university , the number of infections currently @ @ @ @ @ 943,203 fatalities and 20,398,381 recoveries .
The highest number of infections ( 6,664,021 ) is @ @ @ @ @ followed by India ( 5,118,253 ) and Brazil ( 4,419,083 ) .
To date , @ @ @ @ @ confirmed in Russia , with 895,868 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ fatalities nationwide .

TASS, September 18. The number of detected cases of the coronavirus infection worldwide has surpassed 30 mln on Friday, according to the American Johns Hopkins University which calculates the total based on the information from the international organizations, federal and local authorities.
According to the university, the number of infections currently is at 30,003,378, with 943,203 fatalities and 20,398,381 recoveries. The highest number of infections (6,664,021) is recorded in the US, followed by India (5,118,253) and Brazil (4,419,083).
To date, 1,085,281 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 895,868 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 19,061 fatalities nationwide.


tass--2020-09-18--Health Ministry allowed outpatient use of favipiravir for COVID-19 patients

MOSCOW , September 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Healthcare Ministry has allowed the use of two favipiravir preparations for outpatient treatment of the novel coronavirus infection .
Earlier these pharmaceuticals were only permitted for use in a hospital setting , the press service of the Healthcare Ministry reported .
`` Russia ’ s Healthcare Ministry introduced changes to the registration certificates of two domestic preparations for the treatment of the novel coronavirus infection ( COVID-19 ) with the international nonproprietary name ( INN ) of favipiravir , allowing their use on the outpatient basis .
Earlier the preparations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of patients , '' the statement said .
Favipiravir was developed in Japan as a flu medicine and was approved for use in 2014 .
Preparations on its basis are produced under Avigan , Areplivir , or Favilavir brand names .
In Russia , it is known as Avifavir .
Avifavir was officially registered by the Russian Healthcare Ministry as the first drug against the coronavirus at the end of May 2020 .
It has also become the first registered anti-coronaviral drug worldwide .
This preparation of a direct antiviral action which disrupts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrated high effectiveness during clinical trials .

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Russia’s Healthcare Ministry has allowed the use of two favipiravir preparations for outpatient treatment of the novel coronavirus infection. Earlier these pharmaceuticals were only permitted for use in a hospital setting, the press service of the Healthcare Ministry reported.
"Russia’s Healthcare Ministry introduced changes to the registration certificates of two domestic preparations for the treatment of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) with the international nonproprietary name (INN) of favipiravir, allowing their use on the outpatient basis. Earlier the preparations could be used exclusively for hospital treatment of patients," the statement said.
Favipiravir was developed in Japan as a flu medicine and was approved for use in 2014. Preparations on its basis are produced under Avigan, Areplivir, or Favilavir brand names. In Russia, it is known as Avifavir. Avifavir was officially registered by the Russian Healthcare Ministry as the first drug against the coronavirus at the end of May 2020. It has also become the first registered anti-coronaviral drug worldwide. This preparation of a direct antiviral action which disrupts the mechanisms of the coronavirus propagation has demonstrated high effectiveness during clinical trials.


tass--2020-09-18--Western ‘sanction itch’ against Russia is growing, Moscow to react - diplomat

MOSCOW , September 18 .
/TASS/ .
The attempts by Western countries to use sanctions against Russia will only increase @ @ @ @ @ leave them without response , Spokeswoman for Russia ’ s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria @ @ @ @ @ Live YouTube channel , quoting the soon to be published interview with Russian Foreign Minister @ @ @ @ @ used a wonderful metaphor there : `` What we are observing now is a sanction @ @ @ @ @ increasing , '' she said .
`` And we will react to this , like @ @ @ @ @ to all blacklists , like to all attempts to exclude our media outlets from the @ @ @ @ @ our journalists , public figures , '' she added .
According to the diplomat , @ @ @ @ @ that the sanction `` flywheel '' is unlikely to slow down in the near future @

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. The attempts by Western countries to use sanctions against Russia will only increase while Moscow won’t leave them without response, Spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova stated on the Solovyev Live YouTube channel, quoting the soon to be published interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"He used a wonderful metaphor there: "What we are observing now is a sanction itch and it is only increasing," she said.
"And we will react to this, like to all sanctions, like to all blacklists, like to all attempts to exclude our media outlets from the information space, turn away our journalists, public figures," she added.
According to the diplomat, the Foreign Minister also mentioned that the sanction "flywheel" is unlikely to slow down in the near future.


tass--2020-09-18--EU should avoid Ukrainian, Venezuelan scenarios in Belarusian context - envoy

MOSCOW , September 18 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov has advised to the European Union to take into account the experience of Ukraine and Venezuela and avoid the scenarios of these countries in the context of the situation in Belarus .
`` In the multitudes of those statements and commentaries on the Belarusian issue that have been voiced over the past week , I would like to note the one that the European Union is not interested in the repetition of the Ukrainian scenario in Belarus .
< ... > I would propose , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other countries , and even continents , to take into account Venezuela ’ s experience where the recognition of a self-appointed president ( the opposition leader Juan Guaido - TASS ) by a large group of countries , in fact , created additional obstacles on the path to the political resolution of a crisis in that country , '' the envoy said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel .
`` To avoid both [ scenarios ] - this would be my advice to the European Union if it is willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Belarusian situation , '' he emphasized .

MOSCOW, September 18. /TASS/. Russian Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov has advised to the European Union to take into account the experience of Ukraine and Venezuela and avoid the scenarios of these countries in the context of the situation in Belarus.
"In the multitudes of those statements and commentaries on the Belarusian issue that have been voiced over the past week, I would like to note the one that the European Union is not interested in the repetition of the Ukrainian scenario in Belarus. <...> I would propose, if one talks about the experience of other countries, and even continents, to take into account Venezuela’s experience where the recognition of a self-appointed president (the opposition leader Juan Guaido - TASS) by a large group of countries, in fact, created additional obstacles on the path to the political resolution of a crisis in that country," the envoy said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel.
"To avoid both [scenarios] - this would be my advice to the European Union if it is willing to listen, specifically in the context of the Belarusian situation," he emphasized.


tass--2020-09-18--More COVID-19 infections detected in Moscow due to increased testing - Moscow Mayor

MOSCOW , September 18 .
/ТАСС/ .
The growth of the number of the coronavirus cases in Moscow is first of all related to the number of tests conducted , Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel .
`` If we are talking about the growth in numbers of the detected coronavirus patients , then first of all this is caused by a large number of tests .
If in previous periods we were conducting daily about 40,000 [ tests ] , a huge volume , now the volume of PCR-testing has reached 66,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely that the percentage of detection remains stable .
Doctors say that if the percentage of the detection of the coronavirus patients in relation to the number of tests is up to 3 % , then the situation is normal , in Moscow < ... > it is steadily somewhere about 1.5 % , '' the Mayor said .
According to the Mayor , the increase in testing is related to the fact that now many vacationers return and have to be tested for the coronavirus infection .
`` Additionally , some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases emerge , they also go to the clinic to check whether they have the coronavirus , '' he added .
In Moscow the coronavirus situation which was the most complicated in Russia has improved significantly , according to statistics .
In all , in the city 274,003 cases of infection were detected , 730 of them in the past 24 hours .
234,029 people have recovered with 5,025 fatalities .
The number of recoveries over the past 24 hours again surpassed the number of infections with the total of 1,323 .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been inoculated against the flu .
`` To date , over 1 mln Moscow residents got vaccinated [ against the flu ] , this is a huge number , '' the Mayor said .
He noted that the Moscow residents are getting vaccinated actively against the flu .
`` We are estimating that this year about 6 mln people will get inoculated .
This , of course , will decrease the wave of the seasonal flu and won ’ t result in the flu epidemic which may complicate the COVID situation , '' @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, September 18. /ТАСС/. The growth of the number of the coronavirus cases in Moscow is first of all related to the number of tests conducted, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel.
"If we are talking about the growth in numbers of the detected coronavirus patients, then first of all this is caused by a large number of tests. If in previous periods we were conducting daily about 40,000 [tests], a huge volume, now the volume of PCR-testing has reached 66,000. <...> We are monitoring closely that the percentage of detection remains stable. Doctors say that if the percentage of the detection of the coronavirus patients in relation to the number of tests is up to 3%, then the situation is normal, in Moscow <...> it is steadily somewhere about 1.5%," the Mayor said.
According to the Mayor, the increase in testing is related to the fact that now many vacationers return and have to be tested for the coronavirus infection. "Additionally, some people are not feeling well, the cold-related diseases emerge, they also go to the clinic to check whether they have the coronavirus," he added.
In Moscow the coronavirus situation which was the most complicated in Russia has improved significantly, according to statistics. In all, in the city 274,003 cases of infection were detected, 730 of them in the past 24 hours. 234,029 people have recovered with 5,025 fatalities. The number of recoveries over the past 24 hours again surpassed the number of infections with the total of 1,323.
Flu shots
Over 1 mln people in Moscow have already been inoculated against the flu.
"To date, over 1 mln Moscow residents got vaccinated [against the flu], this is a huge number," the Mayor said.
He noted that the Moscow residents are getting vaccinated actively against the flu.
"We are estimating that this year about 6 mln people will get inoculated. This, of course, will decrease the wave of the seasonal flu and won’t result in the flu epidemic which may complicate the COVID situation," the Mayor added.


tass--2020-09-18--Russia offers COVID-19 vaccine without political conditions, says envoy

MOSCOW , September 18 .
/ТАСС/ .
Russia offers to other countries the vaccine against the coronavirus without preferring some states over others , nor linking the distribution of the preparation with political issues , Russian Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel .
`` The Russian side , offering this vaccine [ against the coronavirus ] , does it completely openly , without any preferences or limitations by country and without any political or economic tie-ins , '' he said .
`` There is no developed market [ of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are observing already an unhealthy clamor [ around the Russian vaccine ] .
There is one step from this clamor to attempts to implement certain geopolitical issues .
I hope this won ’ t happen , '' the diplomat added .
According to the WHO , right now there are about 170 projects working on the development of the coronavirus vaccine worldwide .
On August 11 , Russia became the first worldwide to register the vaccine against the coronavirus which was named Sputnik V. The preparation was developed by the Gamaleya National Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian Healthcare Ministry .
It is based on a known platform previously used for other vaccines .
The Healthcare Ministry noted that the experience of use of similar preparations shows that they are capable of providing a lengthy immunity of up to two years .

MOSCOW, September 18. /ТАСС/. Russia offers to other countries the vaccine against the coronavirus without preferring some states over others, nor linking the distribution of the preparation with political issues, Russian Permanent Representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said in an interview with the Russia-24 TV channel.
"The Russian side, offering this vaccine [against the coronavirus], does it completely openly, without any preferences or limitations by country and without any political or economic tie-ins," he said.
"There is no developed market [of coronavirus vaccines] yet. However, we are observing already an unhealthy clamor [around the Russian vaccine]. There is one step from this clamor to attempts to implement certain geopolitical issues. I hope this won’t happen," the diplomat added.
According to the WHO, right now there are about 170 projects working on the development of the coronavirus vaccine worldwide. On August 11, Russia became the first worldwide to register the vaccine against the coronavirus which was named Sputnik V. The preparation was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry. It is based on a known platform previously used for other vaccines. The Healthcare Ministry noted that the experience of use of similar preparations shows that they are capable of providing a lengthy immunity of up to two years.


tass--2020-09-17--Russian EU envoy dubs as ‘nonsense’ attempts to link Navalny case to Nord Stream 2

MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
Russian Permanent Envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said on Thursday that it was absurd @ @ @ @ @ situation around Alexey Navalny ’ s alleged poisoning to the construction of the Nord Stream @ @ @ @ @ The project [ Nord Stream 2 ] is purely commercial , purely economic .
And @ @ @ @ @ case , that some were trying to do in the past few days - this @ @ @ @ @ the diplomat said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television channel .
On Thursday , the @ @ @ @ @ on relations with Russia in connection with the Navalny case .
It called for an @ @ @ @ @ incident , as well as for imposing tough sanctions on Russia and halting the Nord @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. Russian Permanent Envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov said on Thursday that it was absurd to try to link the situation around Alexey Navalny’s alleged poisoning to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
"The project [Nord Stream 2] is purely commercial, purely economic. And linking it to the Navalny case, that some were trying to do in the past few days - this is sheer nonsense," the diplomat said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television channel.
On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution on relations with Russia in connection with the Navalny case. It called for an international investigation into the Navalny incident, as well as for imposing tough sanctions on Russia and halting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.


tass--2020-09-17--Eight coronavirus patients die in Moscow in past 24 hours, says crisis center

MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
Eight coronavirus patients died in Moscow in the past 24 hours , bringing the overall @ @ @ @ @ 5,033 , the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday .
`` Eight patients with confirmed @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus have died in Moscow , '' it said .

MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. Eight coronavirus patients died in Moscow in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall number of city's fatalities 5,033, the anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Thursday.
"Eight patients with confirmed pneumonia and testing positive for coronavirus have died in Moscow," it said.


tass--2020-09-17--Moscow castigates Germany’s covertly passing samples from Navalny to France, Sweden

MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
Russia reacts negatively to Germany ’ s secretly passing to its partners biomaterials of Alexey Navalny from the Charite hospital in Berlin , the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary on Thursday , stressing that Germany refused to cooperate with Moscow on that case .
`` It is clear that this was done with political implications , so that Paris and Stockholm automatically confirm unfounded accusations that Berlin hurls at Russia , '' it said .
The ministry mentioned in this connection Sweden ’ s actions in 2018 , in the so-called Skripal case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hysteria in the West around the ‘ Skripal case ’ , Sweden was assuring us that the research lab at the Defense Research Agency in the Swedish city of Umea , that has now confirmed the alleged ‘ poisoning ’ of Navalny , did not have and could not have any samples of Novichok , '' it said .
`` Now , as it happens , Swedish specialists have turned out to be competent to determine 100-percent sure the presence of that toxic agent in biomaterials of the Russian blogger , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the activity of a group of French—Anglo-Saxon officials among the leadership of the OPCW Technical Secretariat , who carried out ‘ a secret operation ’ to take Navalny ’ s biomaterials and pass them for the tests to two laboratories designated by the organization .
`` We won ’ t be surprised if these will be the labs in Swiss Spiez and British Porton Down , that were already featured in the ‘ Skripal case ’ , '' the ministry added .
`` We have to state with regrets that countries of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turning the once reputed OPCW into a dirty instrument for putting into practice their destructive plots , '' the ministry summed up .
On August 20 , a plane carrying Navalny made an emergency landing in the Russian city of Omsk after the blogger had suddenly felt unwell in mid-flight .
Navalny was taken to the hospital in a coma and was hooked up to a ventilator .
On August 22 , he was flown to Germany for treatment at Berlin ’ s Charite hospital .
On September 2 , the German government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxicological analysis by Bundeswehr experts , that Navalny had been allegedly poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent .
On Monday , Berlin claimed that three EU laboratories , including those in France and Sweden , had confirmed the German conclusions .
According to the German Foreign Ministry , the OPCW experts also took samples from Navalny , forwarding them to the organization ’ s reference laboratories .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany .
He noted that before Navalny was transferred to Berlin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his system .
For her part , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the German Foreign Ministry had not provided any evidence of the alleged poisoning to the Russian ambassador .

MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. Russia reacts negatively to Germany’s secretly passing to its partners biomaterials of Alexey Navalny from the Charite hospital in Berlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary on Thursday, stressing that Germany refused to cooperate with Moscow on that case.
"It is clear that this was done with political implications, so that Paris and Stockholm automatically confirm unfounded accusations that Berlin hurls at Russia," it said.
The ministry mentioned in this connection Sweden’s actions in 2018, in the so-called Skripal case. "In the wake of ongoing hysteria in the West around the ‘Skripal case’, Sweden was assuring us that the research lab at the Defense Research Agency in the Swedish city of Umea, that has now confirmed the alleged ‘poisoning’ of Navalny, did not have and could not have any samples of Novichok," it said.
"Now, as it happens, Swedish specialists have turned out to be competent to determine 100-percent sure the presence of that toxic agent in biomaterials of the Russian blogger," the commentary said.
The ministry also pointed to the activity of a group of French—Anglo-Saxon officials among the leadership of the OPCW Technical Secretariat, who carried out ‘a secret operation’ to take Navalny’s biomaterials and pass them for the tests to two laboratories designated by the organization. "We won’t be surprised if these will be the labs in Swiss Spiez and British Porton Down, that were already featured in the ‘Skripal case’," the ministry added.
"We have to state with regrets that countries of the West have overstepped all marks, turning the once reputed OPCW into a dirty instrument for putting into practice their destructive plots," the ministry summed up.
On August 20, a plane carrying Navalny made an emergency landing in the Russian city of Omsk after the blogger had suddenly felt unwell in mid-flight. Navalny was taken to the hospital in a coma and was hooked up to a ventilator. On August 22, he was flown to Germany for treatment at Berlin’s Charite hospital.
On September 2, the German government said, citing the results of a toxicological analysis by Bundeswehr experts, that Navalny had been allegedly poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. On Monday, Berlin claimed that three EU laboratories, including those in France and Sweden, had confirmed the German conclusions. According to the German Foreign Ministry, the OPCW experts also took samples from Navalny, forwarding them to the organization’s reference laboratories.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later that Russia was ready for comprehensive cooperation with Germany. He noted that before Navalny was transferred to Berlin, no toxic substances had been found in his system. For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the German Foreign Ministry had not provided any evidence of the alleged poisoning to the Russian ambassador.


tass--2020-09-17--Opposition in Belarus must realize they are being set against Russia, says Lavrov

MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
Former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and other members of the Belarusian opposition must realize that they are being manipulated , set against Russia , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RTVI television on Thursday .
`` It would be good if those who are rabidly setting the Belarusian opposition against the Russian Federation realized their share of responsibility , while the opposition figures themselves - Tikhanovskaya and others - found the strength to act against this rude and open manipulation , '' he stressed .
In reply to the question about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sochi talks of the Russian and Belarusian presidents , Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko , that ‘ any agreements are illegitimate ’ and would be reviewed by the new regime , Lavrov noted that it was not the first time that such statements were being made .
`` She said similar things when Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin went to Belarus and met with President Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko .
She said it then , '' he said .
`` Back then , the opposition expressed concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between our countries .
`` This is despite the fact that at the initial stage of the crisis , they declared that they were in no way engaged in anti-Russian activities , that they wanted to live in friendship with the Russian people , '' Lavrov said .
The top diplomat mentioned the opposition policy document that remained uploaded to the website of Tikhanovskaya for several hours .
`` Then opposition leaders removed it , realizing that they had made a mistake when they presented their aims and tasks to the public .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization , EAEU and all integration agencies in which Russia is a part , a drift towards the EU and NATO were among these aims and tasks , along with a gradual ousting of the Russian language , Belarusization of all sides of life , '' he noted .
`` We are not against the Belarusian language , but when Ukraine is taken as an example , when the state language is used to ouster the language spoken by the overwhelming majority of the population , then it is a hostile act , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its constitution .
If the same proposal gets into the Belarusian legal environment , this will be violating the Belarusian constitution , to say nothing about numerous conventions about the rights of national minorities and language minorities among others , '' Lavrov pointed out .

MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. Former presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and other members of the Belarusian opposition must realize that they are being manipulated, set against Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with RTVI television on Thursday.
"It would be good if those who are rabidly setting the Belarusian opposition against the Russian Federation realized their share of responsibility, while the opposition figures themselves - Tikhanovskaya and others - found the strength to act against this rude and open manipulation," he stressed.
In reply to the question about Tikhanovskaya’s statements ahead of the Sochi talks of the Russian and Belarusian presidents, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, that ‘any agreements are illegitimate’ and would be reviewed by the new regime, Lavrov noted that it was not the first time that such statements were being made. "She said similar things when Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin went to Belarus and met with President Alexander Lukashenko and Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko. She said it then," he said.
"Back then, the opposition expressed concerns about any more or less close relations between our countries. "This is despite the fact that at the initial stage of the crisis, they declared that they were in no way engaged in anti-Russian activities, that they wanted to live in friendship with the Russian people," Lavrov said.
The top diplomat mentioned the opposition policy document that remained uploaded to the website of Tikhanovskaya for several hours. "Then opposition leaders removed it, realizing that they had made a mistake when they presented their aims and tasks to the public. The withdrawal from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, EAEU and all integration agencies in which Russia is a part, a drift towards the EU and NATO were among these aims and tasks, along with a gradual ousting of the Russian language, Belarusization of all sides of life," he noted.
"We are not against the Belarusian language, but when Ukraine is taken as an example, when the state language is used to ouster the language spoken by the overwhelming majority of the population, then it is a hostile act, and in the case of Ukraine violating its constitution. If the same proposal gets into the Belarusian legal environment, this will be violating the Belarusian constitution, to say nothing about numerous conventions about the rights of national minorities and language minorities among others," Lavrov pointed out.


tass--2020-09-17--Putin, Lukashenko reaffirm commitment to reform Union Treaty

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russian and Belarusian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexnader Lukashenko held a meeting in @ @ @ @ @ reaffirm commitment to continue reforming the Union State Treaty considering the demands of modernity , @ @ @ @ @ said in an interview with New York-based international Russian-language RTVI .
`` Everything that is @ @ @ @ @ is now being analyzed , '' he said .
`` Both sides are coming to @ @ @ @ @ provisions of the Union Treaty are still relevant or whether additional amendments are required .
@ @ @ @ @ , with each of them dedicated to a specific section of the Union Treaty .
@ @ @ @ @ continue reforms is there . ''
`` This was also confirmed by the presidents in @ @ @ @ @ This is also proven by the meeting between the Russian and Belarusian presidents in Sochi @ @ @ @ @ Speaking about the results of the work to improve the Union Treaty , Lavrov noted @ @ @ @ @ the way the two countries will agree .
`` .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Russian and Belarusian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexnader Lukashenko held a meeting in Sochi on September 14 to reaffirm commitment to continue reforming the Union State Treaty considering the demands of modernity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with New York-based international Russian-language RTVI.
"Everything that is recorded in the Union Treaty is now being analyzed," he said. "Both sides are coming to a mutual conclusion whether certain provisions of the Union Treaty are still relevant or whether additional amendments are required. There are 31 roadmaps there, with each of them dedicated to a specific section of the Union Treaty. Therefore, the commitment to continue reforms is there."
"This was also confirmed by the presidents in their recent phone call. This is also proven by the meeting between the Russian and Belarusian presidents in Sochi," he added.
Speaking about the results of the work to improve the Union Treaty, Lavrov noted, "it will look the way the two countries will agree.".


tass--2020-09-17--Minsk forced to shut down borders with Lithuania, Poland and boost control with Ukraine

MINSK , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Belarus is forced to shut down its state border with Lithuania and Poland as well as boost border controls with Ukraine , Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday , calling on citizens of the three countries to stop their politicians and avert a ‘ hot war ’ .
`` We are forced to < … > shut down the state border with the West , particularly with Lithuania and Poland .
We are forced to ramp up the state border with our brotherly Ukraine , to our great sorrow .
In the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to build up a joint defense of the Union State with the Russian president and the defense minister .
We also boosted the long-planned drills that are being held in west Belarus , '' Lukashenko noted .
`` We also decided to hold them in two stages amid the difficult situation . ''
He added that he would not want to see a war waged in his country .
`` Even more so I don ’ t want Belarus or Poland and Lithuania to turn into a battleground where alien issues will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would like to address the people of Lithuania , Poland and Ukraine : stop your mad politicians and don ’ t let them start a war , '' he said .

MINSK, September 17. /TASS/. Belarus is forced to shut down its state border with Lithuania and Poland as well as boost border controls with Ukraine, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday, calling on citizens of the three countries to stop their politicians and avert a ‘hot war’.
"We are forced to <…> shut down the state border with the West, particularly with Lithuania and Poland. We are forced to strengthen the state border with our brotherly Ukraine, to our great sorrow. In the last few days, we have been forced to build up a joint defense of the Union State with the Russian president and the defense minister. We also boosted the long-planned drills that are being held in west Belarus," Lukashenko noted. "We also decided to hold them in two stages amid the difficult situation."
He added that he would not want to see a war waged in his country. "Even more so I don’t want Belarus or Poland and Lithuania to turn into a battleground where alien issues will be resolved. Therefore, <…> I would like to address the people of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine: stop your mad politicians and don’t let them start a war," he said.


tass--2020-09-17--Global oil demand to fully recover in Q2 2021, says Novak

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
The recovery of global oil demand is expected in the second quarter of @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Novak said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ global oil ] demand to fully recover in Q2 2021 , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ noted prerequisites to slowdown of global oil demand recovery recently , he added .
Novak @ @ @ @ @ surplus on the oil market .
`` Supply is currently less than demand by around @ @ @ @ @ allows gradually reducing the remainder of stock .
That supports the market balance , supports @ @ @ @ @ '' he explained .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. The recovery of global oil demand is expected in the second quarter of 2021, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel on Thursday.
"We expect [global oil] demand to fully recover in Q2 2021," he said.
Meanwhile, the ministry has noted prerequisites to slowdown of global oil demand recovery recently, he added.
Novak considers it necessary to prevent surplus on the oil market. "Supply is currently less than demand by around 1.5-2 mln barrels, which allows gradually reducing the remainder of stock. That supports the market balance, supports the general positive situation," he explained.


tass--2020-09-17--Accumulated global oil reserves down by 45 mln barrels in August, says Novak

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
The accumulated global oil reserves decreased by 45 mln barrels in August and @ @ @ @ @ July , Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Reserves accumulated in the second quarter are gradually shrinking , and we see @ @ @ @ @ the first two months when stocks declined gradually .
The reduction roughly amounted to 45 @ @ @ @ @ 34 [ mln barrels ] in July , '' he said .
Earlier following Thursday @ @ @ @ @ OPEC+ monitoring committee recommended that countries , which failed to meet crude production cuts obligations @ @ @ @ @ of inefficient reduction compensations by the end of 2020 .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. The accumulated global oil reserves decreased by 45 mln barrels in August and by 34 mln barrels in July, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel on Thursday.
"Reserves accumulated in the second quarter are gradually shrinking, and we see that July and August were the first two months when stocks declined gradually. The reduction roughly amounted to 45 mln barrels in August and 34 [mln barrels] in July," he said.
Earlier following Thursday’s meeting, the OPEC+ monitoring committee recommended that countries, which failed to meet crude production cuts obligations, should extend the mechanism of inefficient reduction compensations by the end of 2020.


tass--2020-09-17--Almost 40% of job seekers look for work on social media, survey reveals

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/ TASS / .
Nearly 40 % of job seekers who took part in an online survey of job search service Worki and research firm ResearchMe reported that they are looking for work using social networks , according to the research results made available to TASS on Thursday .
`` Worki , together with ResearchMe , conducted an online survey among 3,250 either employed or looking for a job on the Runet , which showed that 39 % of respondents are looking for work in social networks .
In addition , among job search channels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( 66 % of respondents ) and search through friends and acquaintances ( 51 % ) , '' the companies said .
According to the research , the use of social networks to find work is most popular among people under the age of 35 ( compared to those over 35 ) : 49 % of respondents under 24 and 43 % of respondents 25-34 usually look for work in social networks .
The older the users , the higher the proportion of those looking for work through friends , acquaintances and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45+ ) , only 35 % of respondents are looking for work in social networks .
The most popular ways to find a job in social networks , which were noted by respondents , are searching for vacancies in relevant communities ( 69 % of respondents ) , responding to posts on the employer 's official page or in the employer 's group ( 36 % ) , personal messages to the employer through the official page or group ( 19 % ) .
More than half of respondents ( 55 % ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in social networks , 48 % - ages 25-34 , 44 % - ages 35-44 .
The majority of users ( 78 % ) find it convenient to communicate with a potential employer on social networks .
Among the advantages of such correspondence , users note the speed of communication , the ability to see whether the sent message has been read or not ( for women this is more important than for men - 41 % versus 34 % , respectively ) .
The data is confirmed by the statistics of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of job seekers respond to recruiter messages within 5 minutes .

MOSCOW, September 17. / TASS /. Nearly 40% of job seekers who took part in an online survey of job search service Worki and research firm ResearchMe reported that they are looking for work using social networks, according to the research results made available to TASS on Thursday.
"Worki, together with ResearchMe, conducted an online survey among 3,250 either employed or looking for a job on the Runet, which showed that 39% of respondents are looking for work in social networks. In addition, among job search channels, respondents noted sites with job advertisements (66%) and search through friends and acquaintances (51%)," the companies said.
According to the research, the use of social networks to find work is most popular among people under the age of 35 (compared to those over 35): 49% of respondents under 24 and 43% of respondents aged 25-34 usually look for work in social networks. The older the users, the higher the proportion of those looking for work through friends, acquaintances and colleagues. At an older age (45+), only 35% of respondents are looking for work in social networks. The most popular ways to find a job in social networks, which were noted by respondents, are searching for vacancies in relevant communities (69% of respondents), responding to posts on the employer's official page or in the employer's group (36%), personal messages to the employer through the official page or group (19 %).
More than half of respondents (55%) aged 16-24 communicated with employers through messages in social networks, 48% - ages 25-34, 44% - ages 35-44. The majority of users (78%) find it convenient to communicate with a potential employer on social networks. Among the advantages of such correspondence, users note the speed of communication, the ability to see whether the sent message has been read or not (for women this is more important than for men (41% versus 34%, respectively). The data is confirmed by the statistics of the Worki application on VKontakte, where 75% of job seekers respond to recruiter messages within 5 minutes.


tass--2020-09-17--Russia, China won’t play by Western rules, says Lavrov

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Ideas that Russia and China will play by sets of Western rules under @ @ @ @ @ , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with New York-based international Russian-language @ @ @ @ @ was reading our political scientists who are well known in the West .
The following @ @ @ @ @ more pronounced : it is time to stop applying Western metrics to our actions and @ @ @ @ @ by the West at any cost .
These are very reputable people and a rather @ @ @ @ @ clear to me that the West is wittingly or unwittingly pushing us towards this analysis @ @ @ @ @ be done unwittingly , '' Lavrov noted .
`` However , it is a big @ @ @ @ @ will play by Western rules in any case , just like thinking this in terms @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Ideas that Russia and China will play by sets of Western rules under any circumstances are deeply flawed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with New York-based international Russian-language RTVI channel.
"I was reading our political scientists who are well known in the West. The following idea is becoming louder and more pronounced: it is time to stop applying Western metrics to our actions and stop trying to be liked by the West at any cost. These are very reputable people and a rather serious statement. It is clear to me that the West is wittingly or unwittingly pushing us towards this analysis. It is likely to be done unwittingly," Lavrov noted. "However, it is a big mistake to think that Russia will play by Western rules in any case, just like thinking this in terms of China.".


tass--2020-09-17--Lavrov expects situation in Belarus to return to normal soon

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
The situation in Belarus will soon return to normal , Russian Foreign Minister @ @ @ @ @ interview with the RTVI TV channel .
`` You know that a presidential election took @ @ @ @ @ he noted .
`` The situation is tense there because the opposition , which has @ @ @ @ @ of our Western colleagues , seeks to challenge the outcome of the vote .
However @ @ @ @ @ the situation will soon return to normal and the work to promote integration processes will @ @ @ @ @ top diplomat added .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. The situation in Belarus will soon return to normal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the RTVI TV channel.
"You know that a presidential election took place in Belarus," he noted. "The situation is tense there because the opposition, which has the active support of some of our Western colleagues, seeks to challenge the outcome of the vote. However, I am confident that the situation will soon return to normal and the work to promote integration processes will resume," the Russian top diplomat added.


tass--2020-09-17--US sanctions stall Syrian settlement, aim to stifle its economy, says Russian diplomat

A tendency towards normalization of the situation is gaining momentum on most of the Syrian territory under the control of its legitimate government .
The country ’ s authorities are taking steps to overcome severe consequences of the armed conflict , but the potential they rely on is sizably narrowed due to the violation of the territorial integrity of the Arab republic and disruption of economic ties .
MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
US restrictions are stalling the political process of the Syrian settlement and add to the sufferings of the Syrian people , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tough individual anti-Syrian sanctions imposed by the US and also its allies are having their toll .
Meanwhile , American restrictions , especially after the enforcement of the so-called Caesar Act , go far beyond the framework of US national jurisdiction , building barriers for international trade , '' the Russian diplomat said .
`` Politically , these measures are hampering the Syrian settlement , as well as the political process , including the activity of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva , while from the humanitarian point of view they add to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zakharova stressed .
`` Even amid the pandemic , Washington did not agree to certain humanitarian exemptions , continuing the policy towards economic strangulation of Syria as a state , as well as the Syrian people , '' she added .
The diplomat also drew attention to the behavior of the self-proclaimed administration in northeastern Syria , supported by the US , `` where local Kurds play the first fiddle '' .
According to her , this administration demonstrates movements potentially destructive for the unity of Syria .
`` On the one hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separatism , but on the other - it goes into dangerous games with the Americans by signing illegal contracts with them , and pandering to the plunder of hydrocarbon riches of the Trans-Euphrates region , '' the diplomat explained .
`` This is being done at the time when the Syrian people badly need these resources for restoring the normal functioning of the fuel-and-energy sector of the country , '' Zakharova stressed .
She also emphasized Russia ’ s readiness to continue rendering aid to the Syrian people .
`` I would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ o the UN Security Council , Russia is ready to continue giving assistance to the Syrian people in their standing against dangerous political and socio-economic challenges on the path of building a new and modern Syria in the interests of all its citizens , '' the diplomat summed up .

A tendency towards normalization of the situation is gaining momentum on most of the Syrian territory under the control of its legitimate government. The country’s authorities are taking steps to overcome severe consequences of the armed conflict, but the potential they rely on is sizably narrowed due to the violation of the territorial integrity of the Arab republic and disruption of economic ties.
MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. US restrictions are stalling the political process of the Syrian settlement and add to the sufferings of the Syrian people, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.
"Tough individual anti-Syrian sanctions imposed by the US and also its allies are having their toll. Meanwhile, American restrictions, especially after the enforcement of the so-called Caesar Act, go far beyond the framework of US national jurisdiction, building barriers for international trade," the Russian diplomat said.
"Politically, these measures are hampering the Syrian settlement, as well as the political process, including the activity of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva, while from the humanitarian point of view they add to the sufferings of the Syrian people," Zakharova stressed.
"Even amid the pandemic, Washington did not agree to certain humanitarian exemptions, continuing the policy towards economic strangulation of Syria as a state, as well as the Syrian people," she added.
The diplomat also drew attention to the behavior of the self-proclaimed administration in northeastern Syria, supported by the US, "where local Kurds play the first fiddle". According to her, this administration demonstrates movements potentially destructive for the unity of Syria.
"On the one hand, its leadership categorically denies accusations of separatism, but on the other - it goes into dangerous games with the Americans by signing illegal contracts with them, and pandering to the plunder of hydrocarbon riches of the Trans-Euphrates region," the diplomat explained. "This is being done at the time when the Syrian people badly need these resources for restoring the normal functioning of the fuel-and-energy sector of the country," Zakharova stressed.
She also emphasized Russia’s readiness to continue rendering aid to the Syrian people. "I would like to reiterate that relying on Resolution 2254 o the UN Security Council, Russia is ready to continue giving assistance to the Syrian people in their standing against dangerous political and socio-economic challenges on the path of building a new and modern Syria in the interests of all its citizens," the diplomat summed up.


tass--2020-09-17--Russia’s Sukhoi-27 intercepts US, Swedish planes over Baltic Sea

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Sukhoi-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Fleet ’ s air defense intercepted two planes of the US Navy and Swedish Air Force over the international waters of the Baltic Sea , the National Defense Command Center said on Thursday .
Russia ’ s air space monitoring means spotted two air targets approaching Russia ’ s border over the Baltic Sea .
A Sukhoi-27 jet was dispatched to identify them and prevent violations of the state border .
`` The Russian fighter ’ s crew identified the air targets as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poseidon and Sweden ’ s reconnaissance plane Gulstream and escorted them over the Baltic Sea , '' the defense command center said , adding that the planes did not violate Russia ’ s border .
After the foreign military planes turned away , the Russian fighter jet returned to base .
`` The Sukhoi-27 ’ s flight proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using airspace , '' the defense command center said .
Previously , a Sukhoi-27 jet intercepted a P-8A Poseidon plane of the US Navy over the Baltic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state border were permitted .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Russia’s Sukhoi-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Fleet’s air defense intercepted two planes of the US Navy and Swedish Air Force over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, the National Defense Command Center said on Thursday.
Russia’s air space monitoring means spotted two air targets approaching Russia’s border over the Baltic Sea. A Sukhoi-27 jet was dispatched to identify them and prevent violations of the state border.
"The Russian fighter’s crew identified the air targets as the US Navy’s patrol plane P-8A Poseidon and Sweden’s reconnaissance plane Gulstream and escorted them over the Baltic Sea," the defense command center said, adding that the planes did not violate Russia’s border.
After the foreign military planes turned away, the Russian fighter jet returned to base.
"The Sukhoi-27’s flight proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using airspace," the defense command center said.
Previously, a Sukhoi-27 jet intercepted a P-8A Poseidon plane of the US Navy over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday. No violations of the state border were permitted.


tass--2020-09-17--OPCW redirects Moscow’s request on Navalny case to Berlin

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow contacted the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons ( OPCW ) @ @ @ @ @ surrounding blogger Alexey Navalny but the OPCW said that requests should be sent to Berlin @ @ @ @ @ Maria Zakharova told Rossiya-1 ’ s 60 Minutes show on Thursday .
`` We contacted @ @ @ @ @ unfortunately , played for time and then said that we needed to contact Berlin , @ @ @ @ @ Berlin in turn , sent us back to the OPCW .
It is a vicious @ @ @ @ @ and absurd and everyone understands it , '' the diplomat pointed out .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Moscow contacted the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) with regard to the situation surrounding blogger Alexey Navalny but the OPCW said that requests should be sent to Berlin, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Rossiya-1’s 60 Minutes show on Thursday.
"We contacted the OPCW, which, unfortunately, played for time and then said that we needed to contact Berlin," she said. "Berlin in turn, sent us back to the OPCW. It is a vicious cycle, it is illogical and absurd and everyone understands it," the diplomat pointed out.


tass--2020-09-17--Belarus views European Parliament resolution as overtly aggressive

MINSK , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus stated that the European Parliament resolution on the republic adopted Thursday bears an aggressive tone and does not contain a single constructive or balanced idea .
The statement underscores that the Foreign Ministry `` has made sure as to the [ European Parliament ’ s ] inability to comprehend the processes going on in Belarus and [ EP ’ s ] complete disconnection from reality , a reason why this body is often being criticized by the EU ’ s own citizens . ''
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously aggressive tone and does not contain a single constructive or balanced idea .
It is impossible to go by anything in it , even if there was the will to , '' the statement reads .
In its statement , Minsk expressed disappointment that the EP , which peddles itself as a serious , objective and democratic structure , `` failed to muster enough political will to look beyond the end of its nose , to overcome the bias and not to fall hostage to cliches . ''
`` The MEPs could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law and respect for the sovereignty of other nations .
These qualities work much better at facilitating true progress in the international relations than the displayed intention to impose one ’ s own opinion , to rule the world or at least the entire Eurasia , '' the Foreign Ministry said .
On September 17 , the European Parliament refused to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the Belarusian president and demanded harsh sanctions against the official Minsk , including financial ones .
It also recommended looking into an option to include Russian citizens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , into the sanctions list .

MINSK, September 17. /TASS/. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus stated that the European Parliament resolution on the republic adopted Thursday bears an aggressive tone and does not contain a single constructive or balanced idea.
The statement underscores that the Foreign Ministry "has made sure as to the [European Parliament’s] inability to comprehend the processes going on in Belarus and [EP’s] complete disconnection from reality, a reason why this body is often being criticized by the EU’s own citizens."
"It is notable that the paper bears an obviously aggressive tone and does not contain a single constructive or balanced idea. It is impossible to go by anything in it, even if there was the will to," the statement reads.
In its statement, Minsk expressed disappointment that the EP, which peddles itself as a serious, objective and democratic structure, "failed to muster enough political will to look beyond the end of its nose, to overcome the bias and not to fall hostage to cliches."
"The MEPs could do with minimal knowledge of the international law and respect for the sovereignty of other nations. These qualities work much better at facilitating true progress in the international relations than the displayed intention to impose one’s own opinion, to rule the world or at least the entire Eurasia," the Foreign Ministry said.
On September 17, the European Parliament refused to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the Belarusian president and demanded harsh sanctions against the official Minsk, including financial ones. It also recommended looking into an option to include Russian citizens, directly involved in the support of Lukashenko, into the sanctions list.


tass--2020-09-17--Russian diplomat slams Poland’s accusations against air traffic controllers as absurd

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Moscow believes that Poland ’ s accusations against Russian air traffic controllers in relation to the 2010 Polish presidential plane crash are absurd , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday .
According to her , by ignoring facts and pushing the situation to the point of absurdity , Warsaw `` seems to be trying to score political points from the tragedy and put the blame on Russia '' so `` another absurd statement by the Polish authorities '' came as no surprise .
`` We call on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this show and stop bullying the Russian air traffic controllers , '' Zakharova said .
She noted that `` Warsaw ’ s demands to extradite them will lead to nowhere . ''
`` Under our Constitution , Russia… has no right to extradite its citizens to other countries under any circumstances , '' she explained .
The Russian diplomat pointed out that a transcript of conversations between the plane ’ s pilots and the air traffic controllers was available on the Interstate Aviation Committee ’ s website and those who were interested in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see it .
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the Kremlin viewed Warsaw ’ s accusations and demands negatively .
Poland ’ s Air Force One , a Tu-154 plane , crashed near the Russian city of Smolensk on April 10 , 2010 .
Under the conditions of reduced visibility , the pilots decided to land the plane .
The Tu-154 didn ’ t make it to the landing strip by a few meters and first struck trees before crashing into the ground .
The crash killed all 96 people on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Lech Kaczynski .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Moscow believes that Poland’s accusations against Russian air traffic controllers in relation to the 2010 Polish presidential plane crash are absurd, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday.
According to her, by ignoring facts and pushing the situation to the point of absurdity, Warsaw "seems to be trying to score political points from the tragedy and put the blame on Russia" so "another absurd statement by the Polish authorities" came as no surprise.
"We call on our partners… to put an end to this show and stop bullying the Russian air traffic controllers," Zakharova said. She noted that "Warsaw’s demands to extradite them will lead to nowhere." "Under our Constitution, Russia… has no right to extradite its citizens to other countries under any circumstances," she explained.
The Russian diplomat pointed out that a transcript of conversations between the plane’s pilots and the air traffic controllers was available on the Interstate Aviation Committee’s website and those who were interested in figuring out what had happened needed to see it.
Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier that the Kremlin viewed Warsaw’s accusations and demands negatively.
Poland’s Air Force One, a Tu-154 plane, crashed near the Russian city of Smolensk on April 10, 2010. Under the conditions of reduced visibility, the pilots decided to land the plane. The Tu-154 didn’t make it to the landing strip by a few meters and first struck trees before crashing into the ground. The crash killed all 96 people on board, including Poland’s then President Lech Kaczynski.


tass--2020-09-17--Ankara dragging feet on meeting its commitments under agreement on Idlib: Russian diplomat

MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
Turkey 's fulfillment of its obligations under the Russian-Turkish agreements on Syrian Idlib is being delayed , Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday .
`` Despite the success achieved in the fight against international terrorism on the long-suffering Syrian soil , the situation there is far from stable , '' the diplomat noted .
`` The terrorist organizations Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( outlawed in Russia ) and Hurras al-Din , Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda ( outlawed in Russia ) , have entrenched themselves in Idlib Governorate .
The activity of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Turkish military in the Idlib zone and joint Russian-Turkish patrols along M-4 highway at the section between Saraqib and Jisr al-Shughur , '' Zakharova said .
`` However , the implementation by Ankara of its commitments [ under the Additional Protocol ] to the Russian-Turkish Memorandum , signed on March 5 of this year , is being delayed , '' she added .
‘ The liquidation of the remaining gangs of Islamic State ( outlawed in Russia ) that regularly surface on both banks of the Euphrates , continues , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full use of the enclaves with a radius of 55 kilometers around the illegal US military base al-Tanf , as well as in the zone of the so-called oil interests on Washington on the lands of Arab tribes in the Trans-Euphrates region .
Syria ’ s legitimate authorities are still deprived of any access whatsoever to these areas of the country , and thus of a possibility to establish there basic order , '' the spokeswoman said .
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved a ceasefire in Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed to regulate the situation in the region during the talks in Moscow on March 5 .

MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. Turkey's fulfillment of its obligations under the Russian-Turkish agreements on Syrian Idlib is being delayed, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.
"Despite the success achieved in the fight against international terrorism on the long-suffering Syrian soil, the situation there is far from stable," the diplomat noted. "The terrorist organizations Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (outlawed in Russia) and Hurras al-Din, Syrian affiliate of Al-Qaeda (outlawed in Russia), have entrenched themselves in Idlib Governorate. The activity of these organizations is partially restrained by the presence of Turkish military in the Idlib zone and joint Russian-Turkish patrols along M-4 highway at the section between Saraqib and Jisr al-Shughur," Zakharova said. "However, the implementation by Ankara of its commitments [under the Additional Protocol] to the Russian-Turkish Memorandum, signed on March 5 of this year, is being delayed," she added.
‘The liquidation of the remaining gangs of Islamic State (outlawed in Russia) that regularly surface on both banks of the Euphrates, continues," she said.
"However, terrorists make full use of the enclaves with a radius of 55 kilometers around the illegal US military base al-Tanf, as well as in the zone of the so-called oil interests on Washington on the lands of Arab tribes in the Trans-Euphrates region. Syria’s legitimate authorities are still deprived of any access whatsoever to these areas of the country, and thus of a possibility to establish there basic order," the spokeswoman said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved a ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib province and other measures aimed to regulate the situation in the region during the talks in Moscow on March 5.


tass--2020-09-17--Russian diplomat slams EU’s idea of naming human rights sanctions after Navalny

MOSCOW , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
The idea of naming the European Union ’ s new human rights sanctions after Alexey Navalny is aimed at directing the restrictions against Moscow , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday , commenting on EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell ’ s initiative on the matter .
`` We view initiatives on naming new EU sanctions after Navalny as an overt attempt to direct them against Russia , '' she pointed out .
According to Zakharova , certain political forces in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at making sure that Brussels won ’ t backpedal on its destructive policy towards Moscow .
`` We expect that common sense will prevail in the European Union , so that our partners will abandon the practice of passing the buck randomly and will draw conclusions only from documented facts in the future , '' the Russian diplomat stressed .
She noted that Moscow ’ s calls on Berlin to cooperate in sorting out the Navalny incident were being ignored under flimsy excuses .
Borrell earlier told the European Parliament that the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be called the ‘ Navalny sanctions regime ’ `` in the same way that the Americans call it the 'Magnitsky Act ’ . ''
On August 20 , a plane carrying Alexey Navalny made an emergency landing in the Russian city of Omsk after the blogger had suddenly felt unwell in mid-flight .
Navalny was taken to the hospital in a coma and was hooked up to a ventilator .
On August 22 , he was flown to Germany for treatment at Berlin ’ s Charite hospital .
The German government said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a toxicological analysis carried out by Bundeswehr experts , that Navalny had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent .
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was ready to fully cooperate with Berlin .
Zakharova , in turn , noted that Germany had failed to provide any evidence of poisoning .

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. The idea of naming the European Union’s new human rights sanctions after Alexey Navalny is aimed at directing the restrictions against Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on Thursday, commenting on EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell’s initiative on the matter.
"We view initiatives on naming new EU sanctions after Navalny as an overt attempt to direct them against Russia," she pointed out.
According to Zakharova, certain political forces in the EU are boosting an information campaign aimed at making sure that Brussels won’t backpedal on its destructive policy towards Moscow.
"We expect that common sense will prevail in the European Union, so that our partners will abandon the practice of passing the buck randomly and will draw conclusions only from documented facts in the future," the Russian diplomat stressed.
She noted that Moscow’s calls on Berlin to cooperate in sorting out the Navalny incident were being ignored under flimsy excuses.
Borrell earlier told the European Parliament that the EU was working on human rights sanctions that could be called the ‘Navalny sanctions regime’ "in the same way that the Americans call it the 'Magnitsky Act’."
Navalny incident
On August 20, a plane carrying Alexey Navalny made an emergency landing in the Russian city of Omsk after the blogger had suddenly felt unwell in mid-flight. Navalny was taken to the hospital in a coma and was hooked up to a ventilator. On August 22, he was flown to Germany for treatment at Berlin’s Charite hospital.
The German government said on September 2, citing the results of a toxicological analysis carried out by Bundeswehr experts, that Navalny had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow was ready to fully cooperate with Berlin. Zakharova, in turn, noted that Germany had failed to provide any evidence of poisoning.


tass--2020-09-17--EU meddling: MP castigates Brussels’ call to scrap amendments to Russian Constitution

MOSCOW , September 17./TASS/ .
An appeal by the European Parliament to ditch the amendments to the Russian Constitution is nothing but flagrant meddling in Russia ’ s internal affairs , Chairman of the Russian State Duma ’ s Committee for International Affairs Leonid Slutsky told journalists on Thursday , noting that the resolution was not binding .
`` The resolution by the European Parliament on the circumstances surrounding Alexey Navalny ’ s alleged poisoning , when read between the lines peddles itself as a tactic for Russia ’ s ‘ democratization ’ with a demand to abolish the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outright and blatant meddling in our nation ’ s domestic affairs , '' Slutsky maintained .
He also pointed out that `` the resolutions of the European Parliament serve as a recommendation and are not binding . ''
That is why , there is hope that sober-minded European politicians will steer clear of these politicized and clearly not consistent with the reality assessments from European parliamentarians , he said .
The Russian legislator stressed that members of the European Parliament had `` in point of fact confirmed a provocative nature of all developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` This anti-Russian 'show ' was put on with an aim to further contain Russia , first of all economically , as well as to make new attempts to influence its foreign policy course , '' Slutsky stressed .
He is confident that the resolution of the European Parliament is in no way aimed at protecting human rights and democracy , but seeks to maintain `` the degree of anti-Russian hysteria , including with regard to the Nord Stream 2 project . ''
Appeals to tighten sanctions and to carry out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while refusing to answer the questions from Moscow `` are aimed solely at fomenting the anti-Russian sentiment for the sake of advancing someone ’ s vested interests , '' he stressed .
On Thursday , the European Parliament passed a resolution over the Alexey Navalny case .
In particular , it contains an appeal to the European Union to `` continuously demand that Russia repeal or amend all laws incompatible with international standards , including the illegally enacted recent changes to the Russian Constitution . ''

MOSCOW, September 17./TASS/. An appeal by the European Parliament to ditch the amendments to the Russian Constitution is nothing but flagrant meddling in Russia’s internal affairs, Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s Committee for International Affairs Leonid Slutsky told journalists on Thursday, noting that the resolution was not binding.
"The resolution by the European Parliament on the circumstances surrounding Alexey Navalny’s alleged poisoning, when read between the lines peddles itself as a tactic for Russia’s ‘democratization’ with a demand to abolish the Russian constitutional amendments, is nothing more than outright and blatant meddling in our nation’s domestic affairs," Slutsky maintained.
He also pointed out that "the resolutions of the European Parliament serve as a recommendation and are not binding." That is why, there is hope that sober-minded European politicians will steer clear of these politicized and clearly not consistent with the reality assessments from European parliamentarians, he said.
The Russian legislator stressed that members of the European Parliament had "in point of fact confirmed a provocative nature of all developments around the patient of the Charite hospital." "This anti-Russian 'show' was put on with an aim to further contain Russia, first of all economically, as well as to make new attempts to influence its foreign policy course," Slutsky stressed.
He is confident that the resolution of the European Parliament is in no way aimed at protecting human rights and democracy, but seeks to maintain "the degree of anti-Russian hysteria, including with regard to the Nord Stream 2 project."
Appeals to tighten sanctions and to carry out an independent probe into the Navalny case while refusing to answer the questions from Moscow "are aimed solely at fomenting the anti-Russian sentiment for the sake of advancing someone’s vested interests," he stressed.
On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution over the Alexey Navalny case. In particular, it contains an appeal to the European Union to "continuously demand that Russia repeal or amend all laws incompatible with international standards, including the illegally enacted recent changes to the Russian Constitution."


tass--2020-09-17--South Korea, Russia may resume passenger flights in late September

SEOUL , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
South Korea has offered Russia to resume passenger air service between Moscow and @ @ @ @ @ Hwang Sun-pil , an executive with the South Korean Ministry of Land , Infrastructure and @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
`` In July , the Russian side sent us a letter with the @ @ @ @ @ the international airport in Incheon and Moscow .
We are discussing this possibility , and @ @ @ @ @ offer to the Russian Ministry of Transport to resume Korean Air and Aeroflot flights starting @ @ @ @ @ official said .
`` The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Moscow informed that @ @ @ @ @ considering our offer , '' he added , noting that the flight from Incheon to @ @ @ @ @ blocked by the South Korean government , however , air carriers do not operate it @ @ @ @ @ demand , namely because the Russian government currently does not allow South Korean citizens on @ @ @ @

SEOUL, September 17. /TASS/. South Korea has offered Russia to resume passenger air service between Moscow and Seoul starting late September, Hwang Sun-pil, an executive with the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, informed TASS on Thursday.
"In July, the Russian side sent us a letter with the offer to resume flights between the international airport in Incheon and Moscow. We are discussing this possibility, and we have recently sent an offer to the Russian Ministry of Transport to resume Korean Air and Aeroflot flights starting late September," the official said.
"The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Moscow informed that the Russian ministry is currently considering our offer," he added, noting that the flight from Incheon to Moscow "has never been blocked by the South Korean government, however, air carriers do not operate it due to a lack of demand, namely because the Russian government currently does not allow South Korean citizens on its territory."


tass--2020-09-17--Kazakh president invites new Japanese PM to visit Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN , September 17 .
/TASS/ .
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has invited new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to @ @ @ @ @ s press service informed on Thursday .
`` With the aim to strengthen the strategic @ @ @ @ @ Tokayev invited Yoshihide Suga to visit Kazakhstan , '' the message informs .
The press @ @ @ @ @ had wished the new Japanese head of government success in his work for the good @ @ @ @ @ new Chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Yoshihide Suga , who formerly @ @ @ @ @ Secretary , was approved as the new Prime Minister on September 16 .
On August @ @ @ @ @ Minister Shinzo Abe announced that he wanted to step down due to health reasons .
@ @ @ @ @ and had also resigned due to health issues in 2007 .
Abe became Japan 's @ @ @ @ @ consecutive days in office .
All in all , as of August 24 he had @ @ @ @ @ post since the beginning of his second tenure in December 2012 .

NUR-SULTAN, September 17. /TASS/. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has invited new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to visit Kazakhstan, Tokayev’s press service informed on Thursday.
"With the aim to strengthen the strategic partnership between both states, Tokayev invited Yoshihide Suga to visit Kazakhstan," the message informs. The press service added that the president had wished the new Japanese head of government success in his work for the good of the country.
The new Chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Yoshihide Suga, who formerly served as the Chief Cabinet Secretary, was approved as the new Prime Minister on September 16.
On August 28, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that he wanted to step down due to health reasons. He suffered from ulcerative colitis and had also resigned due to health issues in 2007. Abe became Japan's longest-serving leader in terms of consecutive days in office. All in all, as of August 24 he had spent 2,799 days on his post since the beginning of his second tenure in December 2012.