tass--2020-08-12--Belarusian police open fire at attackers in Brest

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Police in Brest , southwestern Belarus , were forced to open fire early on Wednesday at armed citizens , who attacked them , the Interior Ministry ’ s press service said .
`` The warning shots in the air did not stop them .
In order to protect the officers ’ life and health , the weapons were used .
One of the attackers was wounded , '' the statement said .
Besides , an unidentified person threw a Molotov cocktail at a police car in the Brest region .
In the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car drove into a serviceman and fled the scene .
`` In the past day , five incidents occurred , when cars deliberately hit law enforcement officers , '' the ministry said .
The investigators opened 17 criminal cases into attacks on police .
Besides , early on August 12 there were attempts to block public transport in Minsk and a number of large cities in Belarus .
More than 1,000 people were detained in the past day .
Mass gatherings of people were reported in 25 settlements on August 11 night into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election on August 9 .
After the results of exit polls were announced , according to which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08 % of the vote , mass protests flared up in Minsk and other cities , which spiraled into clashes with police .
The protests continued at nights on August 10 and August 11 .
According to the Interior Ministry , several thousands of protesters were detained .
One person was killed when he tried to throw an unidentified explosive device at the law enforcement officers , but it exploded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key rival Svetlana Tihanovskaya , who garnered 10.09 % of the vote , has fled to Lithuania .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. Police in Brest, southwestern Belarus, were forced to open fire early on Wednesday at armed citizens, who attacked them, the Interior Ministry’s press service said.
"The warning shots in the air did not stop them. In order to protect the officers’ life and health, the weapons were used. One of the attackers was wounded," the statement said.
Besides, an unidentified person threw a Molotov cocktail at a police car in the Brest region. In the city of Zhodin, near Minsk, a car drove into a serviceman and fled the scene. "In the past day, five incidents occurred, when cars deliberately hit law enforcement officers," the ministry said.
The investigators opened 17 criminal cases into attacks on police. Besides, early on August 12 there were attempts to block public transport in Minsk and a number of large cities in Belarus. More than 1,000 people were detained in the past day. Mass gatherings of people were reported in 25 settlements on August 11 night into August 12 morning.
Belarus held the presidential election on August 9. After the results of exit polls were announced, according to which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08% of the vote, mass protests flared up in Minsk and other cities, which spiraled into clashes with police. The protests continued at nights on August 10 and August 11. According to the Interior Ministry, several thousands of protesters were detained. One person was killed when he tried to throw an unidentified explosive device at the law enforcement officers, but it exploded in his hand. Lukashenko’s key rival Svetlana Tihanovskaya, who garnered 10.09% of the vote, has fled to Lithuania.


tass--2020-08-12--Russia’s Aerospace Force to get Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets by year-end

`` Defense enterprises are delivering new aircraft to the Aerospace Force .
In 2020 , they have already delivered Su-34 and Su-35S combat planes , Yak-130 and L-410UVP-E20 combat training aircraft , Mi-8 and Mi-28 helicopters in various modifications .
Until the end of this year , the delivery of Il-76MD-90A and Su-57 aircraft is planned , '' he said .
MOSCOW , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Aerospace Force will get the latest Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets and Il-76MD-90A military transport planes by the end of the year , Aerospace Force Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant-General Sergei Dronov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Ministry has also launched work this year to develop the aerodrome network for the Russian Armed Forces : repairs are planned to be completed at 14 airfields in 2020 and their number will grow to over 100 by 2027 , the Aerospace Force deputy chief said .
`` In the first place , the works will be carried out at the aerodromes for advanced missile-carrying aircraft , the combat duty of strategic missile-carrying bombers , including in the Arctic zone , and the airfields of operational-tactical aviation , '' Dronov said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday on August 12 .
Russia ’ s military aviation branch was established on August 12 , 1912 when the Defense Ministry issued an order to withdraw the issues of aeronautics and aviation from the competence of the Main Engineering Department and transfer them to a newly-established entity - the Aeronautics Unit of the General Staff .
On August 1 , 2015 , Russia established its Aerospace Force , which integrated the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Troops .
From September that year , Russia ’ s Aerospace Force started providing assistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the request of the Syrian government .
The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air , ground and naval targets .
The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials , is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment , including a powerful onboard computer ( the so-called electronic second pilot ) , the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations , in particular , armament placed inside its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skies for the first time on January 29 , 2010 .
Compared to its predecessors , the Su-57 combines the functions of an attack plane and a fighter jet while the use of composite materials and innovation technologies and the fighter ’ s aerodynamic configuration ensure the low level of radar and infrared signature .
The plane ’ s armament will include , in particular , hypersonic missiles .
The fifth-generation fighter jet has been successfully tested in combat conditions in Syria .

"Defense enterprises are delivering new aircraft to the Aerospace Force. In 2020, they have already delivered Su-34 and Su-35S combat planes, Yak-130 and L-410UVP-E20 combat training aircraft, Mi-8 and Mi-28 helicopters in various modifications. Until the end of this year, the delivery of Il-76MD-90A and Su-57 aircraft is planned," he said.
MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russia’s Aerospace Force will get the latest Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets and Il-76MD-90A military transport planes by the end of the year, Aerospace Force Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant-General Sergei Dronov said on Wednesday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry has also launched work this year to develop the aerodrome network for the Russian Armed Forces: repairs are planned to be completed at 14 airfields in 2020 and their number will grow to over 100 by 2027, the Aerospace Force deputy chief said.
"In the first place, the works will be carried out at the aerodromes for advanced missile-carrying aircraft, the combat duty of strategic missile-carrying bombers, including in the Arctic zone, and the airfields of operational-tactical aviation," Dronov said.
Russian military pilots are celebrating their professional holiday on August 12. Russia’s military aviation branch was established on August 12, 1912 when the Defense Ministry issued an order to withdraw the issues of aeronautics and aviation from the competence of the Main Engineering Department and transfer them to a newly-established entity - the Aeronautics Unit of the General Staff.
On August 1, 2015, Russia established its Aerospace Force, which integrated the Air Force and the Aerospace Defense Troops. From September that year, Russia’s Aerospace Force started providing assistance in the fight against terrorists in Syria at the request of the Syrian government.
The Su-57 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of developing supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.
The Su-57 took to the skies for the first time on January 29, 2010. Compared to its predecessors, the Su-57 combines the functions of an attack plane and a fighter jet while the use of composite materials and innovation technologies and the fighter’s aerodynamic configuration ensure the low level of radar and infrared signature.
The plane’s armament will include, in particular, hypersonic missiles. The fifth-generation fighter jet has been successfully tested in combat conditions in Syria.


tass--2020-08-12--Belarus presidential candidates Dmitriyev, Cherechen contest election results

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Presidential candidates in the recent Belarusian election Andrei Dmitriyev and Sergei Cherechen have @ @ @ @ @ Election Commission to challenge the results , Dmitriyev himself and Cherechen ’ s spokesperson Viktoria @ @ @ @ @ `` Today , I filed a complaint , it is planned to be considered next @ @ @ @ @ TASS ] , '' Dmitriyev noted .
Meanwhile , Strelkovskaya underlined that Cherechen had also @ @ @ @ @ the commission `` to not recognize the election results . ''
Earlier , another candidate @ @ @ @ @ she was drafting a complaint of her own .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. Presidential candidates in the recent Belarusian election Andrei Dmitriyev and Sergei Cherechen have lodged complaints with the Central Election Commission to challenge the results, Dmitriyev himself and Cherechen’s spokesperson Viktoria Strelkovskaya told TASS Wednesday.
"Today, I filed a complaint, it is planned to be considered next Tuesday [August 19 - TASS]," Dmitriyev noted. Meanwhile, Strelkovskaya underlined that Cherechen had also lodged a similar complaint with the commission "to not recognize the election results."
Earlier, another candidate Anna Kanopatskaya also said that she was drafting a complaint of her own.


tass--2020-08-12--Russia plans to make 5 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccine per month in December-January

MOSCOW , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia plans to make 5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine per month @ @ @ @ @ the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gintsburg told reporters on Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ schedule , [ enterprises ] are expected to reach their full capacity in December or @ @ @ @ @ The capacity should be about 5 million per month , maybe even more .
If @ @ @ @ @ the entire country will be provided with the appropriate drug within a year , '' @ @ @ @ @ , Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had registered the world ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ Health Minister Mikhail Murashko , the vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center @ @ @ @ @

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russia plans to make 5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine per month in December-January, Director of the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology Alexander Gintsburg told reporters on Wednesday.
"According to the schedule, [enterprises] are expected to reach their full capacity in December or January. <…>The capacity should be about 5 million per month, maybe even more. If that is the case, the entire country will be provided with the appropriate drug within a year," he said.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia had registered the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine. According to Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, the vaccine was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology.


tass--2020-08-12--Minsk authorities put damage from riots at over $200,000

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
The authorities in Minsk have estimated the damage from the riots in the capital at more than 500,000 Belarusian rubles ( $ 202,570 ) , BelTA news agency reported on Wednesday , citing a local official .
`` The damage from the riots in Minsk exceeds 500,000 Belarusian rubles , according to preliminary data , '' the news agency reported , referring to Vladimir Lebed , who heads the economy and energy department at the Minsk city executive committee .
According to the official , the protesters damaged bus stops , traffic lights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a hundred containers .
This damage is equivalent to the price tag of 9 lung ventilators , which could have been supplied to hospitals , he noted .
All public utility services in Minsk are taking immediate measures to ensure order in the city , the official said .
During the protests , hundreds of landscape design compositions and flowerbeds were damaged .
The restoration effort is expected to take several weeks and could cost dozens of thousands of Belarusian rubles .
Belarus held the presidential election on August 9 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced , according to which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08 % of the vote , mass protests flared up in Minsk and other cities , which spiraled into clashes with police .
The protests continued at nights on August 10 and August 11 .
According to the Interior Ministry , several thousands of protesters were detained .
One person was killed when he tried to throw an unidentified explosive device at the law enforcement officers , but it exploded in his hand .
The Health Ministry on Tuesday said more than 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. The authorities in Minsk have estimated the damage from the riots in the capital at more than 500,000 Belarusian rubles ($202,570), BelTA news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a local official.
"The damage from the riots in Minsk exceeds 500,000 Belarusian rubles, according to preliminary data," the news agency reported, referring to Vladimir Lebed, who heads the economy and energy department at the Minsk city executive committee.
According to the official, the protesters damaged bus stops, traffic lights, road signs, tiled surfaces and more than a hundred containers. This damage is equivalent to the price tag of 9 lung ventilators, which could have been supplied to hospitals, he noted. All public utility services in Minsk are taking immediate measures to ensure order in the city, the official said. During the protests, hundreds of landscape design compositions and flowerbeds were damaged. The restoration effort is expected to take several weeks and could cost dozens of thousands of Belarusian rubles.
Belarus held the presidential election on August 9. After the results of exit polls were announced, according to which incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won 80.08% of the vote, mass protests flared up in Minsk and other cities, which spiraled into clashes with police. The protests continued at nights on August 10 and August 11. According to the Interior Ministry, several thousands of protesters were detained. One person was killed when he tried to throw an unidentified explosive device at the law enforcement officers, but it exploded in his hand. The Health Ministry on Tuesday said more than 200 people injured during the unrest were in hospitals.


tass--2020-08-12--Over 1,000 participants of unauthorized rallies detained in Belarus in the past day

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
More than 1,000 people were detained in Belarus in the past day over @ @ @ @ @ , the Belarusian Interior Ministry ’ s press service said on Wednesday .
`` On @ @ @ @ @ 12 morning the gatherings of citizens were registered in 25 settlements .
More than 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ in unauthorized mass events , '' the statement said .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. More than 1,000 people were detained in Belarus in the past day over taking part in unauthorized rallies, the Belarusian Interior Ministry’s press service said on Wednesday.
"On August 11 night into August 12 morning the gatherings of citizens were registered in 25 settlements. More than 1,000 people were detained over participation in unauthorized mass events," the statement said.


tass--2020-08-12--Press review: Russia's plans for coronavirus vaccine and why Tikhanovskaya fled Belarus

The Russian Direct Investment Fund , which partially funded the vaccine ’ s development , estimates the global demand for vaccines will be 3-5 bln doses by the end of 2021 .
`` The average price of vaccines on the market will be about $ 25 .
Thus , the market size will reach around $ 75 bln , '' Head of the Fund Kirill Dmitriev said .
The price of the Russian vaccine has not yet been disclosed .
However , a source familiar with the situation told Vedomosti , that a single dose will cost no more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the potential share of the Russian vaccine on the global market is estimated at $ 20 bln .
The first and second phases of vaccine trials in Russia were combined , this is a normal practice , the newspaper writes .
However , according to official figures , only 76 people were tested - specifically selected military personnel .
Meanwhile , the Gamaleya Research Institute has not yet presented detailed publications on the test results , unlike other vaccine developers - AstraZeneca , Moderna , and Cansino .
According to Vedomosti , experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccination of the population will begin before the end of the third trial phase .
They argue that the vaccine ’ s effectiveness must be proven by long-term observations and extensive field studies .
As of now , the first people vaccinated with Sputnik V will simultaneously become participants in the third stage of the trial .
`` It is necessary to conduct three phases of preclinical and clinical studies , checking the safety and efficacy of the drug on thousands of patients , because even a fraction of the percentage of side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm to health , '' professor Igor Gundarov told Vedomosti .
`` Post-clinical observations are also important , when after months or even years the patient 's condition is still monitored , because side effects may not appear immediately , '' he added .
Belarusian opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left the country for Lithuania on Tuesday .
Meanwhile , mass protests in the cities of Belarus are not letting down , as many enterprises in the country received information about possible strikes .
According to Kommersant , the Belarusian opposition is de facto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and could also seek a repetition of the Venezuelan scenario at home - that is , recognizing Svetlana Tikhanovskaya by the world community as the legitimate president of Belarus .
Belarusian politician Valery Tsepkalo , who had previously unsuccessfully tried to register in the elections as a candidate , told Kommersant that Tikhanovskaya could even lead the process from Lithuania .
Andrey Skriba from the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics told Vedomosti that Tikhanovskaya 's departure does not mean that protests in Belarus have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those who follow the developments , noted that Tikhanovskaya is not so much a leader as a symbol of protest .
She symbolizes freedom , new trends for all protesters , so nothing has changed for them , '' the expert said .
Skriba noted that possible strikes at Belarusian factories can deal a serious blow to Lukashenko 's socio-economic model , which was positioned as socially oriented , caring for the working population even in difficult times .
`` Now the very fact that people start to protest and go out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything is so good , why do they protest ? ''
the expert said .
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas flew to Russia as he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have many issues to discuss - cyberattacks on the German Bundestag in 2015 , the investigation of the 2019 murder of a Georgian citizen , and disruption of trade from the pandemic .
However , the two delegations had more in common than problematic issues .
According to Izvestia , the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar positions .
According to Maas , US sanctions are `` the wrong path '' , and in the end , deals with energy resources are Germany ’ s sovereign decision .
The Bundestag also insists on a tough response to Washington 's threats .
Head of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy Klaus Ernst told Izvestia that sanctions have already led to delays in construction - Swiss pipelayer Allseas succumbed to the US pressure , withdrawing from the project at the end of 2019 .
Lavrov , in turn , expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` As I understand it , there is reason to believe that this [ the project ’ s completion ] will be done in the very near future , '' he said .
However , the meeting of the diplomats was accompanied by news that made it clear that not everything is going well with the project , the newspaper writes .
In particular , the report of one of the project 's investors - German company Uniper - said that as US sanctions intensify , the likelihood of a delay or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases .
German political scientist Alexander Rahr told Izvestia that right now the future of the energy alliance between Russian and Germany is a matter of principle , however , conflicts that are often inflated by the press hinder an agreement on cooperation .
Turkish authorities are in dire need of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in Libya or Syria , but they do not want to jeopardize their relations with Russia , former deputy of the Turkish parliament and Senior Director of the Turkey Program at Foundation For Defense of Democracies Aykan Erdemir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Recep Tayyip Erdogan , who had earlier ordered to temporarily suspend the activation of Russian systems due to coronavirus , is extremely limited in his choice of options .
The Turkish leader is stuck between Moscow and Washington , Erdemir said .
According to him , on one hand , wanting to avoid US sanctions under CAATSA , Erdogan has postponed the activation of the S-400 .
On the other - needing the S-400 in Syria and Libya , Erdogan is afraid to turn Putin against him .
According to the expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erdogan 's decision to purchase the systems was a rash move , taken without proper risk assessment , taking into account Turkey ’ s specific needs .
Moscow might win in this situation either way , the expert said , because regardless of whether Erdogan activates the S-400 or not , the situation will continue to undermine Ankara ’ s relations with NATO allies , creating divisions in the transatlantic alliance .
Erdemir added that it is hardly possible to completely replace the S-400 .
Meanwhile , the United States is not backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanctions under CAATSA against Turkey for the acquisition of the S-400 .
The US and Turkey continue to bargain - in the face of a severe economic downturn , Washington 's disposition remains fundamentally important for Erdogan , Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes .
Cyprus became the first jurisdiction to revise the terms of the double taxation deal with Russia .
President Vladimir Putin allowed the government to continue negotiations with other countries to raise taxes to 15 % on dividends and interest from Russian companies .
Switzerland and Hong Kong are the first in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday at a meeting between the president and the government , Vedomosti writes .
`` Reaching agreements with Cyprus is significant for two reasons , '' Director of the Center for Tax Policy at the Moscow State University Kirill Nikitin told Vedomosti .
`` First , Russia has demonstrated ( primarily to other jurisdictions ) that it does not intend to retreat from the principled positions outlined by the president .
Second , a precedent was set - Russia made a sort of a compromise , allowing exceptions for bona fide structures created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which allows Russian groups to effectively raise funds .
This is also important for future negotiations with other countries , '' the expert added .
Moreover , Cyprus and Luxembourg are similar to Switzerland and Hongkong in terms of the conditions provided to foreign companies , Director of Tax and Legal Consulting at KPMG in Russia and the CIS Alexander Tokarev told the newspaper.However , there are fundamental differences , especially when it comes to Switzerland and Hong Kong , the newspaper writes .
According to experts interviewed by Vedomosti , the dividend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these jurisdictions compared to Cyprus .
Because of this , revising of agreements with Switzerland will be more difficult than with Cyprus .
TASS is not responsible for the material quoted in these press reviews

Vedomosti: Russia targets quarter of global COVID-19 vaccine market Russia received temporary registration for the coronavirus vaccine - Gam-COVID-Vac developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute, which will enter the market under the Sputnik V trademark. Representatives of the risk group (doctors, teachers, the elderly) will have access to vaccination first, and everyone else - starting from October. According to Vedomosti, Gam-COVID-Vac production is slated to reach 10 mln doses per month by December this year. Meanwhile, some experts do not trust the Russian-developed vaccine.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund, which partially funded the vaccine’s development, estimates the global demand for vaccines will be 3-5 bln doses by the end of 2021. "The average price of vaccines on the market will be about $25. Thus, the market size will reach around $75 bln," Head of the Fund Kirill Dmitriev said. The price of the Russian vaccine has not yet been disclosed. However, a source familiar with the situation told Vedomosti, that a single dose will cost no more than $20. The paper writes that the potential share of the Russian vaccine on the global market is estimated at $20 bln. The first and second phases of vaccine trials in Russia were combined, this is a normal practice, the newspaper writes. However, according to official figures, only 76 people were tested - specifically selected military personnel. Meanwhile, the Gamaleya Research Institute has not yet presented detailed publications on the test results, unlike other vaccine developers - AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Cansino. According to Vedomosti, experts are disconcerted by the fact that mass vaccination of the population will begin before the end of the third trial phase. They argue that the vaccine’s effectiveness must be proven by long-term observations and extensive field studies. As of now, the first people vaccinated with Sputnik V will simultaneously become participants in the third stage of the trial. "It is necessary to conduct three phases of preclinical and clinical studies, checking the safety and efficacy of the drug on thousands of patients, because even a fraction of the percentage of side effects during mass vaccination can cause colossal harm to health," professor Igor Gundarov told Vedomosti. "Post-clinical observations are also important, when after months or even years the patient's condition is still monitored, because side effects may not appear immediately," he added. Media: Why opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left Belarus Belarusian opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya left the country for Lithuania on Tuesday. Meanwhile, mass protests in the cities of Belarus are not letting down, as many enterprises in the country received information about possible strikes. According to Kommersant, the Belarusian opposition is de facto starting to create a government in exile, and could also seek a repetition of the Venezuelan scenario at home - that is, recognizing Svetlana Tikhanovskaya by the world community as the legitimate president of Belarus. Belarusian politician Valery Tsepkalo, who had previously unsuccessfully tried to register in the elections as a candidate, told Kommersant that Tikhanovskaya could even lead the process from Lithuania.
Read also Tikhanovskaya confirms departure from Belarus in video address
Andrey Skriba from the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics told Vedomosti that Tikhanovskaya's departure does not mean that protests in Belarus have been "beheaded". "Many of those who follow the developments, noted that Tikhanovskaya is not so much a leader as a symbol of protest. She symbolizes freedom, new trends for all protesters, so nothing has changed for them," the expert said. Skriba noted that possible strikes at Belarusian factories can deal a serious blow to Lukashenko's socio-economic model, which was positioned as socially oriented, caring for the working population even in difficult times. "Now the very fact that people start to protest and go out makes the average man think: if everything is so good, why do they protest?" the expert said. Izvestia: Nord Stream 2 future uncertain despite top diplomats pledging support German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas flew to Russia as he and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov have many issues to discuss - cyberattacks on the German Bundestag in 2015, the investigation of the 2019 murder of a Georgian citizen, and disruption of trade from the pandemic. However, the two delegations had more in common than problematic issues. According to Izvestia, the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline was one of the few topics where the countries have very similar positions.
Read also Nord Stream 2 project to be implemented shortly, says Lavrov
According to Maas, US sanctions are "the wrong path", and in the end, deals with energy resources are Germany’s sovereign decision. The Bundestag also insists on a tough response to Washington's threats. Head of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy Klaus Ernst told Izvestia that sanctions have already led to delays in construction - Swiss pipelayer Allseas succumbed to the US pressure, withdrawing from the project at the end of 2019. Lavrov, in turn, expressed confidence that the pipeline will be commissioned. "As I understand it, there is reason to believe that this [the project’s completion] will be done in the very near future," he said. However, the meeting of the diplomats was accompanied by news that made it clear that not everything is going well with the project, the newspaper writes. In particular, the report of one of the project's investors - German company Uniper - said that as US sanctions intensify, the likelihood of a delay or even termination of the pipeline's construction increases. German political scientist Alexander Rahr told Izvestia that right now the future of the energy alliance between Russian and Germany is a matter of principle, however, conflicts that are often inflated by the press hinder an agreement on cooperation. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Ankara torn between Washington and Moscow amid S-400 issue Turkish authorities are in dire need of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in Libya or Syria, but they do not want to jeopardize their relations with Russia, former deputy of the Turkish parliament and Senior Director of the Turkey Program at Foundation For Defense of Democracies Aykan Erdemir told Nezavisimaya Gazeta. According to him, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had earlier ordered to temporarily suspend the activation of Russian systems due to coronavirus, is extremely limited in his choice of options.
Read also Russia ready to sign new deal with Turkey on S-400 air defense systems


tass--2020-08-12--Protests in Belarus: more arrests and clashes in Minsk residential districts

Protests in Minsk against the result of presidential elections in Belarus moved to residential districts on August 11 .
According @ @ @ @ @ of people took to the streets in the residential districts of Malinovka in the southwest @ @ @ @ @ and Serebryanka in the south .
On August 9 , Belarus held its presidential election @ @ @ @ @ President Alexander Lukashenko securing his reelection with 80.08 % of the votes , while his @ @ @ @ @ 10.09 % of the ballots cast .
The other three candidates failed to get more @ @ @ @ @ After exit poll results were revealed late on August 9 , many cities and towns @ @ @ @ @ protests that in some cases turned into clashes with the police .
The national interior @ @ @ @ @ had been detained , dozens of police officers and protesters were injured .

Protests in Minsk against the result of presidential elections in Belarus moved to residential districts on August 11. According to TASS correspondents, hundreds of people took to the streets in the residential districts of Malinovka in the southwest, Uruchye in the northeast and Serebryanka in the south.
On August 9, Belarus held its presidential election. Preliminary results show incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko securing his reelection with 80.08% of the votes, while his biggest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 10.09% of the ballots cast. The other three candidates failed to get more than two percent each. After exit poll results were revealed late on August 9, many cities and towns across the country saw mass protests that in some cases turned into clashes with the police. The national interior ministry said some 3,000 people had been detained, dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.


tass--2020-08-12--Foreign criticism of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine groundless, health minister says

MOSCOW , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Foreign specialists ’ criticism of the Russian vaccine against the novel coronavirus is groundless and should be attributed to competition , Health Minister Mikhail Murashko told a news briefing on Wednesday .
`` Some foreign colleagues , who must have felt certain competition and competitive edges of Russia ’ s product , have been trying to express opinions that we find totally groundless , '' he said .
Russia on August 11 was the first to have registered its coronavirus vaccine , called Sputnik V , created at the Gamaleya National Research Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Ministry .
The vaccine underwent clinical tests in June and July .
It is based on an already available platform , already used for making a number of other vaccines .
The Health Ministry said the experience of using such vaccines indicates they are capable of helping the human body develop lasting immunity for up to two years .
The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund , Kirill Dmitriev , has said Russia has already received requests from 20 countries for 1 billion doses of the vaccine .
According to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected worldwide and more than 741,000 deaths have been reported .
To date , 902,701 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia , with 710,298 patients having recovered from the disease .
Russia ’ s latest data indicates 15,260 fatalities nationwide .
Earlier , the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation .

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Foreign specialists’ criticism of the Russian vaccine against the novel coronavirus is groundless and should be attributed to competition, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko told a news briefing on Wednesday.
"Some foreign colleagues, who must have felt certain competition and competitive edges of Russia’s product, have been trying to express opinions that we find totally groundless," he said.
Russia on August 11 was the first to have registered its coronavirus vaccine, called Sputnik V, created at the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry. The vaccine underwent clinical tests in June and July. It is based on an already available platform, already used for making a number of other vaccines. The Health Ministry said the experience of using such vaccines indicates they are capable of helping the human body develop lasting immunity for up to two years. The head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Kirill Dmitriev, has said Russia has already received requests from 20 countries for 1 billion doses of the vaccine.
According to the latest statistics, about 20.3 million people have been infected worldwide and more than 741,000 deaths have been reported.
To date, 902,701 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 710,298 patients having recovered from the disease. Russia’s latest data indicates 15,260 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation.


tass--2020-08-12--Belarus bans trade in pyrotechnics starting from August 12

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Belarussian Anti-Monopoly Control and Trade Ministry has outlawed wholesale and retail trade in pyrotechnic products starting from August 12 , the news agency BelTA said on Wednesday .
`` In connection with a resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers we are asking trade outlets to take urgent measures to enforce strict compliance with the aforesaid resolution and to prevent wholesale and retail trade in pyrotechnic products in the territory of Belarus , '' the ministry ’ s news release runs .
The ban is envisaged by the Council of Ministers ’ resolution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pyrotechnic items , effective as of August 12 .
Belarus on August 9 held a presidential election .
After the results of exit polls were announced , mass protest demonstrations began in Minsk and some other cities .
Clashes with police took place .
Nighttime protests occurred on August 10 and 11 .
Some demonstrators hurled firecrackers and flares at law enforcers .
According to the Interior Ministry , several thousand rioters were detained .
At this point one fatality is reported .
The Interior Ministry said the man `` tried to throw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' but `` it exploded in his hand . ''
The Health Ministry on Tuesday said more than 200 people injured during the unrest were in hospitals .
According to early returns available from the Belarussian Central Election Commission , the incumbent , Alexander Lukashenko received 80.08 % of the votes .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , regarded as his main rival collected 10.09 % .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. Belarussian Anti-Monopoly Control and Trade Ministry has outlawed wholesale and retail trade in pyrotechnic products starting from August 12, the news agency BelTA said on Wednesday.
"In connection with a resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers we are asking trade outlets to take urgent measures to enforce strict compliance with the aforesaid resolution and to prevent wholesale and retail trade in pyrotechnic products in the territory of Belarus," the ministry’s news release runs.
The ban is envisaged by the Council of Ministers’ resolution of August 11 on the circulation of pyrotechnic items, effective as of August 12.
Belarus on August 9 held a presidential election. After the results of exit polls were announced, mass protest demonstrations began in Minsk and some other cities. Clashes with police took place. Nighttime protests occurred on August 10 and 11. Some demonstrators hurled firecrackers and flares at law enforcers. According to the Interior Ministry, several thousand rioters were detained. At this point one fatality is reported. The Interior Ministry said the man "tried to throw an unidentified explosive device towards law enforcers," but "it exploded in his hand." The Health Ministry on Tuesday said more than 200 people injured during the unrest were in hospitals.
According to early returns available from the Belarussian Central Election Commission, the incumbent, Alexander Lukashenko received 80.08% of the votes. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, regarded as his main rival collected 10.09%.


tass--2020-08-12--Russia’s top brass to sign contracts for building six corvettes

KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR /Khabarovsk Region/ , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Defense Ministry plans to place an order with @ @ @ @ @ Far East for building six corvettes for the Navy , Defense Minister Army General Sergei @ @ @ @ @ From October , the Amur Shipyard will be able to obtain loans at a 5 @ @ @ @ @ defense chief said .
`` Here , we are planning to sign a contract with @ @ @ @ @ of the supreme commander-in-chief , the president of our country , on the construction of @ @ @ @ @ said at a meeting with defense industry officials .
The Russian government will allocate up @ @ @ @ @ $ 8.6 billion ) until the end of 2028 for fulfilling the defense procurement plan @ @ @ @ @ which will have a positive effect on the regional budget , the defense minister said @ @ @ @ @ he expected the regional authorities to assist the Shipyard in selecting and training personnel .

KOMSOMOLSK-ON-AMUR /Khabarovsk Region/, August 12. /TASS/. Russia’s Defense Ministry plans to place an order with the Amur Shipyard in the Far East for building six corvettes for the Navy, Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday.
From October, the Amur Shipyard will be able to obtain loans at a 5% concessional rate, the defense chief said.
"Here, we are planning to sign a contract with the enterprise on the instruction of the supreme commander-in-chief, the president of our country, on the construction of six corvettes," Shoigu said at a meeting with defense industry officials.
The Russian government will allocate up to 630 billion rubles ($8.6 billion) until the end of 2028 for fulfilling the defense procurement plan in the Khabarovsk Region, which will have a positive effect on the regional budget, the defense minister said.
The defense chief said he expected the regional authorities to assist the Shipyard in selecting and training personnel.


tass--2020-08-12--Mobile web access is on again in Minsk after three-day interruption

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Mobile web access has been restored in Minsk after a three-day interruption , the quality of service on the whole has significantly improved , TASS correspondent reported on Wednesday .
Around 6:30 am ( same time in Moscow ) , users in Minsk began to receive previously undelivered text messages .
The majority of sites were accessible , including news outlets .
Mobile applications became available as well .
However , independent websites that were actively covering the events on the streets of Minsk and other Belarusian cities remain inaccessible .
Websites of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are accessible intermittently .
The situation in downtown Minsk is calm .
The traffic is unobstructed along Independence Avenue and Independence Square , there are no protesters in the streets .
The internet access in Minsk disappeared in the morning of the voting day in the presidential elections on August 9 .
According to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , problems with web connection were caused by cyberattacks from abroad .
During these three days mass protests were underway in Minsk due to the results of the vote according to which the victory went @ @ @

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. Mobile web access has been restored in Minsk after a three-day interruption, the quality of service on the whole has significantly improved, TASS correspondent reported on Wednesday.
Around 6:30 am (same time in Moscow), users in Minsk began to receive previously undelivered text messages. The majority of sites were accessible, including news outlets. Mobile applications became available as well.
However, independent websites that were actively covering the events on the streets of Minsk and other Belarusian cities remain inaccessible. Websites of a number of human rights groups also are accessible intermittently.
The situation in downtown Minsk is calm. The traffic is unobstructed along Independence Avenue and Independence Square, there are no protesters in the streets.
The internet access in Minsk disappeared in the morning of the voting day in the presidential elections on August 9. According to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, problems with web connection were caused by cyberattacks from abroad. During these three days mass protests were underway in Minsk due to the results of the vote according to which the victory went to Lukashenko.


tass--2020-08-12--Russia’s coronavirus cases surpass 900,000

According to its data , the daily growth rate did not exceed 0.6 % in the past 11 days .
@ @ @ @ @ /TASS/ .
Russia ’ s coronavirus cases rose by 5,102 in the past day , @ @ @ @ @ crisis center told reporters on Wednesday .
Russia is first to register COVID-19 vaccine worldwide @ @ @ @ @ 689 cases were recorded in Moscow , 167 in the Sverdlovsk Region , 161 in @ @ @ @ @ the Moscow Region and 127 in the Rostov Region .
The lowest growth rate in @ @ @ @ @ in the Chukotka Autonomous Region ( 0.0 % ) , the Smolensk Region ( 0.1 @ @ @ @ @ Region ( 0.2 % ) , the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic ( 0.2 % ) and North @ @ @ @ @ .
Currently , 177,143 people are undergoing treatment for the coronavirus in Russia .

According to its data, the daily growth rate did not exceed 0.6% in the past 11 days.
MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russia’s coronavirus cases rose by 5,102 in the past day, reaching 902,701, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Wednesday.
Russia is first to register COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, Putin says
Some new 689 cases were recorded in Moscow, 167 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 161 in St. Petersburg, 152 in the Moscow Region and 127 in the Rostov Region.
The lowest growth rate in the past day was registered in the Chukotka Autonomous Region (0.0%), the Smolensk Region (0.1%), the Moscow Region (0.2%), the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (0.2%) and North Ossetia (0.2%).
Currently, 177,143 people are undergoing treatment for the coronavirus in Russia.


tass--2020-08-12--Meduza journalist detained in Minsk returns to Russia

MOSCOW , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Maxim Solopov , special correspondent of the Meduza online newspaper , who was apprehended in the Belarusian capital Minsk while covering protests there , has returned to Russia , the newspaper reported on its website on Wednesday .
It noted that Solopov had entered Russia overnight into August 12 accompanied by two employees of the Russian Embassy .
Meduza stressed that the journalist ’ s relatives and the editorial staff could not get in touch with Solopov for almost two days .
Its CEO Galina Timchenko earlier said citing Daily Storm journalists that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apprehension .
He was released on the evening of August 11 .
Meanwhile , the Russian Embassy in Belarus is verifying reports on the detention of Russian citizen Artem Vazhenkov , another Russian national , Igor Rogov , has been released and returned to Russia , Embassy Spokesman Alexei Moskalev told TASS .
`` Russian diplomats are verifying reports on Vazhenkov .
Rogov is already in Russia , '' he said .
According to previous reports , the Belarusian Investigative Committee confirmed that Russian citizens Artem Vazhenkov and Igor Rogov had been apprehended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were among the suspects in a criminal case opened under Part 2 of Section 293 of the Criminal Code ( participation in civil unrest ) .
Protests flared up in Minsk after the results of the August 9 presidential election were announced .
According to preliminary data of the Central Election Commission , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured his re-election with 80.08 % of the votes , while his key rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.09 % of the ballots cast .
Some 3,000 people were detained after clashes with police , the Interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protesters were injured .

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Maxim Solopov, special correspondent of the Meduza online newspaper, who was apprehended in the Belarusian capital Minsk while covering protests there, has returned to Russia, the newspaper reported on its website on Wednesday.
It noted that Solopov had entered Russia overnight into August 12 accompanied by two employees of the Russian Embassy.
Meduza stressed that the journalist’s relatives and the editorial staff could not get in touch with Solopov for almost two days. Its CEO Galina Timchenko earlier said citing Daily Storm journalists that the correspondent had been beaten during his apprehension. He was released on the evening of August 11.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Belarus is verifying reports on the detention of Russian citizen Artem Vazhenkov, another Russian national, Igor Rogov, has been released and returned to Russia, Embassy Spokesman Alexei Moskalev told TASS.
"Russian diplomats are verifying reports on Vazhenkov. Rogov is already in Russia," he said.
According to previous reports, the Belarusian Investigative Committee confirmed that Russian citizens Artem Vazhenkov and Igor Rogov had been apprehended in Minsk. It noted that they were among the suspects in a criminal case opened under Part 2 of Section 293 of the Criminal Code (participation in civil unrest).
Protests flared up in Minsk after the results of the August 9 presidential election were announced. According to preliminary data of the Central Election Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured his re-election with 80.08% of the votes, while his key rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.09% of the ballots cast. Some 3,000 people were detained after clashes with police, the Interior Ministry said. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.


tass--2020-08-12--Russian Emergencies Ministry’s hospital in Beirut receives over 500 patients

BEIRUT , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Doctors of the Russian Emergencies Ministry ’ s airmobile hospital in Beirut have @ @ @ @ @ since the beginning of its work on August 6 , chief of the ministry ’ @ @ @ @ @ Vorontsov told reporters on Wednesday .
`` The hospital has received more than 500 people @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ s sanitary watchdog - TASS ] Rospotrebnadzor has conducted more than 490 coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ ’ s psychologists have provided assistance to 52 people , including 13 children , '' @ @ @

BEIRUT, August 12. /TASS/. Doctors of the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s airmobile hospital in Beirut have received more than 500 patients since the beginning of its work on August 6, chief of the ministry’s taskforce in Lebanon Sergei Vorontsov told reporters on Wednesday.
"The hospital has received more than 500 people. The laboratory of [Russia’s sanitary watchdog - TASS] Rospotrebnadzor has conducted more than 490 coronavirus tests. The Emergencies Ministry’s psychologists have provided assistance to 52 people, including 13 children," he said.


tass--2020-08-12--Russian rescuers pull two more bodies from Beirut rubble

`` The bodies of two victims were recovered from the rubble , the total number of discovered bodies rose to ten , '' the crisis center reported .
BEIRUT , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Rescuers of the Russian Emergencies Ministry pulled two more bodies from the rubble at Beirut ’ s port , bringing the total number of recovered bodies to ten , the ministry ’ s crisis center in Lebanon told TASS on Wednesday .
In the past 24 hours , the Russian rescuers conducted the search effort on nearly 5,000 square meters at the port .
Currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because heavy equipment is clearing the rubble .
The head of the Emergencies Ministry ’ s task force , Sergei Vorontsov , said the rescuers would resume works at nearly 11:00 Moscow Time .
The Russian rescuers arrived in Beirut on August 5 to provide assistance to those injured by the blast at the port and take part in the search and rescue operation .
The Russian specialists set up a mobile hospital at the stadium .
Doctors from the Centrospas unit of the Russian Emergencies Ministry are providing assistance there .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Beirut ’ s port located near the Lebanese naval base and generated a shockwave , which either destroyed or damaged dozens of buildings .
More than 300,000 people have been left homeless .
At least 171 people were killed and nearly 5,000 others were injured , while dozens went missing .
According to Lebanon ’ s Interior Ministry , a fire was started by welding work and caused the detonation of more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate , which had been seized by the customs service and stored in the port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of emergency is in place in Lebanon ’ s capital , which was declared a disaster-stricken city .

"The bodies of two victims were recovered from the rubble, the total number of discovered bodies rose to ten," the crisis center reported.
BEIRUT, August 12. /TASS/. Rescuers of the Russian Emergencies Ministry pulled two more bodies from the rubble at Beirut’s port, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to ten, the ministry’s crisis center in Lebanon told TASS on Wednesday.
In the past 24 hours, the Russian rescuers conducted the search effort on nearly 5,000 square meters at the port. Currently, the works there have been suspended because heavy equipment is clearing the rubble. The head of the Emergencies Ministry’s task force, Sergei Vorontsov, said the rescuers would resume works at nearly 11:00 Moscow Time.
The Russian rescuers arrived in Beirut on August 5 to provide assistance to those injured by the blast at the port and take part in the search and rescue operation. The Russian specialists set up a mobile hospital at the stadium. Doctors from the Centrospas unit of the Russian Emergencies Ministry are providing assistance there.
On August 4, a powerful blast ripped through Beirut’s port located near the Lebanese naval base and generated a shockwave, which either destroyed or damaged dozens of buildings. More than 300,000 people have been left homeless. At least 171 people were killed and nearly 5,000 others were injured, while dozens went missing.
According to Lebanon’s Interior Ministry, a fire was started by welding work and caused the detonation of more than 2,700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which had been seized by the customs service and stored in the port for six years. A two-week state of emergency is in place in Lebanon’s capital, which was declared a disaster-stricken city.


tass--2020-08-12--China's commerce minister points out investors 'very important' for Hainan's development

HAIKOU , August 12 .
/TASS/.Foreign investors play an important role in Hainan 's free trade port , pointed out the Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said adding the Chinese authorities intend to create comfortable conditions for them .
`` It is necessary to consistently implement Hainan 's free trade port project , create a transparent and equal atmosphere for business so that foreign investors can develop there calmly and without fear , '' China Central Television ( CCTV ) quoted him as saying .
As the minister clarified , the Chinese government seeks to constantly increase the investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale of capital concentrated there by removing restrictions and eliminating barriers for foreign companies .
`` We need to experiment more , '' Zhong Shan stressed .
He noted that the coronavirus pandemic came as a shock to the Chinese economy , which faced major challenges in the first half of the year .
`` However , thanks to the combined efforts of the management and all subordinate structures , the development results turned out to be better than we expected .
This applies to both foreign trade and foreign investment , consumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded .
In April 2018 , President Xi Jinping said that the Chinese authorities intend to actively involve Hainan in globalization and to draw foreign investors to the island province .
By 2050 , according to the authorities , the island should become a unique international cluster with an advanced economy , developed tourism , top-notch scientific , technical and financial potential , and modern medicine .
The branches of the best universities and offices of the most powerful corporations in the world will be located on the Island of Hainan .

HAIKOU, August 12. /TASS/.Foreign investors play an important role in Hainan's free trade port, pointed out the Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan said adding the Chinese authorities intend to create comfortable conditions for them.
"It is necessary to consistently implement Hainan's free trade port project, create a transparent and equal atmosphere for business so that foreign investors can develop there calmly and without fear," China Central Television (CCTV) quoted him as saying.
As the minister clarified, the Chinese government seeks to constantly increase the investment potential of the region and increase the scale of capital concentrated there by removing restrictions and eliminating barriers for foreign companies. "We need to experiment more," Zhong Shan stressed.
He noted that the coronavirus pandemic came as a shock to the Chinese economy, which faced major challenges in the first half of the year. "However, thanks to the combined efforts of the management and all subordinate structures, the development results turned out to be better than we expected. This applies to both foreign trade and foreign investment, consumption," the head of the ministry concluded.
In April 2018, President Xi Jinping said that the Chinese authorities intend to actively involve Hainan in globalization and to draw foreign investors to the island province. By 2050, according to the authorities, the island should become a unique international cluster with an advanced economy, developed tourism, top-notch scientific, technical and financial potential, and modern medicine. The branches of the best universities and offices of the most powerful corporations in the world will be located on the Island of Hainan.


tass--2020-08-12--Suspected coordinators of mass protests detained in Minsk — Belarusian agency

According to the news agency , one of those detained had been staying at hotel `` Belarus . ''
He @ @ @ @ @ the actions of three subordinates .
Earlier , BelTA reported that the Minsk police detained @ @ @ @ @ money to the protesters .
`` During his detention the man put up active resistance @ @ @ @ @ and broke the nose of one of them .
In his backpack more than $ @ @ @ @ @ is believed to be payment for the participants of mass riots , '' the Interior @ @ @ @ @ .
Protests flared up in Minsk after the results of the August 9 presidential election @ @ @ @ @ preliminary data of the Central Election Commission , incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured his re-election @ @ @ @ @ votes , while his key rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.09 % of the ballots cast @ @ @ @ @ detained after clashes with police , the Interior Ministry said .
Dozens of police officers @ @ @ @ @

According to the news agency, one of those detained had been staying at hotel "Belarus." He is believed to have coordinated the actions of three subordinates.
Earlier, BelTA reported that the Minsk police detained a man who had given money to the protesters. "During his detention the man put up active resistance to the law enforcement officers and broke the nose of one of them. In his backpack more than $10,000 was found, which is believed to be payment for the participants of mass riots," the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Protests flared up in Minsk after the results of the August 9 presidential election were announced. According to preliminary data of the Central Election Commission, incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko secured his re-election with 80.08% of the votes, while his key rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya garnered 10.09% of the ballots cast. Several thousand people were detained after clashes with police, the Interior Ministry said. Dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.


tass--2020-08-12--Belarusian law enforcement officers deliberately hit by cars — BelTA

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
At least eight incidents , in which Belarusian law enforcement officers were deliberately @ @ @ @ @ were registered in various cities in the past two days , the BelTA news agency @ @ @ @ @ to BelTA , law enforcement officers view those incidents as a carefully planned event .
@ @ @ @ @ the capital Minsk , Baranovichi in western Belarus and Zhodino , a city some 50 @ @ @ @ @ On August 9 , Belarus held its presidential election .
Preliminary results show incumbent President @ @ @ @ @ with 80.08 % of the votes , while his biggest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 10.09 @ @ @ @ @ .
The other three candidates failed to get more than two percent each .
After @ @ @ @ @ late on August 9 , many cities and towns across the country saw mass protests @ @ @ @ @ into clashes with the police .
The national interior ministry said some 3,000 people had @ @ @ @ @ police officers and protesters were injured .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. At least eight incidents, in which Belarusian law enforcement officers were deliberately hit by moving cars, were registered in various cities in the past two days, the BelTA news agency reported on Wednesday.
According to BelTA, law enforcement officers view those incidents as a carefully planned event.
The incidents took place in the capital Minsk, Baranovichi in western Belarus and Zhodino, a city some 50 km northeast of Minsk.
On August 9, Belarus held its presidential election. Preliminary results show incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko securing his reelection with 80.08% of the votes, while his biggest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 10.09% of the ballots cast. The other three candidates failed to get more than two percent each. After exit poll results were revealed late on August 9, many cities and towns across the country saw mass protests that in some cases turned into clashes with the police. The national interior ministry said some 3,000 people had been detained, dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.


tass--2020-08-12--About 23,000 Russians still remain abroad — Lavrov

MOSCOW , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia will continue its effort to bring home citizens stranded abroad amid the novel coronavirus pandemic , as about 23,000 Russians still remain in foreign countries , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty daily published on Wednesday .
`` Repatriation flights are still being carried out , given that around 23,000 compatriots remain abroad , according to our estimates , '' he said .
Russia ’ s top diplomat went on to say that the massive effort to bring Russians back home is being carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , Russia has already managed to help a total of 275,000 citizens return to their homeland since mid-March .
`` Difficult flights were carried out to a wide range of destinations in Asia , Africa , Latin America , where we faced logistical problems , related to the planning of repatriation routes , sometimes to several capitals in one go , '' Lavrov said .
Other logistical problems were related to `` receiving flight permissions and settling matters of ground servicing of aircraft in a number of countries , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departure , sometimes from remote islands and regions , '' he added .

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russia will continue its effort to bring home citizens stranded abroad amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, as about 23,000 Russians still remain in foreign countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty daily published on Wednesday.
"Repatriation flights are still being carried out, given that around 23,000 compatriots remain abroad, according to our estimates," he said.
Russia’s top diplomat went on to say that the massive effort to bring Russians back home is being carried out amid harsh restrictions in foreign countries. However, Russia has already managed to help a total of 275,000 citizens return to their homeland since mid-March.
"Difficult flights were carried out to a wide range of destinations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, where we faced logistical problems, related to the planning of repatriation routes, sometimes to several capitals in one go," Lavrov said.
Other logistical problems were related to "receiving flight permissions and settling matters of ground servicing of aircraft in a number of countries, and the delivery of repatriated citizens to airports of departure, sometimes from remote islands and regions," he added.


tass--2020-08-12--Belarusian investigators suspect two Russian journalists of participating in riots - BelTA

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
The Investigative Committee of Belarus confirmed on Wednesday that Russian journalists Artyom Vazhenkov @ @ @ @ @ detained as suspects in the mass riots case , the BelTA news agency reported .
@ @ @ @ @ in Minsk at 02:00 on August 11 < … > displaying external symptoms of alcohol @ @ @ @ @ they have the status of suspects in a criminal case launched by the Investigative Committee @ @ @ @ @ part 2 of the Criminal Code ( participation in mass riots ) , '' the @ @ @ @ @ the Belarusian Investigative Committee as saying .
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said on @ @ @ @ @ Igor Rogov would leave the building of the Minsk main police department once the necessary @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991 .
Mass @ @ @ @ @ took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities on Sunday night into Monday morning after @ @ @ @ @ public .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. The Investigative Committee of Belarus confirmed on Wednesday that Russian journalists Artyom Vazhenkov and Igor Rogov had been detained as suspects in the mass riots case, the BelTA news agency reported.
"Those citizens were detained in Minsk at 02:00 on August 11 <…> displaying external symptoms of alcohol intoxication. At present, they have the status of suspects in a criminal case launched by the Investigative Committee in Minsk under article 293 part 2 of the Criminal Code (participation in mass riots)," the agency quoted a statement by the Belarusian Investigative Committee as saying.
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said on Tuesday that Artyom Vazhenkov and Igor Rogov would leave the building of the Minsk main police department once the necessary procedures are over.
On Sunday, Belarus held its sixth presidential election since declaring independence in 1991. Mass protests and clashes with police took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities on Sunday night into Monday morning after exit poll results were made public.


tass--2020-08-12--Nuclear powers should once again declare inadmissibility of nuclear war — Lavrov

MOSCOW , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Russia is working with other nuclear powers to once again confirm the principle of inadmissibility of nuclear war , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty daily published on Wednesday .
Russia ’ s top diplomat said the situation in the global security and strategic stability domain had been deteriorating rapidly .
`` Time-tested mechanisms of control over strategic weapons are being destroyed .
Military doctrines of certain states once again leave open the possibility of limited use of nuclear weapons , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ primarily as a result of Washington 's determination to ensure its global dominance by all means and create a dangerous illusion that the United States can win a nuclear war .
Russia , on its part , is trying to explain the possible consequences of such behavior .
According to Lavrov , in a situation when the inadmissibility of a nuclear conflict is evident for everyone , it is important to once again confirm this principle in relations between nuclear powers and in international relations in general .
`` We maintain close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-confirm this basic principle , '' he said .

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Russia is working with other nuclear powers to once again confirm the principle of inadmissibility of nuclear war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Argumenty i Fakty daily published on Wednesday.
Russia’s top diplomat said the situation in the global security and strategic stability domain had been deteriorating rapidly.
"Time-tested mechanisms of control over strategic weapons are being destroyed. Military doctrines of certain states once again leave open the possibility of limited use of nuclear weapons," he said.
In his words, those tendencies appear primarily as a result of Washington's determination to ensure its global dominance by all means and create a dangerous illusion that the United States can win a nuclear war. Russia, on its part, is trying to explain the possible consequences of such behavior.
According to Lavrov, in a situation when the inadmissibility of a nuclear conflict is evident for everyone, it is important to once again confirm this principle in relations between nuclear powers and in international relations in general.
"We maintain close contact with other nuclear states, work to re-confirm this basic principle," he said.


tass--2020-08-12--Law enforcement units leave Minsk, traffic restored

MINSK , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
Riot police , interior ministry troops and other law enforcement units , deployed in downtown Minsk to prevent mass protests against the presidential election results , left city streets early on Wednesday .
A TASS correspondent reported that police cordons have been removed and traffic restored at main roads .
The protests in Minsk moved to residential districts on Tuesday , after almost the entire city center was blocked by riot police and security officers .
Serious clashes were reported in the residential districts of Malinovka in the southwest , Uruchye in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost immediately , police reinforcements arrived there to quell the unrest , including with the use of stun grenades and rubber bullets .
In some places , protestors tried to erect barricades , but those attempts were quickly thwarted .
According to eyewitnesses , police and security forces were responding in a more decisive and tougher manner than the day before .
Many passers-by who did not take part in the protest were apprehended .
Officers stopped cars and detained passengers who wore white bracelets - a symbol of the protest .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of detained or injured .
Mobile internet was not available in the city for the third consecutive day .
Mobile communications are working normally .
Journalists were also being treated in a tough manner , with several cases of use of force against accredited journalists being reported .
Late on Tuesday , BBC Russian service said on its website its journalists in Minsk were attacked by a group of men without insignia .
According to the broadcaster ’ s website , a group of men wearing black uniforms approached the journalists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After that , he snatched the press card from a correspondent ’ s neck , grabbed his camera and attempted to break it .
The three journalists had official accreditation cards issued by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry .
All of them were wearing press vests and had their press cards on them .
On August 9 , Belarus held its presidential election .
Preliminary results show incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko securing his reelection with 80.08 % of the votes , while his biggest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 10.09 % of the ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get more than two percent each .
After exit poll results were revealed late on August 9 , many cities and towns across the country saw mass protests that in some cases turned into clashes with the police .
The national interior ministry said some 3,000 people had been detained , dozens of police officers and protesters were injured .
Moreover , law enforcement officers detained a few reporters .
Tikhanovskaya challenged the results , refused to recognize them and said that she believes herself to be the elected president .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election commission .

MINSK, August 12. /TASS/. Riot police, interior ministry troops and other law enforcement units, deployed in downtown Minsk to prevent mass protests against the presidential election results, left city streets early on Wednesday.
A TASS correspondent reported that police cordons have been removed and traffic restored at main roads.
The protests in Minsk moved to residential districts on Tuesday, after almost the entire city center was blocked by riot police and security officers. Serious clashes were reported in the residential districts of Malinovka in the southwest, Uruchye in the northeast and Serebryanka in the south.
Almost immediately, police reinforcements arrived there to quell the unrest, including with the use of stun grenades and rubber bullets. In some places, protestors tried to erect barricades, but those attempts were quickly thwarted.
According to eyewitnesses, police and security forces were responding in a more decisive and tougher manner than the day before. Many passers-by who did not take part in the protest were apprehended. Officers stopped cars and detained passengers who wore white bracelets - a symbol of the protest.
There is still no official information about the number of detained or injured. Mobile internet was not available in the city for the third consecutive day. Mobile communications are working normally.
Journalists were also being treated in a tough manner, with several cases of use of force against accredited journalists being reported.
Late on Tuesday, BBC Russian service said on its website its journalists in Minsk were attacked by a group of men without insignia. According to the broadcaster’s website, a group of men wearing black uniforms approached the journalists. One of them demanded to show accreditation. After that, he snatched the press card from a correspondent’s neck, grabbed his camera and attempted to break it.
The three journalists had official accreditation cards issued by the Belarusian Foreign Ministry. All of them were wearing press vests and had their press cards on them.
On August 9, Belarus held its presidential election. Preliminary results show incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko securing his reelection with 80.08% of the votes, while his biggest rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya received 10.09% of the ballots cast. The other three candidates failed to get more than two percent each. After exit poll results were revealed late on August 9, many cities and towns across the country saw mass protests that in some cases turned into clashes with the police. The national interior ministry said some 3,000 people had been detained, dozens of police officers and protesters were injured. Moreover, law enforcement officers detained a few reporters. Tikhanovskaya challenged the results, refused to recognize them and said that she believes herself to be the elected president. She also filed a complaint with the national election commission.


tass--2020-08-12--Trump calls nuclear disarmament with Russia world’s biggest problem

WASHINGTON , August 12 .
/TASS/ .
US President Donald Trump named the situation surrounding the nuclear disarmament talks with Russia world ’ s biggest present-day problem .
`` We ’ re dealing with Russia right now on a nuclear arms pact , because , and they want to do it .
They want to do it badly , '' Trump said in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt .
`` I don ’ t think they ’ ll wait .
I think they want to do it .
And it ’ s a great thing .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` We ’ re dealing with Russia right now on that , '' the US leader added .
US President Donald Trump said in response to a TASS question on November 4 , 2019 , that the US would like to make a new arms control agreement with Russia and China , and maybe some other countries .
A US Department of State spokesperson told TASS on April 9 that Washington was considering the possibility of extending New START .
New START , which came into force in 2011 , limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBM ) , submarine-launched ballistic missiles ( SLBM ) and strategic bombers , no more than 1,550 deployed warheads and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers .
The Treaty is set to remain in effect for ten years ( until 2021 ) unless a new document is signed to replace it .
The document can also be extended for no more than five years ( that is , until 2026 ) by mutual agreement of the parties .
On August 16-18 , Russia and the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic stability in Vienna .
The Russian delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov , the US one - by Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea .

WASHINGTON, August 12. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump named the situation surrounding the nuclear disarmament talks with Russia world’s biggest present-day problem.
"We’re dealing with Russia right now on a nuclear arms pact, because, and they want to do it. They want to do it badly," Trump said in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt. "I don’t think they’ll wait. I think they want to do it. And it’s a great thing. This is the biggest problem in the world today."
"We’re dealing with Russia right now on that," the US leader added.
US President Donald Trump said in response to a TASS question on November 4, 2019, that the US would like to make a new arms control agreement with Russia and China, and maybe some other countries. A US Department of State spokesperson told TASS on April 9 that Washington was considering the possibility of extending New START.
New START, which came into force in 2011, limits Russia and the US to no more than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and strategic bombers, no more than 1,550 deployed warheads and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers.
The Treaty is set to remain in effect for ten years (until 2021) unless a new document is signed to replace it. The document can also be extended for no more than five years (that is, until 2026) by mutual agreement of the parties.
On August 16-18, Russia and the United States will hold another round of consultations on strategic stability in Vienna. The Russian delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the US one - by Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea.


tass--2020-08-13--Brazil may begin production of Russian COVID-19 vaccine in late 2021

RIO DE JANEIRO , August 13 .
/TASS/ .
Brazil can begin production of Sputnik V , a Russian-made vaccine against the novel coronavirus , no earlier than the second half of 2021 , Reuters news agency informed on Wednesday , citing Jorge Callado , head of the Institute of Technology ( Tecpar ) in the Brazilian state of Parana .
Callado stated that tentatively , Brazil might begin production of the Russian vaccine in the second half of 2021 .
However , he noted that the Brazilian government might import it directly earlier if the vaccine is certified and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paulo Mascarenhas , head of the international relations department of Parana , said in an interview with CNN Brasil that clinical trials of the Russian vaccine would begin within a month .
If on the outcomes of the trials , Tecpar takes an interest in the production of the vaccine , it will require capital investment to the tune of 80 mln Brazilian reals ( about $ 15 mln ) from foreign investors or federal officials , Reuters informs .
On Wednesday , Parana Governor Ratinho Junior and Russian Direct Investment Fund ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memorandum of understanding , based on which the southern state plans to test the Russian coronavirus vaccine with a further possibility to produce it .
The ceremony was held in the online format .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine , which was named Sputnik V. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko informed that the vaccine created by the N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology had shown its effectiveness and safety on the outcomes of clinical trials .
It was created on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the development of a number of other vaccines .
According to the Russian Health Ministry , experience shows that such vaccines are capable of developing long-term immunity that lasts for up to two years .
Dmitriev pointed out that Russia had received applications for more than 1 bln doses of the vaccine from 20 countries .

RIO DE JANEIRO, August 13. /TASS/. Brazil can begin production of Sputnik V, a Russian-made vaccine against the novel coronavirus, no earlier than the second half of 2021, Reuters news agency informed on Wednesday, citing Jorge Callado, head of the Institute of Technology (Tecpar) in the Brazilian state of Parana.
Callado stated that tentatively, Brazil might begin production of the Russian vaccine in the second half of 2021. However, he noted that the Brazilian government might import it directly earlier if the vaccine is certified and registered in Brazil.
Earlier, Luis Paulo Mascarenhas, head of the international relations department of Parana, said in an interview with CNN Brasil that clinical trials of the Russian vaccine would begin within a month. If on the outcomes of the trials, Tecpar takes an interest in the production of the vaccine, it will require capital investment to the tune of 80 mln Brazilian reals (about $15 mln) from foreign investors or federal officials, Reuters informs.
"We believe that legal procedures will take about 10-20 days. If federal bodies register the vaccine, we will begin testing. We hope that this process will not be stalled and that we will receive all necessary data to finish this stage quickly. I would suppose that we will need 20-30 days," the official said.
Mascarenhas noted that before the third stage of clinical trials begins, researchers at the Parana Institute of Technology (Tecpar) will analyze all documents available on the previous stages of testing held in Russia. "This will be done in accordance with national and international standards," he added.
On Wednesday, Parana Governor Ratinho Junior and Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) head Kirill Dmitriev signed a memorandum of understanding, based on which the southern state plans to test the Russian coronavirus vaccine with a further possibility to produce it. The ceremony was held in the online format.
On August 11, Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine, which was named Sputnik V. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko informed that the vaccine created by the N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology had shown its effectiveness and safety on the outcomes of clinical trials. It was created on a platform that had been used for the development of a number of other vaccines. According to the Russian Health Ministry, experience shows that such vaccines are capable of developing long-term immunity that lasts for up to two years. Dmitriev pointed out that Russia had received applications for more than 1 bln doses of the vaccine from 20 countries.


tass--2020-08-13--Pompeo says US may consider sanctions against Belarus

WASHINGTON , August 13 .
/TASS/ .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US would consider the possibility of introducing sanctions against Belarus due to the current events in the republic .
`` Oh , I ’ m sure we ’ ll look at each of these things , and the important thing to note is the criteria .
What is it that we believe that we can do , not just the United States unilaterally , but in a multilateral way to deliver good outcomes for the Belarusian people , whether that turns out to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions about product deliveries ?
Those are all things that are yet to be determined , '' Pompeo said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published on the US State Department ’ s website .
`` We ’ re going to have to work through that , '' the US secretary of state said in response to the question on the possible changes made to the US-Belarus relations , namely in relation to the deliveries of US oil to Belarus and the dispatching the US ambassador to Minsk .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the election and deeply disappointed that it wasn ’ t more free and more fair .
We ’ ve seen this behavior before , and we regret that this is how it ’ s transpired .
Then we ’ ve watched the violence and the aftermath , peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated , '' he said .
`` We haven ’ t settled out what the appropriate response is , but I can tell you this : We ’ ll work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here who are equally concerned about what took place .
We want good outcomes for the Belarusian people and we ’ ll take actions consistent with that , '' Pompeo concluded .
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9 .
According to the preliminary results provided by the Belarusian Central Election Committee , incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko got 80.08 % of the vote .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who was considered his main opponent , came in second with 10.09 % .
She stated that she didn ’ t recognize these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state , and filed a complaint with the Central Election Committee .
After exit poll results were announced in the evening of August 9 , protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other regions of the country , leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces .
The protests continued on August 10 and 11 .
As a result , several thousand people were detained , dozens of police officers and protesters were injured .

WASHINGTON, August 13. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US would consider the possibility of introducing sanctions against Belarus due to the current events in the republic.
"Oh, I’m sure we’ll look at each of these things, and the important thing to note is the criteria. What is it that we believe that we can do, not just the United States unilaterally, but in a multilateral way to deliver good outcomes for the Belarusian people, whether that turns out to be sanctions or turns out to be making decisions about product deliveries? Those are all things that are yet to be determined," Pompeo said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty published on the US State Department’s website.
"We’re going to have to work through that," the US secretary of state said in response to the question on the possible changes made to the US-Belarus relations, namely in relation to the deliveries of US oil to Belarus and the dispatching the US ambassador to Minsk. "As you said, we were incredibly troubled by the election and deeply disappointed that it wasn’t more free and more fair. We’ve seen this behavior before, and we regret that this is how it’s transpired. Then we’ve watched the violence and the aftermath, peaceful protesters being treated in ways that are inconsistent with how they should be treated," he said.
"We haven’t settled out what the appropriate response is, but I can tell you this: We’ll work with our European friends, our freedom-loving friends here who are equally concerned about what took place. We want good outcomes for the Belarusian people and we’ll take actions consistent with that," Pompeo concluded.
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9. According to the preliminary results provided by the Belarusian Central Election Committee, incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko got 80.08% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was considered his main opponent, came in second with 10.09%. She stated that she didn’t recognize these results, considering herself the elected head of state, and filed a complaint with the Central Election Committee. After exit poll results were announced in the evening of August 9, protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other regions of the country, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces. The protests continued on August 10 and 11. As a result, several thousand people were detained, dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.


tass--2020-08-13--US Central Command claims Iranian military overtook ship in international waters

TASS , August 13 .
The US Central Command ( CENTCOM ) stated on Twitter that the Iranian military had overtook a ship named Wila in international waters .
`` Today in international waters , Iranian forces , including two ships and an Iranian `` Sea King '' helicopter , overtook and boarded a ship called the ‘ Wila , ’ '' CENTCOM tweeted on Wednesday .
According to the Marine Traffic monitoring service , the Wila tanker sailing under the Liberian flag was headed from the UAE port of Al Hamriyah to an anchorage belonging to the UAE near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coast of the Gulf of Oman .
The latest data on the ship ’ s location from 0:02 Moscow time shows the ship located close to the anchorage .
On July 19 , Iran ’ s Islamic Republic News Agency ( IRNA ) reported that the Stena Impero oil tanker flying the British flag had been detained in the Strait of Hormuz .
According to Iran ’ s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , the tanker was detained for violating international rules and was escorted to the shore for inspections .
This incident caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western states .

TASS, August 13. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Twitter that the Iranian military had overtook a ship named Wila in international waters.
"Today in international waters, Iranian forces, including two ships and an Iranian "Sea King" helicopter, overtook and boarded a ship called the ‘Wila,’" CENTCOM tweeted on Wednesday.
According to the Marine Traffic monitoring service, the Wila tanker sailing under the Liberian flag was headed from the UAE port of Al Hamriyah to an anchorage belonging to the UAE near the city of Khor Fakkan on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. The latest data on the ship’s location from 0:02 Moscow time shows the ship located close to the anchorage.
On July 19, Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that the Stena Impero oil tanker flying the British flag had been detained in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the tanker was detained for violating international rules and was escorted to the shore for inspections. This incident caused a rise in tensions between Tehran and Western states.


tass--2020-08-13--Minsk riot police detain two people making Molotov cocktails

MINSK , August 13 .
/TASS/ .
Special purpose mobile units of the Belarusian police ( OMON ) have detained @ @ @ @ @ were preparing Molotov cocktails , the Belarusian Interior Ministry ’ s press service informed .
@ @ @ @ @ ( local time , same as Moscow time - TASS ) , members of OMON @ @ @ @ @ the capital at Yakubovskaya street in Minsk who were filling the bottles with explosive liquid @ @ @ @ @ ( 18 and 19 years old ) had been searched , a 10-liter canister of @ @ @ @ @ vegetable oil were found , '' the Belarusian Interior Ministry Spokesperson Olga Chemodanova informed on @ @ @ @ @ to her , the detained planned to use the Molotov cocktails against law enforcement officers @ @ @ @ @ .

MINSK, August 13. /TASS/. Special purpose mobile units of the Belarusian police (OMON) have detained two people in Minsk who were preparing Molotov cocktails, the Belarusian Interior Ministry’s press service informed.
"Today, at 19:40 (local time, same as Moscow time - TASS), members of OMON have detained two residents of the capital at Yakubovskaya street in Minsk who were filling the bottles with explosive liquid. After the young men (18 and 19 years old) had been searched, a 10-liter canister of gasoline and a bottle of vegetable oil were found," the Belarusian Interior Ministry Spokesperson Olga Chemodanova informed on her Telegram channel.
According to her, the detained planned to use the Molotov cocktails against law enforcement officers during mass protests in Minsk.


tass--2020-08-13--Police once again use impact munitions against protesters in uptown Minsk

MINSK , August 13 .
/TASS/ .
Clashes between police and participants in protests against the results of the Sunday ’ s presidential election in Belarus have taken place in some areas of uptown Minsk on Wednesday .
Against the background of mostly calm situation in other parts of the capital city , protesters and police have clashed in Uruchye neighborhood .
TASS reports from the site that explosions of stun grenades can be heard and the sound of rubber bullets fired .
Law enforcement officers are detaining people , who are trying to hide in off-streets .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the police in their apartments .
The situation in the neighboring Zelyony Lug district is also tense .
About 50 people have gathered there and are trying to block Logoisky Trakt Street .
Small groups of people gathered in other districts of the city .
People lined up near the roads holding flowers to symbolize the non-aggressive nature of their actions .
Passing cars honked in support of the protesters .
After police units arrived , people chose to leave the sites of the protests .
The Belarusian law enforcement made several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on August 9 .
According to the preliminary results provided by the Belarusian Central Election Committee , incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko got 80.08 % of the vote .
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya , who was considered his main opponent , came in second with 10.09 % .
She stated that she didn ’ t recognize these results , considering herself the elected head of state , and filed a complaint with the Central Election Committee .
After exit poll results were announced in the evening of August 9 , protests erupted in downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces .
The protests continued on August 10 and 11 .
As a result , according to the republic ’ s Interior Ministry , about 6,000 people were detained , dozens of police officers and protesters were injured .

MINSK, August 13. /TASS/. Clashes between police and participants in protests against the results of the Sunday’s presidential election in Belarus have taken place in some areas of uptown Minsk on Wednesday.
Against the background of mostly calm situation in other parts of the capital city, protesters and police have clashed in Uruchye neighborhood. TASS reports from the site that explosions of stun grenades can be heard and the sound of rubber bullets fired. Law enforcement officers are detaining people, who are trying to hide in off-streets. According to eyewitnesses, local residents are hiding neighbors from the police in their apartments.
The situation in the neighboring Zelyony Lug district is also tense. About 50 people have gathered there and are trying to block Logoisky Trakt Street.
Small groups of people gathered in other districts of the city. People lined up near the roads holding flowers to symbolize the non-aggressive nature of their actions. Passing cars honked in support of the protesters. After police units arrived, people chose to leave the sites of the protests. The Belarusian law enforcement made several arrests.
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9. According to the preliminary results provided by the Belarusian Central Election Committee, incumbent President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko got 80.08% of the vote. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who was considered his main opponent, came in second with 10.09%. She stated that she didn’t recognize these results, considering herself the elected head of state, and filed a complaint with the Central Election Committee. After exit poll results were announced in the evening of August 9, protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other regions of the country, leading to clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces. The protests continued on August 10 and 11. As a result, according to the republic’s Interior Ministry, about 6,000 people were detained, dozens of police officers and protesters were injured.