tass--2020-10-20--Argentina’s coronavirus case tally exceeds 1 mln

BUENOS AIRES , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Argentina ’ s doctors confirmed 12,982 new coronavirus cases , and the @ @ @ @ @ in the country reached 1,002,662 , the Health Ministry reported on Monday .
So , @ @ @ @ @ s fifth country with over 1 mln of coronavirus cases after the United States , @ @ @ @ @ .
Most new cases of infection were recorded in the Buenos Aires province ( 4,206 @ @ @ @ @ in second with 2,050 confirmed cases .
Some 557 citizens contracted the coronavirus in the @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours , 451 coronavirus patients died .
According to the Health Ministry , the @ @ @ @ @ .
By now , 803,965 people have recovered in Argentina .
The authorities confirmed the @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
Since March 20 quarantine restrictions have been in effect .

BUENOS AIRES, October 20. /TASS/. Argentina’s doctors confirmed 12,982 new coronavirus cases, and the total number of those infected in the country reached 1,002,662, the Health Ministry reported on Monday.
So, Argentina became the world’s fifth country with over 1 mln of coronavirus cases after the United States, Brazil, India and Russia.
Most new cases of infection were recorded in the Buenos Aires province (4,206). Santa Fe comes in second with 2,050 confirmed cases. Some 557 citizens contracted the coronavirus in the capital.
In the past 24 hours, 451 coronavirus patients died. According to the Health Ministry, the total death toll hit 26,716. By now, 803,965 people have recovered in Argentina.
The authorities confirmed the first coronavirus case on March 3. Since March 20 quarantine restrictions have been in effect.


tass--2020-10-20--Russian envoy: UN Security Council discusses verification of Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire

THE UNITED NATIONS , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The UN Security Council discussed the need to ensure verification of a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh , Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya told reporters on Monday after a closed-door meeting on the disputed region .
`` There is a need to ensure verification ( of a ceasefire - TASS ) , I think that ’ s the most pressing issue now , since the agreement on a ceasefire has been reached it was not observed , '' said Nebenzya , who presides over the UN Security Council in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to verify the ceasefire , which is being violated . ''
According to Nebenzya , there were reports that the Russian defense minister had discussed with his Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues how to implement this verification mechanism .
`` This issue was raised of course at the consultations and the Council was pretty much united on how they see it , '' the diplomat said .
Meanwhile , he explained that a special mandate of the Security Council would be required for sending a UN observer mission to the region .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediate thing , '' he said .
The Russian envoy did not rule out that the verification process could be implemented by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , which leads the settlement .
`` Who will be there and in what capacity , who will be actually verifying it - that ’ s still a question being discussed . ''
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
As a result of the Russia-initiated consultations in Moscow Baku and Yerevan agreed to cease fire starting from 12:00 local time of October 10 for humanitarian purposes for exchanging prisoners of war and bodies of the dead .
However , the ceasefire was violated later .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

THE UNITED NATIONS, October 20. /TASS/. The UN Security Council discussed the need to ensure verification of a ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya told reporters on Monday after a closed-door meeting on the disputed region.
"There is a need to ensure verification (of a ceasefire - TASS), I think that’s the most pressing issue now, since the agreement on a ceasefire has been reached it was not observed," said Nebenzya, who presides over the UN Security Council in October. "The major question is how to verify the ceasefire, which is being violated."
According to Nebenzya, there were reports that the Russian defense minister had discussed with his Armenian and Azerbaijani colleagues how to implement this verification mechanism.
"This issue was raised of course at the consultations and the Council was pretty much united on how they see it," the diplomat said. Meanwhile, he explained that a special mandate of the Security Council would be required for sending a UN observer mission to the region. "That’s not an easy and immediate thing," he said.
The Russian envoy did not rule out that the verification process could be implemented by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which leads the settlement. "Who will be there and in what capacity, who will be actually verifying it - that’s still a question being discussed."
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
As a result of the Russia-initiated consultations in Moscow Baku and Yerevan agreed to cease fire starting from 12:00 local time of October 10 for humanitarian purposes for exchanging prisoners of war and bodies of the dead. However, the ceasefire was violated later.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-20--Russian MP dismisses claims Russian hackers tried to derail Tokyo Olympics as nonsense

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Claims made by the UK Foreign Office about alleged attempts by the Russian intelligence to derail the Tokyo Olympics before they were postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic are `` pure nonsense , '' Chairman of the Russian State Duma ’ s ( lower house of parliament ) Committee for Foreign Affairs Leonid Slutsky told TASS on Monday .
`` This is insane , this is pure nonsense .
Such statements are `` cynical and reckless , '' not Russia ’ s actions .
New accusations serve as another step to discredit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propaganda : `` If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it , people will eventually come to believe it . ''
This is what they are counting on , '' Slutsky said .
He noted that such statements once again help reach rock bottom in the relations between Moscow , London and Washington .
The UK Foreign Office claims that Russian intelligence services tried to organize cyber attacks in order to derail the Tokyo Olympics before they were postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic , the statement by UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Russia ’ s military intelligence service , the GRU , conducted cyber reconnaissance against officials and organisations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games due to take place in Tokyo this summer before they were postponed , the UK has revealed today , '' the statement reads .
`` The targets included the Games ’ organisers , logistics services and sponsors .
The attacks on the 2020 Summer Games are the latest in a campaign of Russian malicious cyber activity against the Olympic and Paralympic Games . ''
The UK also claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disrupt the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang , Republic of Korea .
The GRU ’ s cyber unit attempted to disguise itself as North Korean and Chinese hackers when it targeted the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Games , the UK Foreign Office stated .
The attacks were conducted by the GRU ’ s Main Centre for Special Technologies , also known by its field post number 74455 , the UK government claimed .
On Monday , the US Department of Justice presented charges against six Russians in relation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office confirmed that London and Washington had decided to present accusations against Russian intelligence services at the same time .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Claims made by the UK Foreign Office about alleged attempts by the Russian intelligence to derail the Tokyo Olympics before they were postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic are "pure nonsense," Chairman of the Russian State Duma’s (lower house of parliament) Committee for Foreign Affairs Leonid Slutsky told TASS on Monday.
"This is insane, this is pure nonsense. Such statements are "cynical and reckless," not Russia’s actions. New accusations serve as another step to discredit Russia in the spirit of Goebbels’ propaganda: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." This is what they are counting on," Slutsky said.
He noted that such statements once again help reach rock bottom in the relations between Moscow, London and Washington.
Accusations against Russia
The UK Foreign Office claims that Russian intelligence services tried to organize cyber attacks in order to derail the Tokyo Olympics before they were postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic, the statement by UK Foreign Office published on Monday reads.
"Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, conducted cyber reconnaissance against officials and organisations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games due to take place in Tokyo this summer before they were postponed, the UK has revealed today," the statement reads. "The targets included the Games’ organisers, logistics services and sponsors. The attacks on the 2020 Summer Games are the latest in a campaign of Russian malicious cyber activity against the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
The UK also claimed that Russian hackers had also tried to disrupt the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. The GRU’s cyber unit attempted to disguise itself as North Korean and Chinese hackers when it targeted the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Games, the UK Foreign Office stated.
The attacks were conducted by the GRU’s Main Centre for Special Technologies, also known by its field post number 74455, the UK government claimed.
On Monday, the US Department of Justice presented charges against six Russians in relation to these attacks. The UK Foreign Office confirmed that London and Washington had decided to present accusations against Russian intelligence services at the same time.
Moscow has repeatedly denied Western accusations of Russian cyber attacks.


tass--2020-10-20--UK claims Russian hackers tried to derail Tokyo Olympics

LONDON , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The UK Foreign Office claims that Russian intelligence services tried to organize cyber @ @ @ @ @ the Tokyo Olympics before it was postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic , the @ @ @ @ @ published on Monday reads .
`` Russia ’ s military intelligence service , the GRU @ @ @ @ @ officials and organisations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games due to take place in @ @ @ @ @ were postponed , the UK has revealed today , '' the statement reads .
`` @ @ @ @ @ ’ organisers , logistics services and sponsors .
The attacks on the 2020 Summer Games @ @ @ @ @ campaign of Russian malicious cyber activity against the Olympic and Paralympic Games . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ against the Olympic and Paralympic Games are cynical and reckless .
We condemn them in @ @ @ @ @ '' UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said .
`` The UK will continue to work @ @ @ @ @ out and counter future malicious cyber attacks , '' he added .

LONDON, October 20. /TASS/. The UK Foreign Office claims that Russian intelligence services tried to organize cyber attacks in order to derail the Tokyo Olympics before it was postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic, the statement by UK Foreign Office published on Monday reads.
"Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, conducted cyber reconnaissance against officials and organisations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games due to take place in Tokyo this summer before they were postponed, the UK has revealed today," the statement reads. "The targets included the Games’ organisers, logistics services and sponsors. The attacks on the 2020 Summer Games are the latest in a campaign of Russian malicious cyber activity against the Olympic and Paralympic Games."
"The GRU’s actions against the Olympic and Paralympic Games are cynical and reckless. We condemn them in the strongest possible terms," UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said. "The UK will continue to work with our allies to call out and counter future malicious cyber attacks," he added.
Moscow has repeatedly denied Western accusations of Russian cyber attacks.


tass--2020-10-19--Paris still in the dark about who could possibly leak Putin-Macron phone call

PARIS , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The French authorities continue probing the case opened after Le Monde published supposed fragments of a conversation that took place between French and Russian Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin , a source in the French diplomatic circles told TASS Monday .
`` The investigation continues and the [ foreign ] ministry intends to bring it to a close , '' the source said .
On September 24 , a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry told reporters that an investigation was launched in light of a publication of details of a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local media outlets .
The diplomat underlined , `` the dialogue that the president of the [ French ] Republic wished to establish with Russia is aimed at resolving all issues < … > in the spirit of frankness and exactingness and it will continue in the same way . ''
On September 23 , Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the Le Monde publication , saying that Moscow does not think that the French authorities could have disclosed the phone call details to the media .
According to him , the Kremlin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have deliberately handed over the phone call transcript to journalists in violation of diplomatic traditions .

PARIS, October 19. /TASS/. The French authorities continue probing the case opened after Le Monde published supposed fragments of a conversation that took place between French and Russian Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin, a source in the French diplomatic circles told TASS Monday.
"The investigation continues and the [foreign] ministry intends to bring it to a close," the source said.
On September 24, a spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry told reporters that an investigation was launched in light of a publication of details of a phone call between Macron and Putin in the local media outlets. The diplomat underlined, "the dialogue that the president of the [French] Republic wished to establish with Russia is aimed at resolving all issues <…> in the spirit of frankness and exactingness and it will continue in the same way."
On September 23, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the Le Monde publication, saying that Moscow does not think that the French authorities could have disclosed the phone call details to the media. According to him, the Kremlin is convinced that the Elysee Palace could not have deliberately handed over the phone call transcript to journalists in violation of diplomatic traditions.


tass--2020-10-19--OPEC+ countries agree to honor commitments in full scope

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
OPEC+ countries reached an agreement to continue executing the deal in full scope , with the next meeting of the ministerial monitoring committee to be held this November , Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel .
`` An agreement was reached on the outcomes of the meeting to continue executing the agreements in full scope ; relevant recommendations were given , '' Novak said .
`` We agreed to meet next time in November , in one month , to summarize the October results and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the winter season , '' he noted .
The OPEC+ oil production limiting deal was fulfilled by 102 % in September , the Russian energy minister said .
`` All the ministers noted that the deal is fulfilled at a very high level , which was 102 % in September , '' Novak said .
The performance `` over the five months is about 100 % , '' he added .
The high level of deal performance had a positive impact on the market stabilization , especially during the significant oil drop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Uncertainty on the oil market may become stronger in winter , Alexander Novak assumed .
`` Uncertainty [ on the oil market ] will probably be higher because the demand falls , '' Novak said .
The demand drop is largely related to lower mobility because of the coronavirus pandemic and because the population use cars less frequently during the winter period , '' he added .
Ministers of the OPEC+ monitoring committee discussed the progress in implementation of the oil production limiting deal at their videoconference meeting on Monday .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. OPEC+ countries reached an agreement to continue executing the deal in full scope, with the next meeting of the ministerial monitoring committee to be held this November, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 TV Channel.
"An agreement was reached on the outcomes of the meeting to continue executing the agreements in full scope; relevant recommendations were given," Novak said. "We agreed to meet next time in November, in one month, to summarize the October results and assess the situation that will arise ahead of the winter season," he noted.
The OPEC+ oil production limiting deal was fulfilled by 102% in September, the Russian energy minister said. "All the ministers noted that the deal is fulfilled at a very high level, which was 102% in September," Novak said. The performance "over the five months is about 100%," he added.
The high level of deal performance had a positive impact on the market stabilization, especially during the significant oil drop in the second quarter, Novak said.
Winter outlook
Uncertainty on the oil market may become stronger in winter, Alexander Novak assumed. "Uncertainty [on the oil market] will probably be higher because the demand falls," Novak said.
The demand drop is largely related to lower mobility because of the coronavirus pandemic and because the population use cars less frequently during the winter period," he added.
Ministers of the OPEC+ monitoring committee discussed the progress in implementation of the oil production limiting deal at their videoconference meeting on Monday.


tass--2020-10-19--Sputnik V vaccine supplies to Latin America may start in December

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The Russian Direct Investment Fund ( RDIF ) plans to initiate supplies of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V to Argentina and Peru , chief executive of the Fund Kirill Dmitriev said on Monday at an online conference .
`` We will announce shortly an agreement with Argentina and an agreement with Peru , further to agreements we already have with Mexico and with Brazil and with a number of other countries , '' he said .
Deliveries of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Latin America can start in December , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will be able to start the supply to Latin America as early as in December , '' Dmitriev said .
Nevertheless , the regulatory issue related to the vaccine approval will also influence the start of shipments , the chief executive said .
`` For example , we have made a submission recently for Brazilian clinical trials and hope to get a permit in December , '' he added .
The chief executive of RDIF said earlier Russia had received requests for deliveries of 1.2 bln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus vaccines will reach 10 mln doses by the end of December .
The Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V will be produced in India , Brazil , South Korea and China , Dmitriev said .
`` We confirm we will be able to supply huge volumes this December .
We will produce [ the vaccine ] in India , Brazil , Korea , China and in one more country , '' he said .
Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V has proven to be highly effective on the outcomes of testing involving 16,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Direct Investment Fund told the online conference .
`` We have shown that the vaccine is 100 % effective during phase 2 [ of clinical trials - TASS ] , and now 16,000 people vaccinated within phase 3 demonstrate that the vaccine is highly effective , '' he said .
Earlier , Dmitriev informed that post-registration trials of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V would be conducted on 40,000 volunteers , 10,000 of whom will receive a placebo .
Clinical trials will also be held in the Middle East , Brazil , India , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country across the globe that registered a vaccine against the coronavirus infection , Sputnik V. On September 9 , Russian Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko said that the third phase of clinical trials of the vaccine started .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) plans to initiate supplies of the Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V to Argentina and Peru, chief executive of the Fund Kirill Dmitriev said on Monday at an online conference.
"We will announce shortly an agreement with Argentina and an agreement with Peru, further to agreements we already have with Mexico and with Brazil and with a number of other countries," he said.
Deliveries of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to Latin America can start in December, Kirill Dmitriev clarified. "We believe we will be able to start the supply to Latin America as early as in December," Dmitriev said.
Nevertheless, the regulatory issue related to the vaccine approval will also influence the start of shipments, the chief executive said. "For example, we have made a submission recently for Brazilian clinical trials and hope to get a permit in December," he added.
The chief executive of RDIF said earlier Russia had received requests for deliveries of 1.2 bln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The Fund also expects monthly production of coronavirus vaccines will reach 10 mln doses by the end of December.
The Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V will be produced in India, Brazil, South Korea and China, Dmitriev said. "We confirm we will be able to supply huge volumes this December. We will produce [the vaccine] in India, Brazil, Korea, China and in one more country," he said.
Effectiveness of the vaccine
Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V has proven to be highly effective on the outcomes of testing involving 16,000 volunteers, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund told the online conference.
"We have shown that the vaccine is 100% effective during phase 2 [of clinical trials - TASS], and now 16,000 people vaccinated within phase 3 demonstrate that the vaccine is highly effective," he said.
Earlier, Dmitriev informed that post-registration trials of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V would be conducted on 40,000 volunteers, 10,000 of whom will receive a placebo. Clinical trials will also be held in the Middle East, Brazil, India, Mexico and a number of other states.
On August 11, Russia became the first country across the globe that registered a vaccine against the coronavirus infection, Sputnik V. On September 9, Russian Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko said that the third phase of clinical trials of the vaccine started.


tass--2020-10-19--Daily gas supplies to China above contract commitments for the first time

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Daily gas deliveries from Russia to China over the Power of Siberia gas @ @ @ @ @ for the first time on Monday , Gazprom said .
`` Gazprom continues increasing gas @ @ @ @ @ Power of Siberia gas pipeline from the Chayandinskoye Field .
The daily volume of Russian @ @ @ @ @ of the Chinese party was above contract commitments for the first time on October 19 @ @ @ @ @ The surplus was 20 % , '' Gazprom reports .
Gazprom supplied 2.3 bln cubic @ @ @ @ @ China over the Power of Siberia gas pipeline in January - August 2020 after the @ @ @ @ @ .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Daily gas deliveries from Russia to China over the Power of Siberia gas pipeline were above contractual commitments for the first time on Monday, Gazprom said.
"Gazprom continues increasing gas deliveries to China over the Power of Siberia gas pipeline from the Chayandinskoye Field. The daily volume of Russian gas supplies at the request of the Chinese party was above contract commitments for the first time on October 19 of the current year. The surplus was 20%," Gazprom reports.
Gazprom supplied 2.3 bln cubic meters of natural gas to China over the Power of Siberia gas pipeline in January - August 2020 after the deliveries started in December 2019.


tass--2020-10-19--Placebo doses to be slashed in one of coronavirus vaccine trials in Russia

KIROV , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The ratio of participants who will get a placebo to those getting the @ @ @ @ @ trials of the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chumakov Center will be one to two @ @ @ @ @ center Aydar Ishmukhametov said Monday at a press conference in Kirov .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ inactivated whole-virion coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development @ @ @ @ @ began in the regional center .
According to Ishmukhametov , it is common practice that @ @ @ @ @ in the trials to determine a vaccine ’ s efficiency .
`` The trials include @ @ @ @ @ if a new medicine is used , then the [ vaccine-placebo ratio ] is one @ @ @ @ @ % each .
However , the moment comes in the pandemic when we need to @ @ @ @ @ getting placebo , therefore , [ it will be ] one to two , '' @ @ @

KIROV, October 19. /TASS/. The ratio of participants who will get a placebo to those getting the actual vaccine in the clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chumakov Center will be one to two, General Director of the center Aydar Ishmukhametov said Monday at a press conference in Kirov.
On Monday, the clinical trials of the inactivated whole-virion coronavirus vaccine developed by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products began in the regional center. According to Ishmukhametov, it is common practice that some participants get a placebo in the trials to determine a vaccine’s efficiency.
"The trials include 300 people. Usually, if a new medicine is used, then the [vaccine-placebo ratio] is one to one, or 50% each. However, the moment comes in the pandemic when we need to reduce the number of people getting placebo, therefore, [it will be] one to two," he noted.


tass--2020-10-19--Volunteers testing Sputnik V vaccine to learn if they had placebo after trials are over

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The people who volunteered to take part in the Russian coronavirus vaccine ( dubbed Sputnik V ) post-registration trials will only learn whether they had a real shot or a placebo after the trials are completed , Deputy Research Director at the Gamaleya National Research Institute Denis Logunov said Monday .
`` You can only learn if you were vaccinated after getting blood tests in checkpoints < … > and you will only know after and if the corresponding level of antibodies is determined .
However , the final result will be received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or , in other words , when the trials are complete , '' he said .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine named Sputnik V , which was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry .
The injection passed clinical trials in June-July .
The vaccine is based on an already known platform that was used to create a number of other injections .
The Russian Health Ministry underlined that judging by the experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capable of providing immunity for up to two years .
The post-registration trials of the shot began in Moscow on September 7 , with volunteers receiving the first vaccine already on September 9 .
Overall , the trials include 40,000 people , 10,000 of whom are to get a placebo instead of the vaccine .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. The people who volunteered to take part in the Russian coronavirus vaccine (dubbed Sputnik V) post-registration trials will only learn whether they had a real shot or a placebo after the trials are completed, Deputy Research Director at the Gamaleya National Research Institute Denis Logunov said Monday.
"You can only learn if you were vaccinated after getting blood tests in checkpoints <…> and you will only know after and if the corresponding level of antibodies is determined. However, the final result will be received when the trials are ‘unblinded’ or, in other words, when the trials are complete," he said.
On August 11, Russia became the first country in the world to register a coronavirus vaccine named Sputnik V, which was developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Health Ministry. The injection passed clinical trials in June-July. The vaccine is based on an already known platform that was used to create a number of other injections. The Russian Health Ministry underlined that judging by the experience of using such vaccines, they are capable of providing immunity for up to two years.
The post-registration trials of the shot began in Moscow on September 7, with volunteers receiving the first vaccine already on September 9. Overall, the trials include 40,000 people, 10,000 of whom are to get a placebo instead of the vaccine.


tass--2020-10-19--COVID-19 vaccine plans give cause for optimism to oil market, says Russian Energy Minister

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Statements of many countries about the intention to release the coronavirus vaccine in @ @ @ @ @ lockdown measures and business activity keeping have the positive effect for the oil market and @ @ @ @ @ Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak says on Monday at the OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee @ @ @ @ @ `` There is a range of factors making a positive input to the current situation @ @ @ @ @ countries start declaring the intention to release a vaccine against the new coronavirus infection by @ @ @ @ @ says .
The second Russian COVID-19 vaccine was registered on October 14 , he added @ @ @ @ @ measures introduced earlier at a large scale in many countries are softer by their nature @ @ @ @ @ the global business activity index .
It continued growing steadily in September and amounted to @ @ @ @ @ noted .
OPEC+ member-states should continue honoring their commitments in full scope because the market @ @ @ @ @ Minister said .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Statements of many countries about the intention to release the coronavirus vaccine in 2020, lack of large-scale lockdown measures and business activity keeping have the positive effect for the oil market and a cause for optimism, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak says on Monday at the OPEC+ Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) meeting.
"There is a range of factors making a positive input to the current situation. Firstly, continuously more countries start declaring the intention to release a vaccine against the new coronavirus infection by 2020 year-end," Novak says. The second Russian COVID-19 vaccine was registered on October 14, he added.
"We see lockdown measures introduced earlier at a large scale in many countries are softer by their nature, One of indicators is the global business activity index. It continued growing steadily in September and amounted to 52.3%," Novak noted.
OPEC+ member-states should continue honoring their commitments in full scope because the market is still unstable, the Minister said.


tass--2020-10-19--Russia’s latest nuclear-powered icebreaker to undergo major ice trials this year

ST. PETERSBURG , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The Project 22220 universal nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika built at the Baltic Shipyard ( part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation ) is scheduled to undergo major ice trials this year for its acceptance for service , Arktika Delivery Team Captain Oleg Shchapin told TASS on Monday .
The icebreaker Arktika completed its transit from St. Petersburg to the registry port of Murmansk on October 12 .
The icebreaker covered about 4,900 nautical miles within 21 days , including around 1,030 miles sailing through the ice .
`` The ice tests are still ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ice trials did not work with an ice of 1.1 - 1.2 meters thick .
It was thin and loose and the icebreaker did not get any resistance .
We tried to find an ice floe three meters thick but to no avail , '' Shchapin said .
`` When we used to come across an ice block aboard the icebreaker 50 Years of Victory , we would simply break through it and this was still noticeable whereas the new icebreaker sails actually without a stir .
That is , the transit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
United Shipbuilding Corporation CEO Alexei Rakhmanov earlier said that the corporation earlier planned to sign a delivery/acceptance certificate for the icebreaker Arktika on October 21 .
The icebreaker Arktika opens a series of principally new nuclear-powered vessels created to address the strategic tasks of developing the Arctic .
The series of Project 22220 icebreakers will provide for year-round navigation in the western Arctic , which will make it possible to achieve the required level of cargo shipping along the Northern Sea Route .
The vessel ’ s dual-draft concept allows using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water and in the estuaries of polar rivers .
This advantage makes the vessel universal and expands the geography of its operation .
As its other advantage , the Arktika features the RITM-200 two-reactor powerplant that enables the vessel to reach a power capacity of 60 MW on propeller shafts and break through an ice of three meters thick .

ST. PETERSBURG, October 19. /TASS/. The Project 22220 universal nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika built at the Baltic Shipyard (part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation) is scheduled to undergo major ice trials this year for its acceptance for service, Arktika Delivery Team Captain Oleg Shchapin told TASS on Monday.
The icebreaker Arktika completed its transit from St. Petersburg to the registry port of Murmansk on October 12. The icebreaker covered about 4,900 nautical miles within 21 days, including around 1,030 miles sailing through the ice.
"The ice tests are still ahead, probably, this year because now the ice trials did not work with an ice of 1.1 - 1.2 meters thick. It was thin and loose and the icebreaker did not get any resistance. We tried to find an ice floe three meters thick but to no avail," Shchapin said.
The icebreaker features good controllability, he added.
"When we used to come across an ice block aboard the icebreaker 50 Years of Victory, we would simply break through it and this was still noticeable whereas the new icebreaker sails actually without a stir. That is, the transit proceeded as was required," he said.
United Shipbuilding Corporation CEO Alexei Rakhmanov earlier said that the corporation earlier planned to sign a delivery/acceptance certificate for the icebreaker Arktika on October 21.
Nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika
The icebreaker Arktika opens a series of principally new nuclear-powered vessels created to address the strategic tasks of developing the Arctic. The series of Project 22220 icebreakers will provide for year-round navigation in the western Arctic, which will make it possible to achieve the required level of cargo shipping along the Northern Sea Route.
The vessel’s dual-draft concept allows using Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers both in deep water and in the estuaries of polar rivers. This advantage makes the vessel universal and expands the geography of its operation.
As its other advantage, the Arktika features the RITM-200 two-reactor powerplant that enables the vessel to reach a power capacity of 60 MW on propeller shafts and break through an ice of three meters thick.


tass--2020-10-19--Moscow military court sentences IS financier to 8 years in prison

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
A financier of the Islamic State ( IS ) international terrorist organization ( outlawed in Russia ) who was raising funds in the Russian capital and the Moscow Region was sentenced to eight years in prison , Spokeswoman of the Investigative Committee ’ s Main Investigation Department for Moscow Yulia Ivanova announced on Monday .
`` Ramazan Abdulkhalikov was found guilty of committing crimes stipulated in part 1 , article 205.1 and part 1.1 , article 205.1 of Russia ’ s Criminal Code ( assistance to terrorist activity ) .
By its verdict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed a sentence of eight years behind bars in a strict-security prison , '' the spokeswoman said .
In July 2016 - November 2018 , Abdulkhalikov joined a group in a mobile app .
Alim Begiyev who was in charge of terrorism financing in Moscow and the Moscow Region was inviting trusted individuals to the group .
Overall , about 30 individuals agreed to finance the outlawed terrorist organization on the territory of Syria and Iraq and joined the group , the spokeswoman said .
`` The men were gathering funds on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accounts of individuals taking part in combat operations within an illegal armed formation , '' Ivanova said .
The funds raised were used to finance the logistics units of terrorist organizations , the spokeswoman said .
The Begiyev case was sent to a court of law for examination .
The Russian Investigative Committee earlier carried out numerous raids and detentions on the territory of Moscow , the Moscow Region and the Republics of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria .
During the criminal probe , the investigators jointly with the Federal Security Service ( FSB ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Court earlier found nine accomplices guilty and sentenced them to long prison terms , including 12 years behind bars .
Criminal cases of two suspects are being examined in the court while the probe into three other accomplices continues .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. A financier of the Islamic State (IS) international terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia) who was raising funds in the Russian capital and the Moscow Region was sentenced to eight years in prison, Spokeswoman of the Investigative Committee’s Main Investigation Department for Moscow Yulia Ivanova announced on Monday.
"Ramazan Abdulkhalikov was found guilty of committing crimes stipulated in part 1, article 205.1 and part 1.1, article 205.1 of Russia’s Criminal Code (assistance to terrorist activity). By its verdict, the Second Western District Military Court passed a sentence of eight years behind bars in a strict-security prison," the spokeswoman said.
In July 2016 - November 2018, Abdulkhalikov joined a group in a mobile app. Alim Begiyev who was in charge of terrorism financing in Moscow and the Moscow Region was inviting trusted individuals to the group. Overall, about 30 individuals agreed to finance the outlawed terrorist organization on the territory of Syria and Iraq and joined the group, the spokeswoman said.
"The men were gathering funds on their bankcards and transferring them to the settlement accounts of individuals taking part in combat operations within an illegal armed formation," Ivanova said.
The funds raised were used to finance the logistics units of terrorist organizations, the spokeswoman said.
The Begiyev case was sent to a court of law for examination.
The Russian Investigative Committee earlier carried out numerous raids and detentions on the territory of Moscow, the Moscow Region and the Republics of Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria. During the criminal probe, the investigators jointly with the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Interior Ministry apprehended 15 individuals.
The Court earlier found nine accomplices guilty and sentenced them to long prison terms, including 12 years behind bars. Criminal cases of two suspects are being examined in the court while the probe into three other accomplices continues.


tass--2020-10-19--Iran ready to provide details of January plane crash to Ukraine

TEHRAN , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Iran has nothing to hide from Ukraine , it is ready to provide details of the January plane crash , when a plane was downed by accident , Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Baharvand stated .
`` We are genuinely ready to inform the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian delegation of the details of the incident , '' IRNA news agency quotes him as saying .
He noted that Iran has nothing to hide when it comes to the plane crash .
Earlier , Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin informed that Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of talks on the Ukrainian plane downed on January 8 over Tehran .
According to him , the talks will continue for two days .
During the talks , Iran and Ukraine will discuss the further course of the investigation and other important aspects .
On January 8 , a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehran ’ s Imam Khomeini Airport .
The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan , Germany , Iran , Canada and Ukraine and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 , Iran ’ s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down .
According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh , the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force .

TEHRAN, October 19. /TASS/. Iran has nothing to hide from Ukraine, it is ready to provide details of the January plane crash, when a plane was downed by accident, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Baharvand stated.
"We are genuinely ready to inform the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian delegation of the details of the incident," IRNA news agency quotes him as saying. He noted that Iran has nothing to hide when it comes to the plane crash.
Earlier, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Yenin informed that Ukraine and Iran would hold a second round of talks on the Ukrainian plane downed on January 8 over Tehran. According to him, the talks will continue for two days. During the talks, Iran and Ukraine will discuss the further course of the investigation and other important aspects.
On January 8, a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport. The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects. On January 11, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down. According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force.


tass--2020-10-19--Turkey stonewalling Moscow-brokered ceasefire, says Armenian PM

`` I am sure that so far we have not managed to implement the Moscow agreement , because there are forces that are preventing it , sabotaging it for sure .
First and foremost , it is Turkey , Turkey is interested in seeing the Moscow agreement fail , '' Pashinyan specified .
`` Turkey 's actions are aimed at elbowing Russia out of the South Caucasus , '' he stressed .
YEREVAN , October 19 .
/ TASS / .
Turkey has set its sights on weakening Russia 's influence in the South Caucasus , and therefore Ankara is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baku and Yerevan that were agreed upon in Moscow , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told TASS in an interview .
`` Let ’ s not forget that this agreement was adopted at the initiative of the Russian President and at the initiative of the Russian Federation .
Some forces , specifically among them Turkey , are interested in seeing Russia ’ s initiative fail , and they still hope to undermine the authority of the Russian Federation in the South Caucasus , '' he elaborated .
Pashinyan emphasized that `` it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the region . ''
`` And , of course , we will work very closely with Russia on this issue , and we hope that the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will also support these efforts , '' he said .
At the same time , Pashinyan said that he sees `` some shifts in the process of international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s independence . ''
`` I would like to note that at the moment world public opinion is changing , and people are changing as well .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is happening in our region and , of course , this is due not only to the active information campaign by our government , but also due to the actions by the Armenian community .
Furthermore , despite not being at the top or the highest political levels , `` there are , however , already some shifts in the process of the international recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh , '' Pashinyan pointed out .
According to him , `` the relevant documents , resolutions , decisions have already been made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European cities , and several European parliaments have already adopted resolutions condemning Azerbaijan 's aggression . ''
Thanks to Russia 's initiative , negotiations were recently held in Moscow , following which Baku and Yerevan agreed on a ceasefire starting from 12:00 local time ( 11:00 Moscow time ) on October 10 for humanitarian purposes to exchange prisoners and bodies of victims .
However , both sides have been reporting continued shelling .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties , among them civilians .
Baku and Yerevan have been at loggerheads over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988 , when the region announced its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
During the 1992-1994 armed conflict , Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions .
Since 1992 , negotiations have been underway on a peaceful settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OSCE Minsk Group , headed by the three co-chairs - Russia , the United States and France .

"I am sure that so far we have not managed to implement the Moscow agreement, because there are forces that are preventing it, sabotaging it for sure. First and foremost, it is Turkey, Turkey is interested in seeing the Moscow agreement fail," Pashinyan specified. "Turkey's actions are aimed at elbowing Russia out of the South Caucasus," he stressed.
YEREVAN, October 19. / TASS /. Turkey has set its sights on weakening Russia's influence in the South Caucasus, and therefore Ankara is working to undermine the ceasefire agreements between Baku and Yerevan that were agreed upon in Moscow, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told TASS in an interview.
"Let’s not forget that this agreement was adopted at the initiative of the Russian President and at the initiative of the Russian Federation. Some forces, specifically among them Turkey, are interested in seeing Russia’s initiative fail, and they still hope to undermine the authority of the Russian Federation in the South Caucasus," he elaborated.
Pashinyan emphasized that "it is necessary to work persistently to return stability to the region." "And, of course, we will work very closely with Russia on this issue, and we hope that the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group will also support these efforts," he said.
At the same time, Pashinyan said that he sees "some shifts in the process of international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence." "I would like to note that at the moment world public opinion is changing, and people are changing as well. They are becoming more aware about what is happening in our region and, of course, this is due not only to the active information campaign by our government, but also due to the actions by the Armenian community.
Furthermore, despite not being at the top or the highest political levels, "there are, however, already some shifts in the process of the international recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh," Pashinyan pointed out. According to him, "the relevant documents, resolutions, decisions have already been made by a lot of US states, several European cities, and several European parliaments have already adopted resolutions condemning Azerbaijan's aggression."
Thanks to Russia's initiative, negotiations were recently held in Moscow, following which Baku and Yerevan agreed on a ceasefire starting from 12:00 local time (11:00 Moscow time) on October 10 for humanitarian purposes to exchange prisoners and bodies of victims. However, both sides have been reporting continued shelling.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
Baku and Yerevan have been at loggerheads over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the region announced its secession from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. During the 1992-1994 armed conflict, Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. Since 1992, negotiations have been underway on a peaceful settlement of the conflict as part of the OSCE Minsk Group, headed by the three co-chairs - Russia, the United States and France.


tass--2020-10-19--Moldova coping with second wave of pandemic, says president

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Moldova ’ s healthcare system is coping with the growing number of coronavirus cases , President Igor Dodon said in an online interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman .
`` The situation in Moldova is under control , although it is complicated .
There is a large number of infected people and , just like the entire world , we entered the next stage [ of the pandemic ] after resuming the educational process .
That ’ s why we have a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the medical system is coping [ with that ] .
We were ready for the next wave , and everyone knew that there would the next wave in the fall , '' he said .
Dodon noted that there were no plans to close educational institutions and stop economic activity , if the epidemiological situation got worse , in order to prevent a drop in GDP .
On Sunday , Moldova ’ s Ministry of Health , Labor and Social Protection reported that the number of coronavirus cases in the country had grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 67,050 ( 1.9 % of the population ) .
Restrictions for foreigners on entering Moldova remain in effect .
At the same time , most of the restrictive measures imposed earlier had been cancelled .
Public transport is working , as well as educational institutions , markets , shops , cafes , gyms and beauty salons .
Restrictions on holding mass events remain in place , and face masks are obligatory in public places .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Moldova’s healthcare system is coping with the growing number of coronavirus cases, President Igor Dodon said in an online interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman.
"The situation in Moldova is under control, although it is complicated. There is a large number of infected people and, just like the entire world, we entered the next stage [of the pandemic] after resuming the educational process. That’s why we have a substantial increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Republic of Moldova, but the medical system is coping [with that]. We were ready for the next wave, and everyone knew that there would the next wave in the fall," he said.
Dodon noted that there were no plans to close educational institutions and stop economic activity, if the epidemiological situation got worse, in order to prevent a drop in GDP.
On Sunday, Moldova’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection reported that the number of coronavirus cases in the country had grown by 398 over the past day reaching 67,050 (1.9% of the population).
Restrictions for foreigners on entering Moldova remain in effect. At the same time, most of the restrictive measures imposed earlier had been cancelled. Public transport is working, as well as educational institutions, markets, shops, cafes, gyms and beauty salons. Restrictions on holding mass events remain in place, and face masks are obligatory in public places.


tass--2020-10-19--Russian private firm to create orbital cluster of 510 satellites

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The new Russian private space firm Success Rockets is planning to create three satellite constellations of various designation , with one of them to comprise over 500 satellites , according to the company ’ s presentation obtained by TASS on Monday .
Two out of three clusters will comprise 24 satellites each ( the same number of satellites is operational in Russia ’ s Glonass orbital navigation grouping ) .
One of them will provide the global Internet of things , monitor the state of infrastructure and its particular components , track mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ railway trains ) and serve other goals .
The other cluster will be designated for the Earth ’ s remote sensing , the presentation says .
Finally , the orbital cluster for global Internet access will consist of 510 satellites to provide unlimited access to the World Wide Web in any point on the Earth and in any weather upon the availability of a subscriber terminal , according to the presentation .
The new satellite clusters will make it possible to get images of the battlefield for delivering pinpointed strikes against the potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , terminal stations and logistics companies .
The satellites will also provide a possibility to forecast the environmental situation , get information on pollution to exercise control of enterprises ’ activity and track wildfires , snow avalanches , volcano eruptions and floods in real time and monitor the Earth ’ s ozone layer , the presentation says .
In addition , the satellites will interact with various Smart City systems and help in urban planning and construction monitoring .
The satellites will come in handy in agriculture , for example , to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farms , as well as grades of crops on the fields , according to the presentation .
Success Rockets was registered in July 2020 .
Its founder and owner is Oleg Mansurov .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. The new Russian private space firm Success Rockets is planning to create three satellite constellations of various designation, with one of them to comprise over 500 satellites, according to the company’s presentation obtained by TASS on Monday.
Two out of three clusters will comprise 24 satellites each (the same number of satellites is operational in Russia’s Glonass orbital navigation grouping). One of them will provide the global Internet of things, monitor the state of infrastructure and its particular components, track mobile objects (ships, auto convoys and railway trains) and serve other goals. The other cluster will be designated for the Earth’s remote sensing, the presentation says.
Finally, the orbital cluster for global Internet access will consist of 510 satellites to provide unlimited access to the World Wide Web in any point on the Earth and in any weather upon the availability of a subscriber terminal, according to the presentation.
The new satellite clusters will make it possible to get images of the battlefield for delivering pinpointed strikes against the potential enemy, assess the activity of airports, terminal stations and logistics companies. The satellites will also provide a possibility to forecast the environmental situation, get information on pollution to exercise control of enterprises’ activity and track wildfires, snow avalanches, volcano eruptions and floods in real time and monitor the Earth’s ozone layer, the presentation says.
In addition, the satellites will interact with various Smart City systems and help in urban planning and construction monitoring. The satellites will come in handy in agriculture, for example, to help identify the boundaries of fields and garden farms, as well as grades of crops on the fields, according to the presentation.
Success Rockets was registered in July 2020. Its founder and owner is Oleg Mansurov.


tass--2020-10-19--Nagorno-Karabakh’s status crucial for Armenia, says PM

YEREVAN , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers the issue of acknowledging Nagorno-Karabakh ’ s right to self-determination by Azerbaijan crucial in the process of settling the conflict around the disputed region .
`` I have repeatedly said , and that has been Armenia ’ s stance virtually at all times , that the right to self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh , meaning the status of Nagorno-Karabakh , is strategically important for us , '' the leader stated when asked by TASS whether Yerevan is ready to begin the settlement with a phased transfer of seven regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retains the Lachinsk corridor until the final status of Karabakh is defined .
`` You have mentioned the option , and Armenia was ready to accept that or something similar to that decision several years ago .
There was just one nuance here , what is going to happen with the status of Nagorno-Karabakh .
I mean particularly the Kazan initiative as well , '' he added .
`` I do not consider that very reasonable or pragmatic to make a decision focusing on some important issues and neglecting other important points .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s answer to the same or similar question .
Is it ready to acknowledge the right to self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh ? ''
Pashinyan questioned .
According to the Kazan formula put together at Russia ’ s initiative over ten years ago under the OSCE Minsk Group , at the first stage , with security conditions for Nagorno-Karabakh observed , Armenia should transfer five out of seven ‘ buffer regions ’ around the disputed territory .
Two regions , including the Lachinsk corridor , should remain to ensure the connection between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its final status is solved .
Concurrently , Azerbaijan should remove the economic blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh , while peacekeeping forces are to be introduced on the line of contact between the sides to guarantee that military actions are not resumed .
The two remaining regions connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are suggested to be transferred to Azerbaijan at the second stage .
At the same stage , the issue of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be solved as well .

YEREVAN, October 19. /TASS/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan considers the issue of acknowledging Nagorno-Karabakh’s right to self-determination by Azerbaijan crucial in the process of settling the conflict around the disputed region.
"I have repeatedly said, and that has been Armenia’s stance virtually at all times, that the right to self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh, meaning the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, is strategically important for us," the leader stated when asked by TASS whether Yerevan is ready to begin the settlement with a phased transfer of seven regions around Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, while Armenia retains the Lachinsk corridor until the final status of Karabakh is defined. "You have mentioned the option, and Armenia was ready to accept that or something similar to that decision several years ago. There was just one nuance here, what is going to happen with the status of Nagorno-Karabakh. I mean particularly the Kazan initiative as well," he added.
"I do not consider that very reasonable or pragmatic to make a decision focusing on some important issues and neglecting other important points. It is necessary to understand Azerbaijan’s answer to the same or similar question. Is it ready to acknowledge the right to self-determination for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh?" Pashinyan questioned.
According to the Kazan formula put together at Russia’s initiative over ten years ago under the OSCE Minsk Group, at the first stage, with security conditions for Nagorno-Karabakh observed, Armenia should transfer five out of seven ‘buffer regions’ around the disputed territory. Two regions, including the Lachinsk corridor, should remain to ensure the connection between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh until the issue of its final status is solved. Concurrently, Azerbaijan should remove the economic blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh, while peacekeeping forces are to be introduced on the line of contact between the sides to guarantee that military actions are not resumed.
The two remaining regions connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are suggested to be transferred to Azerbaijan at the second stage. At the same stage, the issue of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh should be solved as well.


tass--2020-10-19--Russia’s Chumakov Center begins clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Russia ’ s Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products has launched clinical trials of its vaccine in St. Petersburg with the participation of 30 volunteers .
The trials are set to end by late 2020 , deputy chief of the `` Eco-Safety '' Research Center ( where the trials are being held ) Konstantin Zakharov told TASS .
On October 6 , clinical trials of a whole-virion inactivated vaccine developed by the Chumakov Center began in Novosibirsk .
Whole-virion vaccines are based on artificially weakened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` dead '' viruses , also known as inactivated viruses .
`` So far , there are 30 people at our clinic - they are healthy volunteers .
We started to vaccinate them at 9 am ; all thirty of them received a vaccine shot .
The reaction of all volunteers to the vaccine is good , '' the expert said .
Volunteers aged 18 to 45 are taking part in the research .
They had undergone screening tests and medical examination prior to vaccination .
All volunteers tested negative for COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trials .
`` The volunteers will be hospitalized for 16 days .
We will use the vaccine twice - today and in 14 days .
In 16 days , they will be discharged from hospitals .
They will come back for appointments on day 28 and 56 .
The clinical trials will be over by the end of the year , '' Zakharov explained .
On August 11 , Russia became the first country to register a coronavirus vaccine , which was named `` Sputnik V. '' Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .
On August 15 , the Russian Health Ministry announced the launch of the vaccine production .
The first batch of the vaccine was sent to Russian regions on September 12 .
Another Russian COVID-19 vaccine , EpiVacCorona vaccine developed by the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology `` Vector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with post-registration trials set to begin shortly .

ST. PETERSBURG, October 19. /TASS/. Russia’s Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune and Biological Products has launched clinical trials of its vaccine in St. Petersburg with the participation of 30 volunteers. The trials are set to end by late 2020, deputy chief of the "Eco-Safety" Research Center (where the trials are being held) Konstantin Zakharov told TASS.
On October 6, clinical trials of a whole-virion inactivated vaccine developed by the Chumakov Center began in Novosibirsk. Whole-virion vaccines are based on artificially weakened viruses unable to cause a disease or "dead" viruses, also known as inactivated viruses.
"So far, there are 30 people at our clinic - they are healthy volunteers. We started to vaccinate them at 9 am; all thirty of them received a vaccine shot. The reaction of all volunteers to the vaccine is good," the expert said.
Volunteers aged 18 to 45 are taking part in the research. They had undergone screening tests and medical examination prior to vaccination. All volunteers tested negative for COVID-19 and had no antibodies to the virus before the trials.
"The volunteers will be hospitalized for 16 days. We will use the vaccine twice - today and in 14 days. In 16 days, they will be discharged from hospitals. They will come back for appointments on day 28 and 56. The clinical trials will be over by the end of the year," Zakharov explained.
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. On August 15, the Russian Health Ministry announced the launch of the vaccine production. The first batch of the vaccine was sent to Russian regions on September 12.
Another Russian COVID-19 vaccine, EpiVacCorona vaccine developed by the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector," was registered on October 14, with post-registration trials set to begin shortly.


tass--2020-10-19--Baku will stop hostilities if Yerevan starts constructive dialogue, says Azeri leader

`` It is not our fault that the situation is still in a ‘ hot phase ’ .
I have repeatedly said that Azerbaijan is committed to settlement principles which were produced by the longstanding negotiating process .
We are ready to stop hostilities as early as tomorrow if Armenia behaves constructively in negotiations .
However , the statements that we hear from Yerevan run completely counter to the basic principles ironed out by the OSCE Minsk Group , '' Aliyev said , when asked if he sees a way to return to the ceasefire negotiated in Moscow or if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , he pinned the responsibility for the disruption of talks on Armenia .
`` The Armenian leadership recently delivered very dangerous statements , practically rejecting the basic principles .
All activities of the Armenian leadership were aimed at disrupting the negotiating process .
I already mentioned their numerous statements , provocations and attacks on the peaceful population of Azerbaijan .
Therefore , if the Armenian side finally realizes that the way of military provocations will lead them to a catastrophe , we are ready to again suspend military action and solve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he noted .
The Azeri leader also underscored that Baku remains committed to its obligations assumed in contacts with its partners .
`` We have always relied on international law and our commitment to resolution of the conflict by peaceful means both from the very beginning and in the negotiations on the conflict settlement .
We sought to abide by the obligations that Azerbaijan assumed after talks in Moscow , '' Aliyev stressed .
`` Unfortunately , Armenia blatantly violated the ceasefire .
In less than 24 hours , the sleeping city of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azeri leader , the strike was deliberately aimed at residential quarters and there were many dead and wounded after the first attack .
`` In other words , Armenia brazenly violated the ceasefire , disrespecting mediators and its obligations assumed following the talks in Moscow , '' Aliyev said .
`` After the ceasefire conditions were agreed to exchange captives and dead bodies , Armenia violated the truce on the battlefield as well .
However , they thought that it wasn ’ t enough , and they attacked Ganja .
By the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ago at night .
This is an ignoble crime , this is international terrorism .
And the fact that the international community unanimously condemned this bloody crime is telling that they won ’ t get away with it this easily .
Azerbaijan remains loyal to the basic principles of the OSCE Minsk Group for settling the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh , Ilham Aliyev told TASS .
`` We are committed to the basic principles which I spoke about , '' Aliyev stressed .
`` These are the return of the territories occupied by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of Nagorno-Karabakh and the return of refugees and forcibly displaced persons to the places of their original residence , including Nagorno-Karabakh and Shusha .
This is all written out in the basic principles , and the Armenian side agreed to all of that at different stages , '' the Azeri president pointed out .
`` The basic principles set out that all communications will open , not just the Lachin Corridor [ that connects Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh - TASS ] .
Communications between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic [ Azeri @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Armenian side was also supposed to provide security guarantees for this corridor .
Communications on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan are to also open , '' he added .
Aliyev underlined , `` It was also supposed that Armenia would have an unobstructed land access to Russia , which it is not stripped of now , but the crossing is much more convenient through Azerbaijan as it does not depend on weather conditions , snowfalls in the mountains and so on . ''
`` In other words , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envisioned de-occupation of the Azeri territories and return of Azeri refugees to all lands that they were chased away from .
This implies not just the seven regions but also the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh as more than 25 % of the whole Azeri population lived there before the conflict began .
And , of course , an unobstructed access between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin Corridor , '' Aliyev concluded .
The so-called Madrid Principles were proposed by co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia , France and the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital .
They include three important principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act - non-use of force or the threat of force , territorial integrity and right to self-determination .
Azerbaijani representatives are ready for talks on Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia in Moscow or any place else , according to the country 's president .
`` We are always ready to meet in Moscow or any other place in order to put an end to the standoff and find ways towards a settlement , '' Aliyev said , when asked whether he was ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his counterpart through Russia ’ s mediation .
Baku `` is ready for any contacts , '' the leader assured .
`` And in this case , I have not received such an invitation , so this question is not for me .
Many times personally President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev before him conducted trilateral meetings between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan , '' he said .
`` However , after power shifted in Armenia to a Soros-like figure , such contacts have stopped , '' Aliyev explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played an important role in the conflict settlement .
`` There are objective reasons for this - both historical and geographical ones . ''
Another reason is `` that for decades , Russia has been active in our region , and the level of interaction is high .
That is why , we are ready for any contacts , '' the head of state stressed .
He reiterated that when an offer came to organize a meeting of the foreign ministers , the Azerbaijani side agreed right away .
`` This also shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Azerbaijani army had already successfully liberated some strategic territories .
It had been already more than ten days into the conflict , and it was practically clear to everyone who was capable of what .
It was not very difficult to imagine the further course of combat operations .
However , in spite of this , we did not stall for time , nor did we refuse .
We said : ‘ Yes , we are ready ’ , '' President Ilham Aliyev emphasized .
Baku believes that Russian weapons , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered to Armenia , may be smuggled there , while the Russian authorities remain unaware of this , Ilham Aliyev revealed to TASS .
`` We have shared with the Russian side our concerns that large amounts of weapons are moved from Russian cities to Armenia during the active phase of the confrontation .
We have evidence on that score , we have flight maps and we know the types of weapons .
All this was let known to the Russian side , '' Aliyev said .
He stressed that Baku surmised this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We shared our suspicions with the Russian side that some smuggling schemes might be involved .
We find it hard to believe that Russia as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and as a country that is obliged to observe neutrality , just like France and the United States , was arming the Armenian side during the active phase of the conflict , '' Aliyev said .
`` According to our sources , major Russian businessmen of Armenian descent , as well as well-known arms traders who are under international sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purposes of our message to the Russian side was to ask it to look into the matter .
If smuggling is really involved , if Russian weapons are paid for and transported for cash , then there must be a probe into how this is possible , '' Aliyev said .
He added that Baku had relevant information at its disposal and was prepared to disclose the lists of the supplied items , if need be .
`` If necessary , we may disclose in the public space the lists of items supplied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time .
What aircraft and what air carriers were doing that .
Most of the deliveries are illegal , '' he said .
Allegations of employment of Middle Eastern militants by Azerbaijan

"It is not our fault that the situation is still in a ‘hot phase’. I have repeatedly said that Azerbaijan is committed to settlement principles which were produced by the longstanding negotiating process. We are ready to stop hostilities as early as tomorrow if Armenia behaves constructively in negotiations. However, the statements that we hear from Yerevan run completely counter to the basic principles ironed out by the OSCE Minsk Group," Aliyev said, when asked if he sees a way to return to the ceasefire negotiated in Moscow or if it is dead.
At the same time, he pinned the responsibility for the disruption of talks on Armenia. "The Armenian leadership recently delivered very dangerous statements, practically rejecting the basic principles. All activities of the Armenian leadership were aimed at disrupting the negotiating process. I already mentioned their numerous statements, provocations and attacks on the peaceful population of Azerbaijan. Therefore, if the Armenian side finally realizes that the way of military provocations will lead them to a catastrophe, we are ready to again suspend military action and solve the issue at the negotiating table," he noted.
The Azeri leader also underscored that Baku remains committed to its obligations assumed in contacts with its partners. "We have always relied on international law and our commitment to resolution of the conflict by peaceful means both from the very beginning and in the negotiations on the conflict settlement. We sought to abide by the obligations that Azerbaijan assumed after talks in Moscow," Aliyev stressed. "Unfortunately, Armenia blatantly violated the ceasefire. In less than 24 hours, the sleeping city of Ganja was attacked."
According to the Azeri leader, the strike was deliberately aimed at residential quarters and there were many dead and wounded after the first attack.
"In other words, Armenia brazenly violated the ceasefire, disrespecting mediators and its obligations assumed following the talks in Moscow," Aliyev said. "After the ceasefire conditions were agreed to exchange captives and dead bodies, Armenia violated the truce on the battlefield as well. However, they thought that it wasn’t enough, and they attacked Ganja. By the way, they did it again two days ago at night. This is an ignoble crime, this is international terrorism. And the fact that the international community unanimously condemned this bloody crime is telling that they won’t get away with it this easily.
Azerbaijan remains loyal to the basic principles of the OSCE Minsk Group for settling the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, Ilham Aliyev told TASS. "We are committed to the basic principles which I spoke about," Aliyev stressed. "These are the return of the territories occupied by the Armenian side, talks on the future of Nagorno-Karabakh and the return of refugees and forcibly displaced persons to the places of their original residence, including Nagorno-Karabakh and Shusha. This is all written out in the basic principles, and the Armenian side agreed to all of that at different stages," the Azeri president pointed out.
"The basic principles set out that all communications will open, not just the Lachin Corridor [that connects Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh - TASS]. Communications between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic [Azeri exclave - TASS] must also open. The Armenian side was also supposed to provide security guarantees for this corridor. Communications on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan are to also open," he added. Aliyev underlined, "It was also supposed that Armenia would have an unobstructed land access to Russia, which it is not stripped of now, but the crossing is much more convenient through Azerbaijan as it does not depend on weather conditions, snowfalls in the mountains and so on." "In other words, it is a part of the compromise package which envisioned de-occupation of the Azeri territories and return of Azeri refugees to all lands that they were chased away from. This implies not just the seven regions but also the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh as more than 25% of the whole Azeri population lived there before the conflict began. And, of course, an unobstructed access between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia through the Lachin Corridor," Aliyev concluded.
The so-called Madrid Principles were proposed by co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Russia, France and the United States) in December 2007 in the Spanish capital. They include three important principles enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act - non-use of force or the threat of force, territorial integrity and right to self-determination.
Readiness for talks
Azerbaijani representatives are ready for talks on Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia in Moscow or any place else, according to the country's president. "We are always ready to meet in Moscow or any other place in order to put an end to the standoff and find ways towards a settlement," Aliyev said, when asked whether he was ready to go to Moscow himself to meet with his counterpart through Russia’s mediation.
Baku "is ready for any contacts," the leader assured. "And in this case, I have not received such an invitation, so this question is not for me. Many times personally President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev before him conducted trilateral meetings between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan," he said. "However, after power shifted in Armenia to a Soros-like figure, such contacts have stopped," Aliyev explained.
He said that Russia had always played an important role in the conflict settlement. "There are objective reasons for this - both historical and geographical ones." Another reason is "that for decades, Russia has been active in our region, and the level of interaction is high. That is why, we are ready for any contacts," the head of state stressed.
He reiterated that when an offer came to organize a meeting of the foreign ministers, the Azerbaijani side agreed right away. "This also shows our position, because at that time the Azerbaijani army had already successfully liberated some strategic territories. It had been already more than ten days into the conflict, and it was practically clear to everyone who was capable of what. It was not very difficult to imagine the further course of combat operations. However, in spite of this, we did not stall for time, nor did we refuse. We said: ‘Yes, we are ready’," President Ilham Aliyev emphasized.
Possible arms smuggling
Baku believes that Russian weapons, which, according to the Azerbaijani authorities are delivered to Armenia, may be smuggled there, while the Russian authorities remain unaware of this, Ilham Aliyev revealed to TASS.
"We have shared with the Russian side our concerns that large amounts of weapons are moved from Russian cities to Armenia during the active phase of the confrontation. We have evidence on that score, we have flight maps and we know the types of weapons. All this was let known to the Russian side," Aliyev said.
He stressed that Baku surmised this hardware might be smuggled to Armenia. "We shared our suspicions with the Russian side that some smuggling schemes might be involved. We find it hard to believe that Russia as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and as a country that is obliged to observe neutrality, just like France and the United States, was arming the Armenian side during the active phase of the conflict," Aliyev said.
"According to our sources, major Russian businessmen of Armenian descent, as well as well-known arms traders who are under international sanctions are behind this. One of the purposes of our message to the Russian side was to ask it to look into the matter. If smuggling is really involved, if Russian weapons are paid for and transported for cash, then there must be a probe into how this is possible," Aliyev said.
He added that Baku had relevant information at its disposal and was prepared to disclose the lists of the supplied items, if need be. "If necessary, we may disclose in the public space the lists of items supplied to Armenia from Russia during this period of time. What aircraft and what air carriers were doing that. Most of the deliveries are illegal," he said.
Allegations of employment of Middle Eastern militants by Azerbaijan


tass--2020-10-19--Former Kyrgyz PM banned from leaving the country

BISHKEK , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Kyrgyzstan ’ s former Prime Minister Muhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has been banned from leaving @ @ @ @ @ in the Kyrgyz State Service for Combatting Economic Crimes informed TASS on Monday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ for Abylgaziev to leave the Kyrgyz Republic , '' the source said .
He noted @ @ @ @ @ a `` standard procedure '' in the event of initiating pre-trial proceedings in a criminal @ @ @ @ @ Kyrgyzstan ’ s Prime Minister from 2018 to June 2020 .

BISHKEK, October 19. /TASS/. Kyrgyzstan’s former Prime Minister Muhammedkalyi Abylgaziev has been banned from leaving the country, a source in the Kyrgyz State Service for Combatting Economic Crimes informed TASS on Monday.
"A ban has been announced for Abylgaziev to leave the Kyrgyz Republic," the source said.
He noted that such a ban was a "standard procedure" in the event of initiating pre-trial proceedings in a criminal case.
Abylgaziev served as Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to June 2020.


tass--2020-10-19--Lavrov draws CE Secretary-General’s attention to Crimea’s water blockade

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that at negotiations with the Council of Europe ’ s Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic-Buric he stressed the impermissibility of Crimea ’ s water blockade .
`` We stressed the impermissibility of a situation with Crimea ’ s water blockade in violation of all conceivable conventions - European and universal - and in violation of the recommendation made back in 2016 by the Council of Europe ’ s special envoy Gerard Studman , who visited Crimea and made a report on the situation there .
One of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Crimea ’ s water supply , '' Lavrov told a news conference following talks with Pejcinovic-Buric on Monday .
He said the two sides also discussed further outspoken discrimination against the Russian language and Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and the Baltic countries and the impermissibility of heroization of Nazi criminals and their henchmen and destruction of monuments to the soldiers who liberated Europe .
`` We are certain that the Council of Europe , which positions itself as the leading human rights organization in Europe , must not turn a blind eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the least , '' Lavrov said .
The problem of water supply and irrigation in Crimea emerged in 2014 , when Ukraine unilaterally blocked the North Crimean canal , which brought water to the peninsula from the Kherson Region .
All of Crimea ’ s households and businesses have to use water from local sources .
This year ’ s droughty weather resulted in water shortages .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that at negotiations with the Council of Europe’s Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic-Buric he stressed the impermissibility of Crimea’s water blockade.
"We stressed the impermissibility of a situation with Crimea’s water blockade in violation of all conceivable conventions - European and universal - and in violation of the recommendation made back in 2016 by the Council of Europe’s special envoy Gerard Studman, who visited Crimea and made a report on the situation there. One of his recommendations was prompt response to the problem of Crimea’s water supply," Lavrov told a news conference following talks with Pejcinovic-Buric on Monday.
He said the two sides also discussed further outspoken discrimination against the Russian language and Russian-speaking population in Ukraine and the Baltic countries and the impermissibility of heroization of Nazi criminals and their henchmen and destruction of monuments to the soldiers who liberated Europe.
"We are certain that the Council of Europe, which positions itself as the leading human rights organization in Europe, must not turn a blind eye on these disgraceful phenomena, to say the least," Lavrov said.
The problem of water supply and irrigation in Crimea emerged in 2014, when Ukraine unilaterally blocked the North Crimean canal, which brought water to the peninsula from the Kherson Region. All of Crimea’s households and businesses have to use water from local sources. This year’s droughty weather resulted in water shortages.


tass--2020-10-19--Lavrov says crisis in Council of Europe showed that ultimatums are unacceptable

MOSCOW , October 19 .
/TASS/ .
The resolution of the systemic crisis in the Council of Europe related to the restriction of the Russian delegation ’ s rights in the organization ’ s Parliamentary Assembly has shown that ultimatums and pressure are unacceptable , Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at a news conference on Monday following talks with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric .
According to Russia ’ s top diplomat , the secretary general ’ s visit symbolically draws a line under the systemic crisis the Council of Europe was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some members of its Parliamentary Assembly that contradict the organization ’ s statute .
`` Now the situation has changed qualitatively , primarily as a result of the session of the Council of Europe ’ s Committee of Ministers held in Helsinki last May .
The rights of Russian parliamentarians have been fully restored since then .
The main lesson of that situation is that using the language of threats , ultimatums and pressure in the Council of Europe is unacceptable .
It is unacceptable to try to violate the key principles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based and which are enshrined in its Statute , '' Lavrov stressed .
He noted that Marija Pejcinovic Buric 's visit was taking place in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of Russia ’ s Council of Europe membership .
`` We will celebrate that date on February 28 , 2021 .
This is probably a good reason to analyze where we are and what tasks we face in the interests of further cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Russian Federation , '' he said .
The Russian delegation to PACE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , take part in monitoring missions or make up the PACE leadership institutions in April 2014 , following the events in Ukraine and Crimea .
In 2015 , PACE considered the issue of reinstating the rights of the Russian delegation twice , but the sanctions only got tighter then .
In response , the Russian delegation announced that it refused to work in such conditions and since 2016 did not submit an application to confirm its rights .
In 2017 , Russia froze the payment of its membership fees to the Council of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , members of the PACE summer session approved the resolution drafted by a monitoring committee , which confirmed the full powers of the Russian delegation within the organization .

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. The resolution of the systemic crisis in the Council of Europe related to the restriction of the Russian delegation’s rights in the organization’s Parliamentary Assembly has shown that ultimatums and pressure are unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at a news conference on Monday following talks with Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric.
According to Russia’s top diplomat, the secretary general’s visit symbolically draws a line under the systemic crisis the Council of Europe was in in 2014-2019 due to illegal actions by some members of its Parliamentary Assembly that contradict the organization’s statute. "Now the situation has changed qualitatively, primarily as a result of the session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers held in Helsinki last May. The rights of Russian parliamentarians have been fully restored since then. The main lesson of that situation is that using the language of threats, ultimatums and pressure in the Council of Europe is unacceptable. It is unacceptable to try to violate the key principles, on which the Council of Europe is based and which are enshrined in its Statute," Lavrov stressed.
He noted that Marija Pejcinovic Buric's visit was taking place in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of Russia’s Council of Europe membership. "We will celebrate that date on February 28, 2021. This is probably a good reason to analyze where we are and what tasks we face in the interests of further cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Russian Federation," he said.
The Russian delegation to PACE was stripped of its rights to vote, take part in monitoring missions or make up the PACE leadership institutions in April 2014, following the events in Ukraine and Crimea. In 2015, PACE considered the issue of reinstating the rights of the Russian delegation twice, but the sanctions only got tighter then. In response, the Russian delegation announced that it refused to work in such conditions and since 2016 did not submit an application to confirm its rights. In 2017, Russia froze the payment of its membership fees to the Council of Europe budget.
On June 26, 2019, members of the PACE summer session approved the resolution drafted by a monitoring committee, which confirmed the full powers of the Russian delegation within the organization.


tass--2020-10-20--Yerevan reports 43 more servicemen dead in Nagorno-Karabakh on Armenian side

YEREVAN , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
The Defense Army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has published another list of military servicemen who died in the conflict zone , consisting of 43 names , the information center under the Armenian cabinet reported Tuesday .
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27 , with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh .
The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014 , in April 2016 and this past July .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts .
Both parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among them civilians .
As a result of the Russia-initiated consultations in Moscow Baku and Yerevan agreed to cease fire starting from 12:00 local time of October 10 for humanitarian purposes for exchanging prisoners of war and bodies of the dead .
However , both parties to the conflict report violations .
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh , a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up , but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians , broke out in February 1988 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic .
In 1992-1994 , tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them .
Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group , led by its three co-chairs - Russia , France and the United States .

YEREVAN, October 20. /TASS/. The Defense Army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has published another list of military servicemen who died in the conflict zone, consisting of 43 names, the information center under the Armenian cabinet reported Tuesday.
Renewed clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted on September 27, with intense battles raging in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The area experienced flare-ups of violence in the summer of 2014, in April 2016 and this past July. Azerbaijan and Armenia have imposed martial law and launched mobilization efforts. Both parties to the conflict have reported casualties, among them civilians.
As a result of the Russia-initiated consultations in Moscow, Baku and Yerevan agreed to a ceasefire starting from 12:00 noon local time on October 10 for humanitarian purposes to exchange prisoners of war and bodies of the dead. However, both parties to the conflict have reported violations..
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the highland region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed territory that had been part of Azerbaijan before the Soviet Union break-up, but primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, broke out in February 1988 after the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1992-1994, tensions boiled over and exploded into large-scale military action for control over the enclave and seven adjacent territories after Azerbaijan lost control of them. Talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement have been ongoing since 1992 under the OSCE Minsk Group, led by its three co-chairs - Russia, France and the United States.


tass--2020-10-20--Aeroflot is able to defend itself by responding to accusations of smuggling — Kremlin

MOSCOW , October 20 .
/TASS/ .
Russian airline Aeroflot has every opportunity to respond to the accusations of smuggling @ @ @ @ @ , Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday .
`` I am not familiar with @ @ @ @ @ against the Russian company .
But I think that the Russian company is able to @ @ @ @ @ appropriate manner , '' he said .
The Kremlin spokesman also stressed that `` the @ @ @ @ @ interests of our domestic companies . ''
Earlier , the US authorities charged 10 Russian @ @ @ @ @ million worth of mainly stolen iPhones and other Apple products .
According to the US @ @ @ @ @ defendants allegedly participated in the illegal smuggling of electronic devices , particularly Apple products , @ @ @ @ @ Russia using couriers , many of whom were current and former employees of Aeroflot Airlines @ @ @ @ @ led the State Department to revoke 113 visas of current and former employees of Aeroflot @ @ @ @ @ smuggling scheme , the Justice Department said .

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. Russian airline Aeroflot has every opportunity to respond to the accusations of smuggling that were made against it, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
"I am not familiar with the charges they are bringing against the Russian company. But I think that the Russian company is able to protect its interests in the appropriate manner," he said.
The Kremlin spokesman also stressed that "the Russian state is always guarding interests of our domestic companies."
Earlier, the US authorities charged 10 Russian nationals with smuggling $50 million worth of mainly stolen iPhones and other Apple products. According to the US Justice Department, "the defendants allegedly participated in the illegal smuggling of electronic devices, particularly Apple products, from the United States to Russia using couriers, many of whom were current and former employees of Aeroflot Airlines." The investigation had led the State Department to revoke 113 visas of current and former employees of Aeroflot suspected of participating in the smuggling scheme, the Justice Department said.