The Dispatch

Russian PM to visit Belarus on Thursday amid preparations for joint military drills

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Belarus for talks on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, as Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko faces the biggest political crisis of his 26…

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Sanctions on Belarus and Lukashenko on the global agenda

Canada, the United States, the European Union and Britain are discussing possible sanctions against Belarus over its crackdown against protests following a disputed election, a Canadian source directly familiar with…

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Scientists see downsides to top COVID-19 vaccines from Russia, China

High-profile COVID-19 vaccines developed in Russia and China share a potential shortcoming: They are based on a common cold virus that many people have been exposed to, potentially limiting their…

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Germany has evidence Putin critic Navalny was poisoned with Novichok

A comatose critic of Russian President Vladmir Putin being treated in a Berlin hospital was poisoned with a nerve agent of the Novichok family, a German government spokesman said on…

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Kazakhstan in talks on $700 million in cryptocurrency mining projects

Kazakhstan is in talks to attract investments worth 300 billion tenge ($714 million) into the cryptocurrency sector, Digital Development Minister Bagdat Mussin said on Wednesday. Kazakhstan claims to account for…

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Lukashenko considers re-routing Belarusian cargo because of sanctions

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that he was ready to re-route Belarusian cargo from Baltic ports to Russian ports in response to sanctions imposed by Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the…

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Covid-19 cases in the Ukraine continue to increase

There has been a surge in cases in the Ukraine with a record 2,495 new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the national security council said on Wednesday, up from…

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Facebook says Russian influence campaign targeted left-wing voters in U.S., UK

A Russian influence operation posed as an independent news outlet to target left-wing voters in the United States and Britain, including by recruiting freelance journalists to write about domestic politics,…

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New protests in Belarus

Thousands of students boycotted the start of the school year in Belarus on Tuesday and signs of a possible rift appeared in an opposition alliance that has led weeks of…

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Russia Coronavirus Cases Surge Past One Million

Russia has exceeded the threshold of one million coronavirus cases across the country today, meaning it is the fourth country to reach this glum figure after the United States, Brazil…

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Baltic states impose sanctions on Lukashenko and other Belarus officials

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia imposed travel bans on President Alexander Lukashenko and 29 other Belarusian officials on Monday, signalling impatience with the West’s cautious approach by announcing sanctions without waiting…

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Russia must respect sovereignty of Belarus, says White House

Russia must respect the sovereignty of Belarus and the right of its people to elect their own leaders, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said yesterday afternoon. McEnany also told reporters…

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Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed over Electrogas power station deal – Deal investigated by police – Court told

Police believe that the anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed for what she was about to reveal about a government-sponsored power station deal, a court in Malta has heard. The Guardian…

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MH17 victims’ relatives to seek damages from suspects

More than 300 relatives of victims who died when a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane was shot down in 2014 will seek unspecified damages from four suspects being tried in the Netherlands, lawyers…

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Russian, Chinese vaccines may not be effective – medical experts

High-profile COVID-19 vaccines developed in Russia and China share a potential shortcoming: They are based on a common cold virus that many people have been exposed to, potentially limiting their…

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Photo Story : Power to the people

Belarus woman speaks with policemen during a protest rally against the results of the presidential elections, in Minsk, Belarus, 30 August 2020. Opposition protests in Belarus continue against alleges poll-rigging…

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‘Happy Birthday, you rat’ – Protesters chant in Belarus

Belarusians chanting “Happy Birthday, you rat” and flying red-and-white opposition flags gathered near President Alexander Lukashenko’s residence on Sunday as protesters kept up pressure on the veteran leader to resign,…

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Putin and Lukashenko to meet in Moscow – Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko have agreed to meet in Moscow in coming weeks, the Kremlin said on Sunday. The two leaders have not met since…

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PhotoStory – Remembering victims of East Ukraine’s conflict

Young Ukrainian girl reacts during a meeting to memory of lost soldiers in front of the Memory wall of Ukrainian fallen defenders, who died in the Eastern-Ukrainian conflict, near the…

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Azerbaijan extends some coronavirus restrictions until September 31

Azerbaijan has extended some coronavirus lockdown restrictions, including the closure of its borders, until September 31 after a further rise in the number of infections, the government said on Saturday.…

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Over 17,000 dead in Russia because of Covid-19

Russia said on Saturday 111 people had died from the new coronavirus in the last 24 hours, raising the official death toll to 17,025. Russia's coronavirus taskforce reported 4,941 new…

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Ukraine reports record daily rise in coronavirus cases

Ukraine registered a record 2,481 cases of the new coronavirus in the past 24 hours, officials said on Saturday, up from 2,438 in the previous day. The increase comes after…

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Russia’s coronavirus cases surpass 980,000

Russia reported 4,829 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Friday, bringing its nationwide tally to 980,405, the fourth largest caseload in the world. Russia's coronavirus taskforce said 110 people…

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Belarus detains around 20 journalists preparing to cover protests

Belarusian police detained around 20 journalists preparing to cover a protest in central Minsk on Thursday and confiscated their telephones and identity documents, a Reuters witness said. The Interior Ministry…

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Tech firms threaten to quit Belarus after crackdown, internet outages

For Belarus's thriving tech industry, it didn't matter much that the country's president referred to the internet as "garbage" and state factories as the engine of economic success. Until now.…

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Photo Story: Independence Day celebrations in Moldova

The President of Moldova Igor Dodon (C) with Speaker of Parliament Zinaida Grecianii (L) and Prime Minister Ion Chicu (R) lay flowers at the monument of the Grieving Mother, during…

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NATO chief says Lukashenko must respect fundamental rights

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday to respect fundamental rights and said it would be unjustified to use the defence alliance as an excuse…

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Navalny ally says only Putin could have authorised suspected poisoning

A senior ally of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said on Wednesday he believed only President Vladimir Putin could have authorised the suspected poisoning of the outspoken Kremlin critic. The…

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Ukraine bans foreigners, extends lockdown measures to fight COVID-19

Ukraine on Wednesday imposed a temporary ban on most foreigners from entering the country until Sept. 28 and extended lockdown measures until the end of October to contain a recent…

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Russia’s coronavirus infection tally passes 970,000

Russia reported 4,676 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, pushing its confirmed national tally up to 970,865. Authorities said 115 people had died of COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, raising…

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Kremlin denies accusations of involvement in Navalny’s poisoning

The Kremlin has rejected accusations that Vladimir Putin was involved in the suspected poisoning of opposition critic Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma in a German hospital. A spokesman called…

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Belarus jails two opposition members

Belarus jailed two opposition leaders for 10 days on Tuesday as the government pursued a crackdown on the few figures still at large, while schoolteachers led a new protest of…

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Merkel tells Russia to investigate suspected poisoning of Kremlin critic – UPDATED

Updated 1411 - Russia refutes calls for investigation The Kremlin said on Tuesday it saw no need for now to investigate the circumstances leading up to opposition politician Alexei Navalny's…

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Belarus opposition figures in court after night in jail

Two leaders of the opposition in Belarus appeared in court on Tuesday after a night in jail, as the government pursues a crackdown on the few figures still at large, with more…

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Tests on Russian opposition politician indicate poisoning – Hospital

The Charite university hospital treating Alexei Navalny in Berlin says early tests suggest the Russian opposition figure was poisoned by a toxin. It described his condition as serious, but with…

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Siberian doctors say they saved Kremlin critic Navalny’s life

Doctors at the Siberian hospital that first treated Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said on Monday that they had saved his life but that they had not found traces of…

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Russia’s coronavirus tally passes 960,000

Russia reported 4,744 new coronavirus cases on Monday, pushing its confirmed infection tally to 961,493, the fourth largest in the world. Authorities said 65 people had died over the past…

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Tsikhanouskaya hopes dialogue with Belarusian authorities will start soon

Belarusian opposition presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who has led the biggest challenge to Alexander Lukashenko’s 26-year rule, hopes a dialogue with the authorities will start soon, she told Polish Gazeta…

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Photo Story: Army 2020 International Military Technical Forum and 6th International Army Games 2020 in Russia

Photos from the 6th International Army Games 2020 at the Alabino training ground, Moscow region, Russia, 23 August 2020. The 6th International Military-Technical Forum "Army-2020" is held from 23 August…

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Former Ukrainian premier Tymoshenko tests positive for coronavirus

Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is in serious condition with a fever, her party’s spokeswoman said. Tymoshenko, 59, who twice served…

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Russia may resume flights to seven more countries, including Malta, this week

Russian authorities may this week announce the resumption of international flights to France, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus, Jordan, Egypt and China's Shanghai, the Izvestia newspaper cited unnamed airport and airline sources…

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Lithuanians stand in vast chain of support for Belarus opposition

Lithuanians stood in a 35,000-strong human chain stretching 34 km (21 miles) from central Vilnius to the Belarus border on Sunday to show support for protesters in Belarus and opposition…

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Russia vaccine roll-out plan prompts virus mutation worries

Russia's plan to roll-out its "Sputnik-V" COVID-19 vaccine even before full trials show how well it works is prompting concern among virus experts, who warn a partially effective shot may…

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Who is Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny?

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in Germany from Siberia for treatment. He is in a coma after drinking what his supporters suspect was poisoned tea; they accuse the authorities…

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Russia plans COVID-19 vaccine output at 6 million doses a month

Russia expects to produce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potential COVID-19 vaccine by the year end, gradually ramping up production to 6 million doses…

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Protesters in Russia hold seventh anti-Kremlin march over detained governor

Around 1,500 people marched through the streets of the Russian far eastern city of Khabarovsk on Saturday, marking the seventh consecutive weekend of protests after the region’s governor was detained…

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Lukashenko orders army to defend Belarus’ borders

Claims by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that "foreign powers" are organising a build-up of troops on the country's border are baseless, says NATO. Dressed in military fatigues, the president said…

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Ukraine President urges people to take seriously recent spike in cases

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged people to act on health advice on Saturday after official data showed daily COVID-19 infections had risen to a record level. The country saw 2,328…

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Belarus opposition leader to meet US Deputy Secretary of State

Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will meet U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Lithuania on Monday as part of efforts to defuse the crisis over disputed elections, her…

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Belarusians will never accept Lukashenko – Tsikhanouskaya

Belarusians "will never accept" President Alexander Lukashenko's leadership, exiled opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Friday during a press conference in Lithuania, DW reports. "It should be clear to the…

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Russian Opposition Leader flown to Germany

A medical evacuation flight carrying Alexey Navalny has left Omsk and is on its way to Germany, after the Russian opposition leader fell gravely ill in a suspected poisoning. Russian…

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Russia’s coronavirus case tally nears 950,000

Russia reported 4,870 new coronavirus cases on Friday, pushing its confirmed national tally to 946,976, the fourth largest in the world. Authorities said 90 people had died over the last…

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Calls for more strikes in Belarus to force new elections

Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Friday called on her supporters to step up their strikes at factories across the country to try to force new presidential elections. "I ask…

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Russian hospital refuses to move Kremlin critic Navalny after suspected poisoning

A Siberian hospital treating Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is refusing to allow him to be moved to another better-equipped facility where he can get better care after a suspected poisoning,…

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Russia’s coronavirus death toll passes 16,000

Russia's death toll from the novel coronavirus passed 16,000 on Thursday, as the country reported 110 new deaths in the past 24 hours. The country's coronavirus crisis response centre registered…

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Ukraine registers record daily high of new coronavirus cases

Ukraine registered 2,134 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a new daily record for infections in the country, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said on Thursday. Stepanov said the…

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Russian opposition politician Navalny in coma after suspected poisoning

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was in a coma in a Siberian hospital on Thursday after drinking a cup of tea that his spokeswoman said she believed was laced with…

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