A special listing covering Sunday’s presidential election in Belarus is toward the end of the newsletter.

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Friday 7. August

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Eestlaste geneetiline peenstruktuur paljastab värvika ajaloo ja piirkondlikud eripärad

(Novaator)

“Tartu Ülikooli populatsioonigeneetika teadur ja töö esimene autor Vasili Pankratov rõhutas, et sellele vaatamata on eestlased geneetiliselt teistest rahvastest hästi eristuvad. "Üks eestlane võib olla soomlastele sarnasem kui teine, kuid kahte eestlast võrreldes on nad omavahel ikka sarnasemad kui eestlane ja soomlane," laiendas teadur.”

https://novaator.err.ee/1121418/eestlaste-geneetiline-peenstruktuur-paljastab-varvika-ajaloo-ja-piirkondlikud-eriparad

“Differences in local population history at the finest level: the case of the Estonian population.” - Nature

10 new coronavirus cases in Estonia

(ERR)

”961 primary tests were conducted during that time, making a positive rate of 0.1 percent.”

https://news.err.ee/1121640/health-board-10-new-coronavirus-cases-in-estonia

• “Ööpäevaga lisandus 10 positiivset testitulemust.” - Postimees

• “Perearstid koostasid uue tegevusjuhendi COVID-19 leviku vältimiseks.” - Lääne Elu

• “Sillamäe sadamas "koroonalaevaga" kokku puutunud kohalikud inimesed pole haigestunud.” - Põhjarannik

• “Latvia: Six new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on August 7.” - LSM

• “Lithuania uneasy as new COVID-19 cases keep edging up.” - BNN

• “Finland: 22 new cases on Friday; plans advance to prevent second wave.” - Yle

• “Sweden Reports No New Deaths Caused by Coronavirus.” - Bloomberg

• “Norwegians Told to Avoid All Foreign Travel as Virus Surges.” - Bloomberg

• “Locals In Russia's Kaliningrad Say Coronavirus Testing Stopped In Bid To Show Fewer Cases.” - RFERL

Finnish embassy reportedly destroyed in Beirut explosion

(Helsinki Times | Yle)

"It was very fortunate that nothing happened to staff. The embassy was completely destroyed.” - Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/news-in-brief/17934-finnish-embassy-reportedly-destroyed-in-beirut-explosion.html

—

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/one_finn_injured_in_beirut_blast/11479901

“Eestlane Beirutis: asi läheb ilmselt veel halvemaks.” - Postimees

Valgevene lasi Astravetsi tuumajaama reaktorisse tuumakütuse

(ERR)

“Valgevene teatas reedel, paar päeva enne presidendivalimisi, et lasi Astravetsi tuumajaama esimesse reaktorisse tuumakütuse.”

https://www.err.ee/1121777/valgevene-lasi-astravetsi-tuumajaama-reaktorisse-tuumakutuse

Fuel Loading Starts At Belarus's New Astravets Nuclear Plant

(RFERL)

“Built by Russian state firm Rosatom and financed by Moscow with a $10 billion loan, the project is opposed by neighboring EU member Lithuania, whose capital, Vilnius, is just 50 kilometers away. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia are moving to fully decoupling from their Soviet-era common power system by 2025.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/fuel-loading-starts-at-belarus-s-new-astravets-nuclear-plant/30771532.html

Opinion: 5 ways to fix America’s broken ties with Europe

(Politico-Europw)

“The U.S. must urgently re-establish the credibility of NATO’s Article 5 guarantee and its own commitment to collective defense.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/5-ways-to-fix-americas-broken-ties-with-europe/

• “Washington reportedly pulls 700 US marines out of Norway.” - Barent Observer

• “USA toob oma sõdurid Norrast ära.” - ERR

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Thursday 6. August

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Ameeriklased hiilivad Euroopa koroonapiirangutest mööda

(Postimees - paywall)

“Ameerika turistide jaoks peaks praegu Euroopasse pääsemine olema peaaegu võimatu. Reaalsuses leitakse aga ikkagi viise, kuidas üle ookeani pääseda ja siin puhkust veeta.”

https://maailm.postimees.ee/7034109/ameeriklased-hiilivad-euroopa-koroonapiirangutest-mooda?_ga=2.182003623.1865717597.1596564719-2083525256.1596564716

Americans hunt for loopholes to get into Europe

(Politico-Europe)

“The Continent’s weak quarantine enforcement rules and diverging national policies allow tourists to evade restrictions.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/coronavirus-americans-travel-europe-loopholes/

“International travel, lack of enforcement on self-isolation highlighted as serious coronavirus risks for Finland.” - News Now Finland

Latvia and Estonia for joint wind farm project in Gulf of Riga

(Baltic Times)

“The ministry's representatives who would not elaborate on the details of the project, said that the plan is to prepare the project by 2030, raising co-funding for preparatory works and infrastructure from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The project aims for building a high-capacity - at least 700-1,000 megawatt - wind farm.”

https://www.baltictimes.com/latvia_and_estonia_plan_to_raise_eu_funding_for_joint_wind_farm_project_in_gulf_of_riga/

Estonia raises Russia's aggression against Georgia at UN Security Council

(Baltic Times)

“Estonia alongside the United States, Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom raised the issue of Russia's actions against Georgia. "This week marks 12 years since the beginning of Russia's aggression in Georgia. We considered it important to draw the international community's attention at the Security Council to the fact that Russia's aggression in Georgia has not waned.”

https://www.baltictimes.com/estonia_raises_russia_s_aggression_against_georgia_at_un_security_council/

Former KGB building for sale in Riga

(Latvian Broadcasting)

“A small part - less than 700 square metres - must be preserved for the exhibition regarding the history of the KGB in Latvia on the basement floor, and the first floor of the building shall be used by the Latvian Museum of Occupation, remaining open to the public as a museum after the purchase of real estate.”

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/economy/former-kgb-building-for-sale-in-riga.a369567/

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Wednesday 5. August

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The Exploitation of the Sámi Homeland

(News Now Finland - 13. June)

“The Sámi homeland in Finland is a resource in scarce supply for the traditional Sámi livelihoods (reindeer-herding, fishing, handicrafts, hunting, gathering and their modern forms). The size of the Sámi homeland is 35,000 square kilometres in total. However, the area available for traditional Sámi livelihoods in the Sámi homeland has been reduced and fragmented by the demands of other forms of land usage ranging from roads, construction and logging to tourism, railway plans, wind power and other large-scale projects. The Sámi homeland is the only “arena” in Finland for the traditional Sámi livelihoods.”

https://newsnowfinland.fi/columnists/pirita-nakkalajarvi-column-sami-homeland-a-scarce-resource

• “Sami in Sweden start work on structure of Truth and Reconciliation Commission.” - Eye on the Arctic

• “The History of Mining and Inroads in Sámiland and Their Effect on the Sámi” - The University of Texas

Finland, Estonia, Poland to help mark centenary of Latvian-Russian peace treaty

(Latvian Broadcasting)

“However, no mention was made of Russian participation in the events.”

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/diplomacy/finland-estonia-poland-to-help-mark-centenary-of-latvian-russian-peace-treaty.a369476/

Seasonal workers from Ukraine violate self-isolation rules in Estonia

(Unian)

“The authorities suspect 17 people of working while they should be self-isolating.” 

https://www.unian.info/world/coronavirus-crisis-17-seasonal-workers-from-ukraine-violate-self-isolation-rules-in-estonia-11099615.html

Finland: Prime Minister Sanna Marin weds long-term partner

(Yle)

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/prime_minister_sanna_marin_weds_long-term_partner/11476592

• “Soome peaminister Sanna Marin kandis oma pulmas kleiti, mida ta oli juba kaks aastat varem kandnud.” - Delfi

• “Finland's prime minister Sanna Marin marries her partner of 16 years.” - Daily Mail

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Belarus

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Something is stirring in Belarus

(Washington Post)

“After 26 years of rule, “Europe’s last dictator,” Alexander Lukashenko, is facing protests and resistance by young people from all over the country who hope that this Sunday’s election will bring real change. What they hope is what Lukashenko fears.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/07/all-eyes-belarus-where-dictators-script-has-changed-people-are-pushing-back/

Belarus’ Presidential Election 

(Meduza)

“On August 9, Belarus will conclude its most contentious, openly dirtiest, and toughest presidential campaign ever. During the race, one candidate has been imprisoned (as well as two campaign chiefs of staff) and another fled the country altogether. The number of political prisoners in Belarus spiked from one to 24 people, and law enforcement has started arresting not just local oppositionist activists but even Russian mercenaries.”

https://meduza.io/en/cards/what-just-happened-and-what-s-next-in-belarus

• “Vaatlejad tuvastasid Valgevene eelhääletusel üle 5000 rikkumiste.” - ERR

• “Lukashenko's authoritarian grip faces test.” - Deutsche Welle

• “Thousands In Belarus Attend 'Canceled' Opposition Rally Despite Pressure.” - RFERL

• “What Does Russia Want From Belarus's Election?” - RFERL

• “Could Europe’s Last Dictatorship Be on Its Way Out?” - The Dispatch

• “Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is the greatest challenge yet to the reign of Alexander Lukashenko.” - DW

• “Tsikhanouskaya’s team barred from holding big pre-election rally in Belarusian capital.” - Belsat

• “Tsikhanouskaya: No one wants bloodshed, but Lukashenka keeps warning against a  ‘maidan’.” - Belsat

• “Mercenaries’ Arrests Deepen Minsk-Moscow Rift.” - Carnegie Moscow

• “Lukašenka vahistas nüüd USA passiga inimesi.” - Õhtuleht

• “Interview: Rising opposition star Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.” - Euronews

• “Belarus President Lukashenko slams Moscow 'lies' as row with Russia escalates.” - Deutsche Welle

• "There is hope again in Belarus - even as Lukashenko muddies the election water." - Euronews

Belarus : Five Factors That Ensure Lukashenka Wins Every Election

(RFERL)

• “Early voting … allows more time to tamper with ballots cast and manipulate the outcome.”

• “There will be international monitors from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a Russian-led grouping of former Soviet republics. In the past, CIS observers has never observed an election in Belarus they didn't like.”

• “Lukashenka dominates state-run media outlets.”

• “In the past, Lukashenka has repeatedly calling out security forces to quell any postelection unrest …”

• “Central Election Commission (TsKV) chief Lidzia Yarmoshyna … has headed the TsKV for 23 years. She has presided over the process each time Lukashenka, first elected in 1994, has secured a new term: in 2001, 2006, 2010, and 2015.”

https://www.rferl.org/a/five-factors-that-ensure-lukashenka-wins-every-election-in-belarus/30769963.html

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Россия

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Putin’s Got Big Problems in Russia’s Provinces

By Anna Nemtsova, The Daily Beast

“In spite of the Kremlin’s efforts to hide them, big anti-Putin protests and environmental disasters are causing headaches in rural Russia.”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/putins-got-big-problems-in-russias-provinces?via=ios

“The ongoing protests in Russia’s far east aren’t a one-off—they’re a preview of the future of the country’s periphery.” - Foreign Policy

Siberian Regionalism a Growing Threat to Moscow

By Paul Goble, Jamestown Org.

“The protests in Khabarovsk and other Russian cities in Siberia and the Far East over the last month … have called attention to something that has been a problem for the central Russian government since at least the 19th century and will persist even when the current wave of demonstrations ebb. …”

https://jamestown.org/program/siberian-regionalism-a-growing-threat-to-moscow/

Better Transparency Reporting Can Shed Light on Russian Internet Censorship

By Sergei Hovyadinov, Lawfare)

“Over the last decade, the Russian internet has evolved from being freely accessible and almost uncontrolled to being a system over which the Kremlin has established very tight controls, molding it to its taste. The government can censor and block a wide range of content, control the actions of platforms and users and employ the internet as a communication tool to its own advantage. And all of this comes with very minimal oversight and opposition from the Russian-language community of the internet, the RuNet.”

https://www.lawfareblog.com/better-transparency-reporting-can-shed-light-russian-internet-censorship

Putin’s Security Forces Are Increasingly Unsure About Putin

By Mark Galeotti, Foreign Policy

“The continuing protests in the Russian city of Khabarovsk, triggered by the arrest of the elected local governor, do not simply demonstrate pent-up dissatisfaction toward Vladimir Putin’s regime—they also demonstrate some of the potential limitations of its control over the security forces. As the Kremlin seems to be pivoting toward a renewed campaign of repression, the question of the morale and loyalty of its enforcers becomes crucial.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/author/mark-galeotti/

Moscow Finally Addressing Its Nuclear Dumping in Arctic

(Window on Eurasia)

“Rosatom has announced that over the next eight years, it will remove two entire submarines and four reactor units from the Arctic floor but says the other radioactive items pose little or no risk and will be left in place.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2020/08/moscow-finally-addressing-its-nuclear.html

Belarus and Russia Yearn for What the West Takes for Granted

(CEPA)

“In Khabarovsk, people want their governor back: Sergei Furgal, who was in effect abducted by the Kremlin last month. In Belarus, they are not even campaigning to unseat Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who won the last free election in 1994, and is trying to rig this one. The opposition’s only manifesto promise and demand is another: free elections, with the participation of the opposition candidates whom the regime has banned and silenced. …”

https://www.cepa.org/on-democracy

Putin Is Ruling Russia Like a Central Asian Dictator

(Foreign Policy)

“Putin’s decision to perpetuate his rule through the promulgation of a new constitution is wholly unexceptional, falling squarely within the post-Soviet region’s mainstream.”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/08/06/putin-ruling-russia-like-a-kazakhstan-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-tajikistan-belarus-central-asian-dictator/

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