Month: September 2020

Navalny is being treated at a German hospital after falling ill.

Alexey Navalny, the Russian opposition leader and one of Vladimir Putin’s fiercest critics, was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group, the German government said, the same type of Russian military nerve agent weapon used in the poisoning of a former Russian double agent, Sergey Skripal, in Britain in 2018.

Navalny, 44, is being treated at the Berlin university hospital where he was transported to after falling ill on a plane in Siberia two weeks ago. He remains in an induced coma in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

The Russian doctors initially treating Navalny in a Siberian hospital said there was no evidence he had been poisoned.

However, a spokesman for Germany’s federal government, Steffen Seibert, in a statement released Wednesday said that tests by a German military lab had provided “unequivocal proof” that Navalny had been poisoned with “a chemical nerve warfare agent of the Novichok group.”

Novichok is the name of a number of nerve agents developed as part of a secret Soviet chemical weapons program. A Novichok nerve agent was used to poison the ex-Russian spy Sergey Skripal and his daughter in March 2018 in the British town of Salisbury, an attack that British authorities have said was carried out by agents from Russia’s military intelligence agency.

Germany said it will inform NATO and European Union countries about the result of its investigation and would discuss “an appropriate joint reaction.”

“It is a shocking event that Alexei Navalny was the victim of an attack with a chemical nerve agent in Russia. The federal government condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms,” the German government statement said, saying it would summon Russia’s ambassador for an explanation. “The Russian government is urged to explain itself about the incident.

It said Germany’s government would also contact the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OVCW).

Russia’s government has denied any involvement in Navalny’s sickness and has already cast doubt on the idea that he might have been poisoned.

Following Skripal’s poisoning in 2018, NATO countries expelled dozens of Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated response. Russia has always denied it was behind Skripal’s poisoning, despite extensive evidence linking Russian military intelligence agents who visited Skripal’s house in Salisbury shortly before his poisoning.

Navalny’s colleagues and relatives have earlier accused the Kremlin of being directly involved in Navalny’s poisoning and accused Russian authorities of a cover-up. Doctors in the Siberian hospital Omsk where Navalny was being treated have repeatedly said they found no evidence of poisoning and had suggested instead he had suffered a sudden fall in blood sugar.

Shortly after Navalny arrived in Berlin’s Charité hospital for treatment, however, doctors there said they believed he had been poisoned with cholinesterase inhibitors, a broad class of chemicals that includes nerve agents, including Novichok.

Navalny is Russia’s most prominent opposition leader, who made his name through investigations of alleged corruption by powerful Russians, including top officials and some of Putin’s inner circle. He also built a grassroots opposition movement that has helped lead some of the largest anti-Putin protests in Moscow in recent years.

More than a foot of rain has fallen since Sunday from Oklahoma to Arkansas.

There is a high chance for flash flooding on Wednesday in the southern Plains. Already, more than a foot of rain has fallen since Sunday from Oklahoma to Arkansas.

Additionally, severe storms have produced seven tornadoes in Texas and Arkansas, with significant damage reported near Little Rock, Arkansas.

More dangerous weather is expected for the southern Plains Thursday including, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Missouri. Flood watches and warnings have been issued for those areas.

In the next 24 to 48 hours, 4 to 6 inches of rain is expected from Dallas to Little Rock, where more major flooding is possible.

Out west, fire dangers persist and there is another heat wave developing. Red flag warnings have been issued in the northern Rockies and the High Plains, with wind gusts near 50 mph.

There were evacuations Tuesday with the Slink Fire, which is near the California/Nevada border. The fire is now up to 11,000 acres, but evacuations have been lifted Wednesday.

The LNU Lightning Complex fire is still burning and has now grown to more than 375,000 acres, but the blaze is now 74% contained.

Along the West Coast, a developing heat wave is expected to push temperatures over 110 degrees in some areas.

Heat warnings and advisories have been issued from Oregon through most of California, southern Nevada and into Arizona.

Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits near Los Angeles and all the way into Oregon.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Nana is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane later Wednesday as it moves in the direction of Belize. It could make landfall there early Thursday morning.

A hurricane watch has been issued for Belize and a tropical storm warning for Honduras. Damaging winds and flash flooding will be the biggest threat in these Central American countries.

The rest of the tropical Atlantic continues to be active with several systems trying to develop. For now, there is no imminent threat to the U.S.

McDonald’s has denied the allegations.

Dozens of Black former franchisees are suing McDonalds, alleging years of systemic racial discrimination and inequity at the fast-food corporation.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 52 Black former McDonald’s franchise owners say the company denied them the same opportunities as white franchisees, and steered them instead to “locations that are destined to fail.”

The lawsuit alleges McDonald’s misled these Black entrepreneurs and they were “denied equal opportunity to economic success by McDonald’s systematic and covert racial discrimination.”

The plaintiffs seek a jury trial and damages of between $4 million and $5 million per store.

“Each and every one of these businessmen and women tell a story of dashed hopes and lost dreams,” attorney James Ferraro, who is representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “The world will soon see how these 52 people of color risked everything on the Golden Arches only to be kept down, marginalized and driven to ruin.”

“Black lives matter on the streets, in our communities and they matter in Corporate America,” Ferraro added.

The complaint alleges the company steered Black franchisees to locations with low sales, high security and insurance costs, and were essentially a “financial suicide mission.”

It also states that Black franchisees were treated differently by being denied assistance during financial hardships that white franchisees were given, and claims the Black franchisees were denied the same growth opportunities that were offered to white franchisees.

While in 1998 there were 377 Black McDonald’s franchisees, today there are only 186 left standing, according to a statement from Ferraro’s office. During that same period, however, McDonald’s stores have increased from 15,086 to 36,059.

Moreover, the cash flow gap for Black McDonald’s franchisees has tripled between 2010 and 2019, the court documents state, citing National Black McDonald’s Operators Association data.

McDonald’s categorically denied the lawsuit’s allegations in a statement, and emphasized its commitment to diversity and equal opportunity.

“These allegations fly in the face of everything we stand for as an organization and as a partner to communities and small business owners around the world,” the company said in a statement to ABC News.

“Not only do we categorically deny the allegations that these franchisees were unable to succeed because of any form of discrimination by McDonald’s, we are confident that the facts will show how committed we are to the diversity and equal opportunity of the McDonald’s System, including across our franchisees, suppliers and employees,” the statement added.

The company noted that Black franchisees, including former franchisees who are part of the complaint, operate in rural, urban and suburban communities and that its inaccurate to suggest McDonalds limits opportunities for Black franchisees to certain communities.

McDonald’s added that while it may recommend locations, franchisees ultimately select the location they wish to purchase themselves. The company also says it’s inaccurate and there is no evidence to suggest that McDonald’s evaluates Black franchisees differently than other franchisees.

The lawsuit comes as much of the nation and corporate America has been thrust into a racial reckoning as protests over the police-killing of Black Americans have brought longstanding issues of systemic racial inequity into the spotlight.

“You don’t hear that every day,” a JetBlue pilot said. “Only in L.A.”

There is a mystery unfolding in Los Angeles. It wasn’t Buzz Lightyear or Robert Downey Jr. in “Iron Man,” but pilots landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday evening reported seeing a man wearing a jetpack flying near their planes.

American Airlines flight 1997 from Philadelphia to L.A. was the first to report in.

“Tower, American 1997, we just passed a guy in a jetpack,” the American Airlines pilot radioed to air traffic control, according to recordings by LiveATC.net.

Air traffic controllers sounded stunned in response and asked the pilot for more details.

“American 1997… Okay…. Were they off to your left side or right side?” the controller asked.

The pilot said the man was flying with a jetpack at 3,000 feet and only about 300 yards away from the plane, Airbus A321.

Shortly after that, another pilot reported that he, too, saw a man in a jetpack flying near their plane.

“We just saw the guy passing by us in the jetpack,” the SkyWest pilot told controllers.

Other aircraft were then immediately warned to use caution because of a man wearing a jetpack flying in the path of planes.

“You don’t hear that every day,” a JetBlue pilot said. “Only in L.A.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the report was turned over to the Los Angeles Police. Authorities have not found any man with a jetpack, and who or what came close to the plane remains a mystery. The FAA says an investigation is underway.

According to the FAA, reports of unmanned aircraft sightings from pilots, law enforcement personnel and the general public have increased dramatically over the past two years. The agency says it receives more than 100 such reports each month. If, in fact, the sighting was of a man with a jetpack, it would have been illegal for him to fly in commercial airline airspace or to fly alongside planes.

There are some human jetpacks in development that can reach altitudes of up to 12,000 feet with price tags of a half-million dollars.

“The size, weight of a person in a jet pack impacting an airplane at the exact wrong spot could potentially bring that airliner down,” ABC News Contributor and retired Marine Col. Steve Ganyard said. “This is why it’s so important for when these technologies come along — drones, jetpacks, taxis in the sky — that people need to fly them in a responsible way and not put the flying public in danger.”

An FBI spokesperson told ABC News “the FBI is aware of the reports by pilots on Sunday and is working to determine what occurred.”

ABC News’ Luke Barr and Amanda Maile contributed to this report.

Capitol Hill — With the collapse of bipartisan coronavirus relief talks, Senate Republicans are looking to introduce a scaled-down package as early as next week.

“We have a focused, targeted solution that we hope that the House would pass,” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., a member of leadership, told reporters Tuesday, adding, “That’s the goal, is to come back and vote to move to that.”

The so-called “skinny” bill is an effort to garner support of nearly the entire GOP conference, something that was not achieved with the introduction of the Republicans’ $1 trillion HEALS Act in early August, focused on jobs, schools and liability protection. Nearly half of the GOP conference signaled opposition to that package, leaving its leader, Mitch McConnell, in a bind, requiring substantial Democratic support for any future package.

“We are very close to a bill that almost all GOP Senators can support,” one Senate GOP aide told ABC News, something Republican leaders hope will pressure Democrats to return to the negotiating table or face political backlash.

The news came just before Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testified before the House Coronavirus Select Subcommittee on Tuesday.

According to a draft of the legislation obtained by ABC News, Republicans intend to offer:

A $300 weekly federal boost to unemployment benefits through the year’s end, down from the $600 per-week check distributed under previous stimulus legislation which ended in July; loosens requirements for small business loans to be forgiven;

An additional $258 billion for small business Paycheck Protection Program loans designed to allow those who have already borrowed to do so again;

$29 billion for Health and Human Services to assist in the development and distribution of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, and demands a plan for “how the vaccine distribution plan will focus efforts on high-risk, underserved and minority populations;

$16 billion for testing and contact tracing; $105 billion for schools — with substantially more going to those schools that have in-person classes.

And with rising concern about delays with the Postal Service ahead of the 2020 elections, Senate Republicans are looking to allot $10 billion in grant funding to help the cash-strapped agency. The postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, a GOP mega-donor, has come under fire from Democrats in the Senate and House, the latter of which intend to issue a subpoena to acquire documents related to a host of issues, including mail delays.

Still, the slimmed-down GOP bill is one that is sure to be dismissed by Democrats as inadequate, with Pelosi having called the HEALS Act “anorexic,” and even a handful of Republicans who have refused any further spending related to the pandemic citing sky-high deficit concerns.

But the Senate GOP aide told ABC News that the legislation is expected to garner 51 Republican votes, two shy of conference unanimity.

Senate Republicans have been on daily conference calls throughout the August recess with Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, including one this morning before the secretary testified before the House Select on the Coronavirus Crisis.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have insisted that the administration agree to at least $2.2 trillion in relief for schools, state and local governments, small businesses, food security, unemployment and eviction assistance, and front-line worker aid. House Democrats passed a sweeping $3.4 trillion pandemic relief bill back in May, but the Senate Republican leader has refused to take it up saying it was too expansive and included Democratic “wish list” items unrelated to the pandemic.

In a recent letter to her Democratic caucus, the speaker said the president and Republicans “still do not comprehend the needs of the American people as lives and livelihoods are overwhelmed by the virus and its economic consequences.”

The breakdown of bipartisan talks has grown more bitterly divisive over recent weeks.

After a phone call with Meadows less than a week ago, Pelosi dismissed the top White House official out of hand, referring to the former conservative North Carolina congressman as “what’s his name” and “not even the lead negotiator” but someone who was “staffing” Mnuchin.

“They’ve refused to meet,” Mnuchin said Monday, accusing Democrats of acting in “bad faith,” adding that he hopes McConnell “will enter new legislation next week” that will focus on “kids, jobs, (and) liability protection for small businesses.”

During a hearing with the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Tuesday, Mnuchin was taken to task by Democrats who urged him to return to the negotiating table.

“Stop bragging about what we’ve already done. We have people who are hurting,” admonished Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. “If the children don’t have a place to live and a bed to sleep in, school doesn’t even matter…Please, please get back to the negotiating table. Forget about all of this name, blame mess…Let’s stimulate this economy. This is our job.”

The president attempted to stave off some of the economic pain experienced by millions of Americans in the wake of this impasse, signing a series of executive orders including federally-boosted unemployment assistance and a deferral of payroll tax cuts, but the effect of the executive actions is unclear.

Mnuchin told lawmakers Tuesday that he still believes more needs to be done to address the pandemic.

“While we continue to see signs of a strong economic recovery, we are sensitive to the fact that more needs to be done,” Mnuchin said. “We will continue to work with the Senate and House on a bipartisan basis…I believe that a bipartisan agreement still should be reached.”

But Mnuchin’s position puts him at odds with some Senate Republicans.

Some Republicans expressed surprise that GOP leaders were attempting what would be a futile effort, though noting that perhaps it was designed to “box in” Democrats politically.

“To be honest I’m surprised,” a senior Senate Republican aide told ABC News.

But one Republican, Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, recently told reporters that the GOP effort to pass a bill without the necessary 60 votes for approval would be worth it.

“I can tell you this is my reason for doing it. We’ve spent a breathtaking amount of money which I think is along with the four bills that Congress has passed, and the actions taken by the chairman of the Federal Reserve…we held this economy together. And It’s been held together with duct tape and happy thoughts, but it’s still been held together,” said Kennedy, adding that small-business aid and more testing are key.

“I think additional money for testing, new types of testing continue to evolve every day, and I think it would be a smart investment to invest in new testing. I don’t think we could get back to normal as an economy or as a country until our schools open. They’re going to need help. They’ve incurred a lot of additional expense both in K-12 and in higher education, and that’s why I feel like this exercise is worth pursuing.”

The Senate returns from recess next Tuesday, and there is very little time to address the increasing coronavirus crisis, as well as to avert a government shutdown by Sept. 30. Members expect to be out the entire month of October to focus on the campaign.

A former senior Republicans budget aide told ABC News recently that there is an expectation — and indeed, already action underway — that the two efforts will be merged into one, setting up a high-stakes showdown just a month before the election.

It was the latest in a long list of conspiracy theories Trump has promoted.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday provided no evidence for a conspiracy theory he promoted the day before about a supposed plane full of black-clad protesters he claimed had aimed to disrupt the Republican convention last week.

Trump said in a Monday interview with Fox News that “people that are in the dark shadows” have “control” over his Democratic opponent for the presidency, former Vice President Joe Biden.

“What does that mean?” the right-wing host, Trump ally Laura Ingraham, asked. “That sounds like a conspiracy theory.”

Trump went on: “We had somebody get on a plane from a certain city this weekend, and in the plane it was almost completely loaded with thugs wearing these dark uniforms, black uniforms with gear and this and that. They’re on a plane.”
The president did not provide any connection in his story to Biden.

He said he would say “sometime” where exactly the incident took place and that “it’s under investigation right now.”

“They came from a certain city, and this person was coming to the Republican National Convention, and there were like seven people on the plane like this person, and then a lot of people were on the plane to do big damage,” he said.

Asked by Ingraham if they were “planning for Washington,” Trump replied, “Yes, this was all — this is all happening.”

But when asked about the story by reporters on Tuesday morning, the president said his story was based on “a firsthand account of a plane going from Washington to wherever” — changing the direction the plane was flying, compared to what he claimed the day before.

He said he would see whether “the person” who he said told him the information would speak to reporters.

“That person was on a plane, said that there were about six people like that person, more or less, and what happened is the entire plane filled up with the looters, the anarchists, the rioters — people that obviously were looking for trouble,” Trump said before departing on Air Force One en route to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

It was the latest in a long list of conspiracy theories Trump has promoted, from the false claim claim former President Barack Obama was not born in the United States to recently accepting the support of those who believe in the “QAnon” theory that a global cabal of pedophiles are fighting against Trump.

The White House on Tuesday would not provide any specific information about the president’s story.

White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews said in a written statement that the president was “referring to questions that need answers such as who may be funding travel and lodging for organized rioters.”

“An investigation is underway to determine who is funding these organized riots happening across the country,” Matthews said.

The White House pointed to an interview acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf gave last night to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson, another far-right television host, in which Wolf said “the Department of Justice is… targeting and investigating the head of these organizations, the individuals that are paying for these individuals to move across the country.”

“What we know, Tucker, is that we have seen groups and individuals move from Portland to other parts of the country,” Wolf added, pointing to the arrests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, of people from out of state.

“We know they’re moving around,” Wolf said. “We’ve seen them in D.C., in Sacramento, and elsewhere. They’re organized. We’ve seen similar tactics being used from Portland and other cities across the country as well. So, we know that there’s organization, I know that the Department of Justice is also looking at that as well.”

Wolf was responding to a question from Carlson in which the Fox host asked why leaders of “antifa” and Black Lives Matter movements have not been arrested.

A Justice Department spokesperson, Kerri Kupec, said Tuesday that the department continues to investigate “coordinated, criminal activity — not First Amendment activity” related to continued riots and unrest in cities around the U.S. in recent weeks.

Kupec declined to comment on the story Trump told during his interview with Fox’s Ingraham.

ABC News’ Alexander Mallin contributed to this report.

Many experts are concerned about a second wave of COVID-19 in the fall, which could emerge during the start of flu season.

Getting your flu shot will help ease the pandemic, especially if it coincides with a flu outbreak, according to public health experts.

“Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have in science and modern medicine,” said Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in an exclusive interview with ABC News. “The flu is a serious infection that can cause severe illness, and vaccination can really impact that in a positive way.”

In any given year, only around half of all Americans receive their flu shot. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to worsen in some parts of the country, public health leaders are urging as many people as possible to vaccinated against the annual flu virus.

Although many Americans are worried about venturing outdoors during the pandemic, doctors say that with proper precautions — including masks, hand-washing and social distancing — doctors’ offices, clinics and pharmacies are safe places to get a flu shot.

While the flu shot won’t prevent coronavirus, it can prevent someone from getting both viruses at the same time, or getting one after the other before the body has had time to recover. Also, fewer flu cases keeps hospital beds open for those diagnosed with COVID-19.

The CDC has acquired an additional 2 million pediatric flu shots for children who are not insured, and 9 million more adult flu shots for those who are deemed at risk, according to Redfield. In addition, pharmacists are now able to administer flu shots to people in the pharmacy.

With masks, increased hand-washing and distancing measures in place throughout many parts of the United States, many experts are hopeful that this will also help control the flu season. But health officials emphasize that it’s impossible to predict how bad the flu season will be.

“We’re not defenseless against the flu,” said Redfield. “We have a powerful weapon, and that is the flu vaccine.”

To help you get prepared and stay safe we’re answering some of the most common questions about the flu shot and flu season this year.

How long do flu shots last?

The flu shot is thought to last around six months, though this may change person to person.

Is August too early to get the flu shots?

The CDC currently recommends that people get their flu shots in September or October to ensure that they are covered for the duration of the flu season. However, getting your shot earlier or later in the season is better than not at all.

Where can I get my flu shot?

You can check with your doctor’s office or local pharmacy to see if they have flu shots available as well as the process for scheduling an appointment for a flu shot.

Should I get the flu shot if I’m feeling sick?

For anyone who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID and are having symptoms, the CDC recommends waiting until there are no longer symptoms before getting the flu shot.

How long are flu shots available?

Flu vaccine manufacturers are expecting to produce around 194 million to 198 million doses of the flu vaccine, according to the CDC. Last year, 175 million vaccines were produced.

How much are flu shots without insurance?

Flu shots generally cost between $0 to $40. If you do not already have a doctor, flu shots are often available at your local pharmacy as well as your community free clinic.

What kind of flu shots are available if I’m an older adult?

In addition to the regular flu shots that are appropriate for adults of any age, there are a couple of flu shots available specifically for adults age 65 and older.

A high-dose shot, such as Fluzone High-Dose, gives a stronger dose to help support your immune system.

A specially prepared vaccine, such as Fluad, is also designed to help support your immune system.

Are flu shots covered by Medicare?

Yes. Medicare Part B covers one flu vaccine per season, from November through April.

Is the flu season going to be bad this year?

Although it’s impossible to predict, some experts have pointed to Australia, where the flu season peaks from June to August, and noted its flu season was mild, likely because the pandemic meant more people staying at home. This year, Australians showed up in record numbers to get vaccinated and it seems to have paid off. Currently, Australia’s flu cases are lower than average compared to the same time in previous years.

Jonathan Chan, M.D., is an emergency medicine resident at St. John’s Riverside Hospital and a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.

MINSK — The Belarus capital of Minsk was largely quiet a day after tens of thousands of protesters flooded the city on Sunday, calling for an end to the rule of President Alexander Lukashenko. But authorities again moved to target leaders of the protest movement.

Belarus’ security force, still known as the KGB, detained the leader of a strike committee at Belaruskali, one of the largest factories in the Eastern European country. Anatoly Bokun, who had been leading a strike at the potash factory in the city of Soligorsk, was given a 15-day jail sentence for taking part in an unauthorized protest.

In Minsk, security agents on Monday also detained Lilia Vlasova, a member of the opposition’s Coordination Council, which was created to negotiate a transfer of power. Vlasova was summoned by police on charges of taking part in an unsanctioned protest, local media reported.

The protests in Minsk have taken on a weekly rhythm, with demonstrations becoming far smaller during the week before erupting again on Sunday. The security forces have acted with greater confidence during the mid-week pause, detaining more protesters and last week jailing two opposition leaders for 10 days. Masked police ordered a small crowd of protesters to disperse from Minsk’s main Independence Square on Monday evening.

Authorities on Monday also blocked Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, the 74-year-old Catholic archbishop of Minsk and Mohilev, from returning to Belarus. Last week, Kondreusiewicz condemned Belarsusian police for locking the doors of a Catholic church on Independence Square after protesters had fled inside.

Sunday night’s massive protest, which again drew more than 100,000 demonstrators, underlined the continuing scale of the opposition to Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. But it also highlighted the current stalemate in Belarus between the protesters and authorities, with no sign that the country’s well-equipped security forces are abandoning their embattled leader. Hundreds of riot police with shields, as well as camouflaged troops backed with armored vehicles, moved aggressively to block protesters in some places on Sunday. But the huge crowd again marched up to one of Lukashenko’s formal residences and halted in front of a line of police.

The protest was the first large one since Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he could send security forces into Belarus if protesters seek to remove Lukashenko violently. Putin said on Thursday he believed that was not currently necessary and his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, reiterated that Monday, saying for now the Kremlin believes Lukashenko has the situation in hand.

“I would like to stress that at present the use of this reserve is out of question. At present we see that the situation is under control, so now there is no point to talk about it,” Peskov told reporters during Monday’s daily call. “Certain actions are continuing, but we can see that in this case, the republic’s law enforcement and leadership are keeping the situation under control in a rather confident manner and aren’t providing any chance for provocations to be staged.”

Belarus’ main opposition leader, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who ran against Lukashenko on Aug. 9 in the country’s contested election, warned Putin on Monday against sending Russian riot police to her country.

“We are extremely concerned about Mr. Putin’s statements about sending Russian riot police into Belarus. It would be a serious violation of Belarus’ sovereignty and would have grave consequences for relations between Belarus and Russia,” Tikhanovskaya’s press service told the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

In a statement, Tikhanovskaya repeated her position that negotiations were needed for a way out of the crisis and that the opposition would welcome international aid in obtaining talks.

Lithuania, where Tikhanovskaya is currently sheltering, as well as Latvia and Estonia announced travel bans on Monday against 30 top Belarusian officials, including Lukashenko, and called on the European Union to follow suit.

“We are giving a clear signal that such actions are not acceptable and that those responsible for such acts are not welcome in Latvia,” Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics told the Baltic News Service. “We call upon the European Union to promptly proceed with similar decisions.”

Lukashenko has rejected demands from protesters to negotiate, instead proposing a discussion around potentially changing Belarus’ constitution — something the opposition has said it views as a stalling tactic.

“I believe that, despite everything, we have a somewhat authoritarian system of arrangements in civic life,” Lukashenko said during a televised meeting with the head of Belarus’ Supreme Court, discussing the country’s judicial system. “It’s an issue of personality, and it needs to be done so that the system is not tied to a personality, including Lukashenko.”

Few observers, though, believe Lukashenko — who has shown himself brandishing an assault rifle on the days of the past two protests and denounced demonstrators as part of a NATO plot to invade Belarus — is currently prepared to step aside.

Fyodor Lukyanov, an analyst and a member of the Russian International Affairs Council, said he did not believe the Kremlin was an enthusiastic support of Lukashenko, but that Putin’s message signaled in the short term they were determined he stay in place so a managed transition could be carried out in the future. A violent popular revolution that topples him is totally unacceptable to the Kremlin, Lukyanov said.

“Lukashenko is seen as the lesser evil. But I doubt very much that anybody in Moscow would put high stakes on him for the middle-term future,” Lukyanov said. “And of course now the task is to stabilise the situation, to keep him going.”