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Shot and killed at least 12 Peaceful Protesters in lagos on tuesday. We will go to nigeria for the latest. Then as fighting continues in the south caucasus between armenia and azerbaijan we will look at the conflict which has already killed over 700 people. Cooks to put an end of the war controlledre by the major powers that is russia and also the u. S. Amy all that and more, coming up. Welcome democracy now , democracynow. Org, the quarantine report. Im amy goodman. The confirmed u. S. Death toll from covid19 has topped 222,000 as a new report by Columbia University researchers blted the Trump Administration over its disastrous handling of the pandemic. The reports authors write we estimate that at least 130,000 deaths and perhaps as many as 210,000 could have been avoided with earlier policy interventions and more robust federal coordination and leadership. Even with the dramatic recent appearance of new covid19 waves globally, the abject failures of u. S. Government policies and crisis messaging persist. The report came as the centers for Disease Control and prevention warned the u. S. Is ading intohe most dangerous phase of the pandemic yet, with cold weather and holidays driving people to congregate indoors, where the virus spreads much more easily. Cdc Deputy Director jay butler spoke at a rare News Conference at the agencys atlanta headquarters. Unfortunately, we are seeing a distress in trends in the United States with covid19 cases increasing in nearly 75 of the country. Amy on wednesday, the cdc changed its definition of a close contact with an infectious person to include brief interactions totaling 15 minutes or more within six feet of someone over a oneday period. The recommendation will expand the number of people who should go into quarantine according to the cdc. A California Appeals Court has ordered prison authorities to cut the population of the overcrowded San Quentin State Prison in half following a massive coronavirus outbreak that killed 28 prisoners and infected 2200. About three quarters of the prison population. In the ruling, the court cited the states deliberate indifference to the plight of prisoners during the pandemic. Prison authorities are weighing whether to appeal the ruling which would force the transfer or parole of about 1100 people held at san quentin. In related news, the American Civil Liberties union has sued three federal agencies, including the federal bureau of prisons for documents related to what the aclu called the federal governments failed response to the spread of covid19 in prisons in jails. Donald trump and joe biden face off this evening in nashville, tennessee, for their second and final debate. The commission on president ial debates says it will mute the microphones of both candidates during parts of tonights Minute Program 90 Minute Program after President Trump interrupted biden at least 128 times during their first debate. The debate will also feature plexiglas barriers separating the candidates after President Trump held the last debate while he was likely infected with coronavirus. On wednesday, president barack obama headlined a drivein rally or biden in philadelphia, where he blasted trump for failing as president. Pres. Obama i did hope for the sake of the country that he might show some interest in taking the job seriously. But it has not happened. He has not shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself and his friends or treating the presidency like a reality show that he can use to get attention. Amy on wednesday, President Trump spoke to an estimated 15,000 people at a Campaign Rally in gastonia, north carolina, where few wore masks and no one practiced social distancing. The rally came amid a surge of covid19 cases in north carolina, where hospitalizations rapidly approaching a previous record high set in july. Democracy now will air tonights president ial debate uninterrupted for 90 minutest democracynow. Org beginning at 9 00 p. M. Eastern time. The New York Times reports President Trump has secretly maintained a bank account in china for years, even as he bashed joe biden for being weak on china. The times reveals trump paid nearly 200,000 in taxes to china while pursuing licensing deals therebetween to 2015. 2013 around the same time, trump paid little or no u. S. Income tax. In other election news, john ratcliffe, the director of National Intelligence accused russia and iran of taking actions to interfere in the u. S. Election in a hastily arranged Evening Press briefing where no questions were allowed. Fbi director christopher wray, who President Trump is considering firing, also spoke. Ratcliffe claimed russia and iran had obtained some Voter Registration information information which is often available publicly. This data can be used by foreign actors to attempt to communicate all information to registered voters that they hope sow chaos,confusion, and undermine your confidence in american democracy. To that end, we have already emailsan sending spoofed designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest, and damage President Trump. Amy while ratcliffe claimed iran was trying to damage trump, he offered no details backing up the claim. The one example he cited appeared to show intimidation of democratic voters. Ratcliffe accused iran of sending threatening fake emails to some democrats that were designed to look as if they were sent by the farright proud boys. Iran has denied being behind the emails. Intelligence sources told reuters that it is still unclear who sent them. Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee Questioned the allegations. The committee initially tweeted do not listen to ratcliffe. Partisan hack. The tweet was later deleted. The Committee Also tweeted to clarify these election interference operations are clearly not meant to harm President Trump. This edit Judiciary Committee is set to vote today on judge Amy Coney Barretts nomination to the u. S. Supreme court. Democrats are boycotting the proceedings, which they say will deny the committee its required quorum. Theyre planning to fill their empty seats with photos of people impacted by the Affordable Care act. Republican Committee Chair Lindsey Graham says hell hold a vote anyway and Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell has promised a full senate vote on barretts confirmation on monday. If confirmed, barrett would likely rule on the fate of the Affordable Care act and could help settle any potential challenge student novembers Election Results before the Supreme Court. Purdue pharma has agreed to an 8 billion settlement with the Justice Department over its illegal marketing of the powerful opioid oxycontin. Under the deal, the purdue corporation will plead guilty to three criminal counts, but no one not even members of the billionaire Sackler Family who own purdue will face any jail time. Purdue pharma is in bankruptcy proceedings, making it likely the company will pay just a fraction of the 8 billion settlement. As opioid abuse surged across the United States, drug overdoses became the leading cause of death for americans under the age of 50 with more than 67,000 such deaths in 2018 alone. In a statement, the Advocacy Group p. A. I. N. Sackler wrote this proves that there are two justice systems in america one for billionaires and one for the rest of us. The sacklers walking away from purdue is a retirement, not a punishment. In a shift for the catholic church, pope francis has endorsed civil unions for samesex couples. In a new documentary, pope francis says homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. They are children of god and have a right to a family. What we have to create is a civil union law. In the film, pope francis also criticizes the Trump Administrations family separation policy at the border, saying its cruelty, and separating kids from parents goes against natural rights. In mexico, protesters marched near the u. S. Border in tijuana wednesday, demanding the Trump Administration end its remain in mexico policy for people seeking asylum in the United States. Immigration activist Paulina Olvera says the policy has been especially cruel for asylumseekers during the pandemic. Because many of them have spent months here, some even a year waiting, and since the pandemic, the borderas been closed completely to asylumseekers and we are in legal limbo. They dont know when they will have the next hearing. They have no protection for mexico or the United States and i believe many are struggling even to just eat. It affects everything, even mental health. Amy in colombia, thousands of trade unionists, teachers and students joined an indigenousled National Strike wednesday, demanding an end to the killings of social Movement Leaders and to Police Violence. Colombias rightwing president ivan duque has refused protesters demands that he meet publicly with protest leaders, saying without evidence theyve been infiltrated by terrorists. This is protester harold arias. We are scared of going back to our territories without getting a dialogue with the president because there is the uncertainty that Indigenous Leaders are being murdered by a National Government that does not want to respect our rights. Amy in tulsa, oklahoma, archaeologists have found a mass grave containing at least 10 coffins during a srch for victims of one of the worst massacres of African Americans in u. S. History. In june 1921, a white mob burned to the ground tulsas affluent African American neighborhood of greenwood, known as black wall street, killing at least 300 residents. Investigators have not confirmed if the bodies in the unmarked grave are victims of the massacre. And here in new york, a federal judge has announced he will decide without hearing oral arguments whether President Trump can be privately sued for defamation for comments he made as president against e. Jean carroll, who accused trump of raping her in the 1990s. The Justice Department wants to crush the case by switching the defendant from trump to the United States government, arguing trumps denial of a rape accusation was done in his official capacity as president. Oral arguments were scheduled for wednesday but the Justice Departments lawyer, who traveled from virginia, was denied entry to the new york courtroom due to the states quarantine rules. The Justice Department then opted not to do oral arguments by phone. Jean carroll criticized the governments handling of the case. It was a stunning and shocking day. A woman who makes a complaint against a powerful man, women in this country must be assured that her case will not be tossed off to the doj. Amy tha is jean carroll who is accused donald trump of rape. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the quarantine report. Im amy goodman in new york, joined remotely by my cohost nermeen shaikh. Hi, nermeen. Nermeen good morning, amy. Welcome to all of our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Amy a warning to our listeners and viewers, we turn now to a story that includes graphic video and accounts of state violence. We begin todays show in nigeria, where there is growing evidence to confirm Security Forces fired without warning on Peaceful Protesters tuesday night, killing at least 12 people as authorities imposed a curfew to clamp down on growing demonstrations against Police Brutality. Video shared widely on social media shows Security Forces in lagos firing directly into a crowd of demonstrators who wer singing Nigerias National anthem. Amy Amnesty International issued a report wednesday that it was nigerias Security Forces that fired on the protesters. U. N. High commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet issued a statement that there is little doubt that this was a case of excessive use of force, resulting in unlawful killings with live ammunition, by Nigerian Armed forces. Amnesty also said it received reports that shortly before the shootings, electricity was cut off for security cameras in the area where protesters had been camped. At least 56 people have died during two weeks of widespread denstrations in nigeria, including 38 on tuesday. The killings come two weeks after protests began against a branch of the Nigerian Police known as sars, the special antirobbery squad, which has long been accused of committing torture, murder, and extortion. The killings have sparked outrage from nigerians across the globe. The soccer star odion ighalo, who plays for manchester united, posted this video online. I dont know where to start from. Im not the kind of guy that talks about politics, but i cant keep quiet anymore. The Nigerian Government, killing own citizens, sending military to the streets to kill protesters because they are protesting for their rights . It is uncalled for. October 2020, you people will be remembered as the first killingnt take start their own citizens. Amy for more, we go to nigeria where we are joined by two guests. In abuja, Omoyele Sowore is a nigerian journalist and human rights activist, and the founder and publisher of sahara reporters. He also ran for president nigeria and has been imprisoned there. In lagos, the most populous city in nigeria and on the african continent, we are joined by aderonke ige, a human rights activist and lawyer who works with the Organization Corporate accountability and Public Participation africa. Ige has been participating in the endsars protests. We welcome both of you to democracy now were going to start in lagos where those fatal killings happen, the shootings happened on tuesday night. Aderonke ige, you have been out on the streets. Describe what has happened and talk about the level of peaceful protest that has been going on against this police unit and Police Brutality in general. Thank you. I cannot begin to try to describe in words the kind of barbaric action of the nigerian governnt that we sell play out on tuesday here in lagos. Beenhese protests have peaceful, have been the most a lot of people would say, oh, the leaders, all of that, but it has been one of the most coordinated protests or demonstrations ever without any type of leadership. That is how we have been conducting ourselves for the past two weeks. You could see there was raw passion, energy to savage the soul of our collective group, our country nigeria. A lot of young people have been at the forefront. Verybody demanding in unity what are we asking for . We are asking for justice. We are asking for our lives to be preserved, not to be killed by the officers of state called sars, but even beyond sars, the Nigerian Police and military. It looks like everything about forceful. Especially with this government, it is been full of impunity. That is all we have been asking for. It has been totally organized. That is what we have demonstrated. To the applause of everyone. But then the Nigerian Government taking action, just being responsible. What we saw was what we have seen over the years, now coming to the full glare of the globe. Now we have seen more governments and huge of these voices would rather turn against askingppress them for not to be intimidated. What happened on tuesday was the anticlimax of everything. In the last two weeks we have been on the streets chanting, making our voices heard, demanding what we have been asking for. The government, like a thief in in the went out early evening, around 4 00 or 3 00 p. M. , there have been messages. Officers captured some something official was going on here. It was later we realized they were going to cut off the cameras. Offtually as well, they cut the lights. We could have had access to lights. The lights were cut off. And what was the most horrendous thing ever, the most horrific, the Nigerian Military we saw men and soldiers in uniform spraying bullets, firing live rounds at aceful protesters who helped National Flags, singing the national anthem. We are grateful for technology. Some had cameras on. There was one of us who went live on instagram. That is how most of us were able to follow because we have been protesting at different points, different grounds. Showing solidarity. But she went on live and we were able to follow, to monitor. Though it was dark because they cut off the lights, we were still able to make out sounds. We saw people dying before our eyes. We were situation where helpless with the same government officials who have been sent to fire live rounds on Peaceful Protesters who were just there singing the national anthem. This messageo d five days ago, because of the protest, we have also seen the aggression, brutaty, everything we have been asking demanding against was also unleashed on us. We have seen the aggression of police. Was, tryold our people to go out with the National Flag. Ordinarily, when any military officials use the National Flag or your singing the national anthem, they are supposed to respect us. That is a social contract. Dignity to the citizens. Guess what . Everything was desecrated that night from what we saw life. People were dying. They were helpless. They were shouting and screaming. This went on and on. So that is what happened on tuesday. But that was the anticlimax. Protest point there have been other points. Thisve been doing peacefully and sensibly and in the most plausible manner. But then the government came and applied force. And injured its own citizens who were there for nothing else than to ask for their lives to be saved not to be brutalized as it has always been. Amy aderonke ige, were going to go to break and we will hear more from you. Aderonke ige is a human rights activist and lawyer. We will also go to nigerias ,apital where Omoyele Sowore nigerian journalist and human rights activist who has been imprisoned, will also join us. [music break] amy s son recently marked what would have beens birthday by leaving an end sars protests in nigeria. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the quarantine report. Im amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. We continue to talk about what is happening in africas most oculus country. A warning to listeners and viewers as we is includesndrea, th graphic video and accounts of state violence. In nigeria, there is growing evidence to confirm that Security Forces fired without warning on Peaceful Protesters tuesday night, killing at least 12 people, as authorities imposed a curfew to clamp down on growing demonstrations against Police Brutality. This is graphic video of state violence. [gun fire] please help people. People are having to run. Theyre shooting at them. Please help, social media. Amy for more, we continue on in jury with our two guests. In lagos, the human rights attorney and activist aderonke ige whos out in the streets. She works with the Organization Corporate accountability and Public Participation africa. She participated in the endsars protests. And now we go to Omoyele Sowore, nigerian journalist and human rights activist. Founder and publisher of sahara reporters. You have been imprisoned by the nigerian state. Once again, youre out on the streets. Talk about who the sars police are, why you were protesting, and what is continued violence against the people of nigeria means. Thank you so much, amy. Im glad to be on your show. The speal antirobbery sqd. It was formed in 1992. Formed after the demise not the demise, but the ereommitting atrocities. Companies used by oil. Sars [indiscernible] unleashed on young people in particular. Kill, destroy, decimate, invade. Stop people on the young street dreadlocks, d hair died. It was crazy. They been killing people, young people that any reason. Is me be very clear, sars [indiscernible] young people are fighting over unemployment, lack of access to the natural wealth. The democratic system has started to break down. All of these young people you see on the streets, they are fighting against Police Brutality but also against army brutality, fighting against unemployment, incompetence, indifference of the regime that has been in power. Who, by the way, sit me prison last year for five months simply protesting. S they detained me without trial. A lot of young people are going through the same thing. People are getting jailed fo making social media posts on facebook and twitter. Jury has bome a poli ste actically. Nigeria has become police state practically. On top of that is corruption. When nigeria was on om covid19 between february and now, officls we making billionsf local money [indiscernible] people are hearing this on social media. Images are coming out live. It makes people to rise up at once. I was happy to be back on the streets fighting on the side of all of these young people, the revolution. Nigerians need to rise up against oppression and fight for the rights and have the revolution it will give them new order and a new direction that can restore peace once again in what they call democracy here, which is just completely. His is where we are [indiscernible] killed one protester that we know of an injured annie. Beindirected bthe police and , doingservice in nigeria leaders ofuse for the uprisings happening in nigeria. In my own case yesterday, we went to court to try to revoke they tried to revoke my bail so i could be rearrested. My lawyers did a fantastic job to war that all. [indiscernible] what you are seeing is very resistance. This has never happened before. Ive never seen such coordinated, very disciplined young people who are acting peacefully. These youngg after people. Most of them are middleclass young people who are there protesting they were shooting them at close range. They were using more caliber kind of bullets that are meant for fighting terrorists and fighting war. At close range. There has never been anything like that. What made a difference, on social media, everything was captioned instantaneously and broadcast of the world. Otherwise, they would deny. As we speak, they are claiming it is false and doing all kinds of things to change the narrative, including try to make it an ethnic and religious issue. Youeen Omoyele Sowore, as pointed out, these protestsre t just about Police Violence but a number of other issues. In 2016, was that found Police Violence in nigeria is apparently among the worst in the world if not the worst that when police intvene in confrontation, almost 60 of the crtime someone the police sht and kill someone. Could you talk about, as you said, prident buharis government was responsible for imprisoning you last year just for organizing protests. What has his response been to these protests and the response to his decision to disband sars . The reason why people did not take position seriously is president buhari is toned up. This is who he is. This has been his character. [indiscernible] had judicially killed people. Drug carriers were sentenced and he brought the sentences forward and sentenced him to death. Every military regime of the country abuses of human rights. [indiscernible] that is what he is doing now. Besides killing people, theyre also clamping down social media. They have lost to criminalize people who are speaking out against the government. They are pushing these laws through. The National Assembly in nigeria. This is not new. sis is buhari mail buhari will. He does not believe in democracy. In 2015, came to office and he is continued with his own way of doing things. He is surrounded by people who have the same mindset. Dev a populace that cannot speak, cannot disclose opponent. [indiscernible] carry out corruption of immense proportion. Came to power saying he would fight corruption, but there has been more corruption in his government than in previous governments in the history of nigeria. Rejecting sars, [indiscernible] presumably order these killings. Therthere to protect the despots. Unfortunately, i dont think the International Community is doing enough. But hey this is what they are about. , the people of nigeria. The good news we have here is people can now speak up. They can tell their own stories through the social media platforms that have helped any galvanizing Public Opinion nationally and globally. It is never happened before in nigeria. Nermeen aderonke ige, we just have a couple of minutes. Could you say what exactly protesters are calling for now . It was about and sars end sars at first because of the brutality, what we saw, citizens from organized citizens, young people commit stereotyping and so on. However, it went beyond. To over then pinned years. Lack of accountability on the government. They arething of killing people. The same time, the unchallenged attitude of the government, the criminal silence when you need your voice to be loudest, theyre totally silent. People die under your watch. There is not accountability for anything. Nothing happens to them. There is no prosecution. People are tired. It became an issue. What the demands were initially as we were protesting against brutality, people were still brutalized, arrested, and so on. We said, release these people already. Ofn every named Victim Police injustice, systemic injustice, we want them to be duly compensated. We want them to get justice, just like ringing people to book and then getting a proper sanction. We wanted that. Government we want the government taking action. We said we want this to be done and that to be done. Or instance, we will tell you National Human Rights Commission normally is abuses and oversee violations and so on, but let me tell you, that commission seems theres no governing council. Without a governing council, what can they do . There is not been a governing council since 2015. Theme a thing up government was playing politics. That is the reason you will see, general buhari has been silent. Amy could these protests bring . Own the government of buhari anything can happen at this point. When they try to politicize it and say, oh, this group is the opposition no, you cannot opposition at the same time. Were calling you out on certain things yore not doing. On the fact that the system is running on injustice. And you choose to politicize it. Sars, theyisbanding dont get the point. [indiscernible] were not doing a christening ceremony. Swat is going to eventually become a worst form of sars. Theyre not listening. Averagethe anger of an nigerian. This can truly lead to the reform we are asking for. , politicallution revolution. Right now what is worse is instead of listening to the people, your suppressing the people. You areppressing the people. For how long can you do that . Amy aderonke ige, thank you for being with us. Were certainly going to continue to cover this. Please be sa. Human rights activist and lawyer, now in the streets of lagos, nigeria, were Security Forces gone down at least a dozen people in the last few days. Omoyele sowore, nigerian journalist and human rights activist. Ran for president. Was imprisoned by the current nigerian regime, speaking to us from the capital. For folks who want to see more coverage of nigeria, you can go to our documentary of a good drilling and killing go to our documentary drilling and killing. Democracy now went to nigeria. I cover the niger delta with Jeremy Scahill and we went with Omoyele Sowore to the niger delta where we were investigating the activities of killrlier sars, called the n go. Back, we look at the conflict that has taken the lives of over 700 people. Stay with us. [music break] amy falling stars by serj tankian. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the quarantine report. Im amy goodman with nermeen shaikh. We turn now to ongoing fighting between armenia and azerbaijan over the disputed territory of nagornokarabakh, where hundreds of soldiers and dozens of civilians have been killed since the conflict erupted on september 27. The violence has continued despite two attempts at a ceasefire brokered by russia. On wednesday, the armenianrime minister said a plomatic solution to the nagornokarabakh conflict is no longer possible. We should realize the nagornokarabakh conflict, at least in this stage, for a long time has no diplomatic solution. We should fight as long as it will be possible to find a diplomatic solution. Amy the azerbaijan president ilham aliyev said tuesday that his troops had made territorial gains in the region and that azerbaijan would regain nagornokarabakh using force. U. S. Secretary of state mike pompeo will meet with the Foreign Ministers of azerbaijan and armenia on friday. Nagornokarabakh lies inside azerbaijan but is controlled by ethnic armenians. It was the site of a bloody conflict in the wake of the collapse of the soviet union. This latest spike in conflict is the worst since th1990s, with new advanced weaponry. There are reports that azerbaijan is using combat drones purchased from turkey and israel. Amnesty international also reports azerbaijan h used banned cluster bombs in civilian areas. Some fear a regional war is imminent, with turkey openly supporting azerbaijan while russia has a mutual defense pact with armenia. Turkishbacked syrian mercenaries are also reportedly fighting in the region. For more, we are joined by two guests. In california, Stephan Astourian is tirtoheof decher tia armenn studies program at the university of california, berkeley and professor of the politics and history of the caucuses and armenia. His forthcoming book is titled at the crossroads of the armenianazerbaijani conflict history, territory, nationalisms. And in yerevan, the capital of armenia, Roubina Margossian is a writer and a photojournalist who writes for evn report. She has been reporting from nagornokarabakh. We welcome both of you to democracy now i want to start with the professor to get context here. Trigger for was the this latest conflict and explain the history of armenia and azerbaijan and how this has ignited at this point. The origin of this pblem goes back to 1921. This was the period when the former independent republics of highesthad been soviet sovietized. 90 armenians. The bureau of the communist attach kided to arabakh. On the fifth of july, almost the decision changed the for political reasons. The collaborating at that time. This is the key moment. Why the conflict now . For a number of reasons i believe. Azerbaijan probably thinks it nash it hasthe bought more than 10 billion tinley dollars in arments since014. It has problems with all prices and the reserves. The is social cris, diveing the atntion is a od thi. First and foremost, t negotiations it is a deadlock. The president is not even accepting a referendum for karabakh. Notly once karabakh the surrounding regions, to return. He made that statement just yesterday night, actually. Site. Ked the azerbaijan as for the many prime minister, he came to power in 2018 and inherited the negotiation process. Was accused of selling out karabakh. And he found out that actually his predecessor agreed to it looks like a stepbystep process whereby there going to return five regions and they will open the border. Two other regions will be discussed. Probably one vy narrow ternationalized karabakh linking karabakh to armenia. Then there will be a referendum of karabakh people at a determined moment to decide what they want. Ist president ilham aliyev just rejected that in the past and just yesterday, and as a result, mrpashinyan has asked for a change of that negotiation position. So we have essentially two totally divergent views of the negotiation. And then there is the turkish factor that has pushed this war and is, encouraged it, leading it, actually. Turkey wants to have a foothold in the south caucuses, to have a say there. This is a key element in the timing of these caucuses. Nermeen Roubina Margossian committee have been reporting from the region in nagornokarabakh. Can you explain the situation and elaborate on what the professor said about turkeys involvement, the armenian presidenjust telling the Financial Times that turkey is creating another syria in the caucuses . Little bit about the situation. Day when the ,ighting started i was there september 27. There is a conflict zone. This is one. You enter into the capital and the lights are off, the city is in complete darkness. Everyone is in bunkers and shelters. Even though at first we did not hear the bombs or the shelling or the artillery at work. But we stayed there long enough to experience all of that. Socalledear the armenian activation or they say that cluster bombs are being used. Drones are flying over. We have experienced that over and over again every day. Infrastructure has been hit. The city is without electricity right now. The communications were hit. The first day there was a problem with the internet and communication step the city does not have gas. Major cities in nagornokarabakh are in the same situation. The has been the case since 27th. We have been reporting about this. We have been on the ground. However, i asked the question as to why hasnt anyone been responding to this . Why is it only journalists that are there and our voices, as you may well know, often are not very audible we might be considered a side of the conflict. Why arent there other observers and factfinding missions to also report on the human crisis that is happening there . I also want to talk about when we are talking about the conflict and talking about the negotiations and the history, we are often forgetting that there are 150,000 People Living there currently. We are forgetting we are talking about the fate of the people. These are people who have been there for generations stop these are not new settlers. These are the owners of the land. A bit about the situation. [indiscernible] i talked about the infrastructure but the targeting andultural heritage sites shootings twice in one day. The second time when there were journalists there, international journalists, russian journalists were hurt. The targeting of journalists. We came to a point where we off from our car because the azerbaijani communication was when journalists go well, they never use that word. Said, they do not have permission from us to be there, therefore, they are very targets. Many journalists have been heard. This is what is happening. Is not equal from the other side. A lot of journalists, even international, the few that have the allowed in have not had ability to report as we have. Hospitals,precise, civilian hospitals, cultural buildings,ols, infrastructure being bombed. That has been going on since the 27th. Professor Stephan Astourian, could youay a little more explicitly about turkeys involvement in the conflict . There have been reports of syrian mercenaries, turkey bringing in syrian mercenaries to fight alongside azerbaijan, but thereve alsbeen reports of tkish officers and special forces bei directly involved in the conflict. Do younow of these reports . Is there confirmation of these reports . If true, what are the implications of turki special forces being directly involved on the side of azerbaijan . Information. Se the level of participationn tmeone was linked to russn newspaper. It is clear this is coming from the Intelligence Services of russia. Ares estimated there primally 600 milary personnel, Turkish Military level of at the 50talion tactical group,00 military advisors. Personnel at the airbase, and so on. I dont to lose too much time, but it is very clear. And the whole operation was ofised by the chief of staff the groups in turkey. General. So turkeys participation is no secret at all. Is not mysterious issue. They have been bringing in terrorists as early abo 1500 of 28, them were brought in. And then more batches of these included areroups and a few others including now. Eople being brought from libya the key organizer of this is a private military contractor, turkish private military contractor called sadat. Therer for activity then transported. Justprofessor, we are about out of time but i want to make sure that we get to the level of arms sales, tens of millions of dollars tens of billions of dollars that armenia that azerbaijan has bought weapons in the last 10 years. Where is it getting it from . And the level of support from turkey . In washington, the Foreign Ministers of azerbaijan and armenia will meet with pompeo on friday, tomorrow. Can you talk about what you want to see come out of this and the significance of nagornokarabakh as a petrolrich region . I will address that very concisely. The arms were but mainly from about 4d israel, billion or more from each. In turkey, the number of smaller ukraine,or example, belarus. But the main ones are israel, turkey. And then the amount of money spent exceeds 10 billion. That is absolutely established. It might be a ttle bit more, i dont know. Regarding the meeting on friday with secretary pompeo, he is already on record as saying the agenda wl be deescalation and. Eturn to the negotiating table this is all fine, of course. The only issue that is left to decide is how can a nato member, turkey, is involved in a war in which of coue on the others there is russia, and nobody is talking about that. Doinga kind of whatever it wantsnd nobody is discussing that issue. Importantre quite because, for example, just yesterday, troops have shelled iranian villages the other set of the border. Have warned they wont tolerate this type of thing. Amy we have to leave it there but we will continue to follow this conflict. ,rofessor Stephan Astourian university of california, berkeley, and thank you so much to Roubina Margossian of the evn report. Where she has been reporting from nagornokarabakh. Thank you for joining us. From our studio in tokyo, this is nhk newsline. We start this hour in the u. S. , where the republican led senate Judiciary Committee is advancing the Supreme Court nomination of judge amy coney barrett. All Democratic Committee members boycotted the vote, describing it as the most partisan and

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