by Giorgi KvelashviliThe Russian media has not hidden its delight at President Obama’s decision to halt the American anti-missile plan for Europe. As high-level Russian leaders express their satisfaction with the American president’s “prudent” and “farsighted” accommodation of Russia’s concerns, the Kremlin has reciprocated in... MORE

by Roman KupchinskyOne of the great unsolved mysteries of the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election is the alleged dioxin poisoning of Viktor Yushchenko on September 5, 2004. The perpetrators have never been caught and while Yushchenko has hinted a number of times that the plot to... MORE

by Yuri Zarakhovich On August 25, the Kurskaya metro station in Moscow reopened after years of restoration works. The most striking feature of the restoration are the lines in the frieze under the station ceilings from the 1944 Soviet anthem: “Stalin raised us to be... MORE

by Roman Kupchinsky Belarus President Alexander Lukashenka put on a grand performance in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius on September 16 during the Lithuanian-Belorussian business forum. It was his second visit to an EU member country since the EU-imposed ban on his travel was lifted.... MORE

by Roman Kupchinsky Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko completed his state visit to Turkmenistan on September 16 and returned to Kyiv empty handed according to a number of Ukrainian energy experts and political observers. The purpose of Yushchenko’s trip was ostensibly to try and convince Turkmen... MORE

by Giorgi KvelashviliOn September 2nd, the Jamestown Blog reported the appointment of Bacho Akhalaia to become Georgia’s new defense minister; the sixth in almost six years after the Rose Revolution in November 2003. Akhalaia replaced Vasil Sikharulidze who, before assuming the post of defense minister... MORE

by Roman KupchinskyThe Russian-Turkmenistan gas conflict, which began in April 2009, is far from over according to reports about Russian President Dmitri Medvedev’s meeting in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan on September 13 with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdumykhamedov. RIA Novosti reported that although Berdumykhamedov stated that all questions... MORE

by Jiri KominekThe expulsion of two Russian diplomats on August 17 by Czech authorities who accused the pair of spying came as a surprise to many Czech’s. Locals often joke about how Russia has annexed the Czech resort of Karlovy Vary, but for the Czech... MORE

Igor PutinPrice for Russian gas to Ukraine increases.In the 4th quarter of 2009 Ukraine will pay Gazprom $205-210 for 1,000 cubic meters of gas, a slightly higher price than in the 3rd quarter according to Ukrainian Naftohaz spokesman Anatoliy Podmyshlansky.Podmyshlansky added that Naftohaz intended to... MORE

by Yuri Zarakhovich On Thursday, September 10, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev published a key-note article on web portal Gazeta.ru outlining his vision of Russia's future in the next decade. Reuters called it "his newest effort to distance himself from the legacy of his predecessor Vladimir... MORE