Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
RUSSIAN-AZERBAIJAN RELATIONS: TIME FOR A GRAND BARGAIN?
The Georgian-Russian conflict in early August brought negative economic and humanitarian consequences for the South Caucasus. Carefully built East-West transport and energy corridors have come under question. Recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia by Russia presents another diplomatic difficulty for the countries of the region.... MORE
BELARUS PRESSURES EU FOR CLOSER TIES
After the parliamentary electionscin Belarus on September 28, both President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and his close ally, Lidziya Yarmoshyna, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission, have stated that they expect the EU to lift sanctions against Belarus’s leaders and develop closer relations. On the face of... MORE
SCANDAL ERUPTS OVER KYRGYZ CENTRAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION DAYS BEFORE LOCAL ELECTIONS
On September 26 former Chair of the Central Elections Commission (CEC) Klara Kabilova released a video statement describing psychological and physical intimidation by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s son Maksim in the run-up to local elections scheduled for October 5. According to Kabilova, Maksim repeatedly threatened her... MORE
TURKISH AND KURDISH YOUTHS CLASH IN WESTERN TURKEY
On September 30 simmering ethnic tensions between Turks and Kurds in the town of Altinova in the western province of Balikesir erupted into violence as stores, automobiles, homes, and workplaces belonging to ethnic Kurds were attacked after a Kurdish youth drove a truck into a... MORE
PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE PROPOSES NEW ANTI-EXTREMISM AGENCY
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has called for a new law-enforcement agency to fight extremism, arguing that federal and local authorities have been ineffective in fighting hate crimes. Some human rights experts, however, have expressed concern that such a body could be used against critics... MORE
RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE SEEKS TO DESTABILIZE CRIMEA
On September 29 the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) protested against an appeal made by the Russian delegation to the OSCE about the Crimea. “Methods and dirty technology created in the ’90s of the last century are being used to destabilize the situation in... MORE
IS YUSHCHENKO’S UKRAINE READY FOR A NATO MAP?
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko paid two visits to the United States at the end of September. Among the main goals of his visits was to confirm Ukraine’s hope to secure an Action Plan for NATO Membership (MAP) ahead of the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled... MORE
TURKEY ACTS AS CAUCASIAN PEACEMAKER
The armed military confrontation between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia in August has produced major shockwaves throughout the Caucasus and beyond. Amid the suffering, the military clash may have shaken opportunities to resolve one of the "frozen conflicts" left over from the... MORE
NAZARBAYEV OFFERS MEDVEDEV SUPPORT
During a meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, on September 22, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev offered his support to Russia with regard to the conflict in Georgia. Security issues were discussed at the presidential level during the fifth international forum of the... MORE
HUNGARY EYES IRANIAN GAS IN EFFORTS TO RESUSCITATE NABUCCO
With Brussels lacking a policy and Washington in the grip of two mutually contradictory policies on European gas supplies, Hungary has taken the lead in efforts to resuscitate the Nabucco project for Caspian gas to Europe. The Hungarian government, parliamentary opposition, and privately owned MOL... MORE