Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
A BLACK TUESDAY FOR WESTERN ENERGY COMPANIES IN RUSSIA
An unprecedented flurry of warnings by top Russian energy officials on a single day, December 12, may mark that date as a Black Tuesday for Western energy companies investing in Russia. First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Gazprom president Alexei Miller, Energy and Industry Minister... MORE
YUSHCHENKO REGAINS CONTROL OF HIS PARTY
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has replaced the leadership of his party, People’s Union-Our Ukraine (NSNU). The NSNU’s business wing, the “dear friends” who controlled the party since its foundation in spring 2005, have been banished from the leadership. Yushchenko apparently holds them responsible for the... MORE
ARMENIA’S KOCHARIAN SEEKING CONTINUED ROLE IN GOVERNMENT
With just over one year to go before the end of his second and final term in office, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian does not leave the impression of a man preparing for retirement. The past week has seen further indications that he wants to dominate... MORE
ODESSA-BRODY-EUROPE OIL TRANSPORT PROJECT SHELVED INDEFINITELY
Information released following the December 10-11 session of the Ukraine-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation suggests that Russia has successfully forced an indefinite postponement of the Odessa-Brody-Plock oil transport project. Kazakh and U.S. companies in that country were to have been the oil suppliers and... MORE
RUSSIA SEEKS U.S., IRANIAN HELP TO SETTLE NORTH CAUCASUS CONFLICTS
Earlier this month the U.S. and Iranian ambassadors to Russia visited the North Caucasus, a region in southern Russia. U.S. Ambassador William Burns was in the North Caucasus from December 4-5, visiting Nalchik, the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria, as well as Vladikavkaz and Beslan in North... MORE
UZBEKISTAN CONSIDERS RAPPROCHEMENT WITH THE WEST
Recent events in Uzbekistan seem to point to warming relations with the West and a possible re-adjustment of its relations with Russia. EU sanctions on Uzbekistan will remain in place for another year, despite Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov’s recent trip to Brussels. Nevertheless,... MORE
MOSCOW SELF-DISQUALIFYING AS PEACEKEEPER AND MEDIATOR IN ABKHAZ, SOUTH OSSETIAN CONFLICTS
The Russian Duma’s December 6 resolutions, calling for recognition of Abkhazia’s and South Ossetia’s secession from Georgia and their potential incorporation into Russia, are primarily geared to short-term tactical goals of Russian policy. These goals include: a) provoking Georgia into another spiral of bilateral confrontation... MORE
BISHKEK’S MANAS BASE IN CRISIS
On December 6 a Kyrgyz citizen was shot at the U.S.-led international anti-terrorism coalition’s Ganci airbase at Manas. Alexander Ivanov, a 43-year-old truck driver, appeared to be on a routine mission at Ganci when he was killed. He was allegedly shot on one of the... MORE
MONGOL PRESIDENT PAYS UNEVENTFUL VISIT TO MOSCOW
While visiting Russia from December 4 to December 10, Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar reiterated pledges to strengthen economic ties with Moscow. However, similar official pronouncements in the past have so far failed to generate any breakthrough in bilateral relations. At a meeting in the Kremlin... MORE
WILL ECONOMIC SANCTIONS BECOME A LEGITIMATE TOOL OF RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY?
Russian lawmakers appear to have confirmed the Kremlin’s move to legitimize economic sanctions as an established instrument of the country’s increasingly muscular foreign policy. The jury is still out, however, as to whether this tool will be effective. On December 6 Russia’s State Duma voted... MORE