Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles

RUSSIA DEVELOPS ELECTRICITY, OIL PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA

On Friday, February 9, the board of Unified Energy System, Russia’s power grid operator, approved a blueprint for large-scale electricity exports to China. UES is reportedly planning to increase electricity supplies to Northeastern China up to 3.6-4.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) from 2008 on. In the... MORE

KAZAKHSTAN DOWNPLAYS POLITICAL RISKS OF ENERGY CORRIDOR TO EUROPE

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s February 2 visit to Ukraine appeared to be an ill-timed event that triggered controversial speculations in light of the recent gas row between Belarus and Russia and the lingering standoff between Moscow and Kyiv on energy issues. But under the circumstances,... MORE

YUSHCHENKO, YANUKOVYCH LOCK HORNS OVER CABINET LAW

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and the ruling coalition in Kyiv have failed to find a compromise over the “Law on the Cabinet of Ministers.” The law is meant to complement the constitution, more clearly defining the remits of the president, the cabinet, and parliament; at... MORE

BAKIYEV’S NEW GOVERNMENT FOSTERS LARGE-SCALE CORRUPTION

Kyrgyzstan’s recently appointed Prime Minister Azim Isabekov formed a new government this week. The changes made by Isabekov suggest that he largely followed directions from Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his deputies. The new government excludes some former popular political leaders and increases the powers... MORE

TOLERANCE REDUCES NEED FOR RUSSIAN LANGUAGE LAW IN UKRAINE

Although Ukraine’s Party of Regions introduced a new draft language law to parliament last fall, interest in the bill will decline following the unexpected death of key party ideologue Yevhen Kushnariov last month. Elevating Russian to an official or second state language requires a change... MORE

KAZAKHSTAN DEEPENS TIES WITH GERMANY

President Nursultan Nazarbayev has moved to deepen the level of Kazakhstan’s cooperation with Germany. On January 30, during a visit to Germany, Nazarbayev explored ways to increase existing bilateral political, trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Reportedly, both leaders share... MORE