Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
ANNA POLITKOVSKAYA: VICTIM OF A KREMLIN POWER STRUGGLE?
Various theories have circulated regarding who might have murdered the journalist Anna Politkovskaya on October 7, and why. According to these, she was targeted by nationalist extremists, or by Russian military officers that she had named in connection with human rights abuses in Chechnya, or... MORE
RUSSIAN POLITICS AND ECONOMICS FACE AN ENERGY CRISIS
Russian President Vladimir Putin endured a most unpleasant dinner with the EU heads of state and top officials last Friday (see EDM, October 20). The day before he departed for Lahti, Finland, he held one of the least successful meetings with the ministers and heads... MORE
OSCE’S BELGIAN CHAIR PROPOSES REFORMED PEACEKEEPING IN MOLDOVA
Like other chairmanships of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in recent years, the 2006 Belgian Chairmanship is partly staking its success on showing some decisive progress on Transnistria conflict-settlement during its term in the chair. In the run-up to the organization's December... MORE
EUROPE STRUGGLES TO THWART RUSSIA’S DIVIDE-AND-CONQUER POLICY
Today, October 20, leaders of the European Union countries gathered in Lahti, Finland, to try to forge a common Russia policy so that they can speak with a single voice at the EU-Russia summit next month. Europe’s unified strategy toward its giant eastern neighbor had... MORE
TBILISI CLAIMS RUSSIAN NAVY HOLDING EXERCISES OFF GEORGIAN COAST
In an October 18 news conference, Georgia’s First Deputy Defense Minister Mamuka Kudava and Coastal Guard commander Davit Gulua announced that Russian warships are conducting live-fire exercises of an intimidating nature off Georgia’s coast, mainly off Poti. The Russian ships are exercising mainly in the... MORE
TWO MEETINGS, TWO TONES IN GUAM
Delegates of the GUAM member countries -- Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova -- held a meeting of their own during the October 17 Minsk session of the Commonwealth of Independent States Council of Foreign Ministers (see EDM, October 18). This informal GUAM meeting issued a firm... MORE
LATEST MOVES CHALLENGE SAAKASHVILI’S STANCE AND THE GEORGIAN-WESTERN PARTNERSHIP
The chances of Georgia becoming a full-fledged member of the European Union and NATO have taken a hit from Tbilisi’s ongoing dispute with Moscow. As the West alternates between political and moral support for President Mikheil Saakashvili and cutting deals with Russia that are detrimental... MORE
IS PUTIN BECOMING DESPERATE ABOUT BEING “BEST FRIENDS” WITH GERMANY?
Taking a short break from European affairs before a planned guest appearance at the EU summit in Lahti, Finland, tomorrow, October 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin has a moment to reflect on his achievements after making an extraordinary effort at strengthening ties with Germany. For... MORE
KREMLIN LOSES CONTROL OVER INGUSH POLICE
On October 15, Russia’s RIA-Novosti news agency reported that the Interior Ministry of Ingushetia, a region in the North Caucasus adjacent to Chechnya, would be strengthened by additional 200 policemen, mainly senior officials dispatched from other parts of Russia. Temporary police departments will be set... MORE
MOSCOW MORE WORRIED ABOUT SAAKASHVILI THAN KIM JONG-IL
Among all of North Korea’s neighbors, Russia seems to be the least concerned with the recent nuclear test conducted by the reclusive regime of Kim Jong-Il. Of course, the Russian Foreign Ministry made an official protest and demanded that Pyongyang must "immediately return to the... MORE