Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
YANUKOVYCH’S REMARKS ON NATO HEAT UP COALITION DEBATE
President Viktor Yushchenko’s camp has reacted to Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych’s September 14 statement to the effect that Ukraine is not ready for a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) with ostentatious indignation. Yanukovych has been accused of violating inter-party accords and spoiling Ukraine’s chance to... MORE
JOURNALIST’S BEATING SPARKS CONCERN ABOUT PRESS FREEDOM IN ARMENIA
The reported beating of the editor of a leading Armenian newspaper has sparked domestic and international concerns about the state of press freedom in Armenia. The September 6 incident was the latest in a series of attacks against local journalists critical of the government. Armenian... MORE
TAJIK PRESIDENT USES NATIONAL HOLIDAYS TO LAUNCH HIS RE-ELECTION BID
Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov is actively campaigning ahead of presidential elections scheduled for November 6. In the last two weeks, Rahmonov celebrated four national holidays before other candidates could legally announce their own participation. Under the president’s leadership, Tajikistan celebrated national independence day, the year... MORE
IMU ISSUES NEW THREAT TO CENTRAL ASIAN LEADERS
The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) is showing renewed confidence in Central Asia and has apparently increased its capacity to carry out terrorist acts within the region. A speech marking the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, purportedly given by IMU leader Tahir Yuldashev, was... MORE
RUSSIA CONCERNED BY CHINA’S CHEMICAL POLLUTION
China has pledged sizable investments to prevent pollution of rivers near its border with Russia. However, some Russian officials remained unconvinced. China plans to spend $1.7 billion between now and 2010 to monitor and protect the Songhua River from chemical pollution, Zhou Shenxian, head of... MORE
THUS SPAKE PUTIN: RUSSIA UPHOLDS PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY IN ENERGY SPHERE
Russia is aggressively seeking to revise the rules of the game on global energy markets. The Kremlin leadership asserts that, in today’s world, energy producers cease to be hapless raw-materials appendages mercilessly exploited by the more fortunate industrialized nations, but act as equals and, on... MORE
PUTIN PRAISES YUSHCHENKO WHILE GAZPROM LOOKS SET FOR DEEPER INROADS IN UKRAINE
Russian President Vladimir Putin has bestowed rare praise on Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko for agreeing to the gas deals with Gazprom and RosUkrEnergo. Addressing an audience of prominent Western experts at Novo-Ogarevo for the latest Valdai Discussion Club meeting, Putin said of Yushchenko, “He was... MORE
NGOs IN AZERBAIJAN CRITICIZED FOR CONTACTS WITH KARABAKH
Public protests have erupted in Azerbaijan after the chair of the Azerbaijan branch of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly visited the disputed Karabakh region and met with the leadership of the unrecognized Karabakh republic. Arzu Abdullayeva and several young activists from her organization went to Armenia’s... MORE
WHAT NEXT FOR THE UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION?
Tables have turned in Ukrainian politics as a result of the March parliamentary election and the ensuing formation of a broad coalition in parliament. There is no longer a strong left-wing opposition: the Socialists have been entrenched in the government since early 2005, and the... MORE
GEORGIA INDICTS PRO-MOSCOW ACTIVISTS AHEAD OF PLANNED DISTURBANCES
A dozen activists of pro-Moscow groups in Georgia are being held in pre-trial custody for a period of up to two months; and two others have been freed on bail, pending trial. They all face charges of treason and conspiracy to overthrow the government and... MORE