American strategic and democratic interests in Kyrgyzstan are increasingly coming under pressure, one year after the purported democratic "Tulip Revolution" in that country. Russian influence and that of local organized crime groups are growing while U.S. influence is steadily eroding. At the overt level, Moscow... MORE

After banning imports of Georgian wine and some other food products last month (see EDM, March 28), Russian authorities now say the ban might extend to Georgia's famous "Borjomi" mineral water. Following an order from Gennady Onishchenko, Russian chief sanitary inspector, about 1 billion liters... MORE

Armenia's governing coalition is beset with fresh infighting between the two largest political parties loyal to President Robert Kocharian, which could have repercussions for next year's parliamentary election. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party of parliamentary speaker Artur Baghdasarian has publicly denounced Prime Minister... MORE

Armenian critics describe the government's new agreement with Russia, giving up infrastructure property for moderately priced gas, as the equivalent of giving up the family's milch cow -- or at least selling the cow for the price of milk. The preliminary Armenian-Russian sale-and-purchase agreement, first... MORE

On April 13 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Deguang announced that the SCO's upcoming June summit would consider renaming and reforming the organization's secretariat, as well as granting permanent membership to observer countries that have applied for membership. India, Iran, Mongolia, and Pakistan currently hold... MORE

Kazakh Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev traveled to Beijing April 11-13 for a wide range of talks with top Chinese officials on energy, transportation, communications, trade, and trans-border rivers issues, a long-running sticking point in bilateral relations. Considering the complexity of problems in relations with Beijing,... MORE