Meeting October 3 Luxembourg, the European Union Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs voted to impose sanctions against Uzbekistan. They banned the sale of weapons and military equipment to Tashkent, specifically anything that the army could use for "internal repressions," and sought to also reduce... MORE

In addition to developing the Aktau seaport on the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan is also putting more emphasis on developing domestic and international rail lines. In recent years the government has made significant strides toward reducing Kazakhstan's dependence on the Russian transport network. A railway line... MORE

On October 18, the Lithuanian government decided unanimously to begin negotiations with TNK-BP regarding the sale of a majority stake in Lithuania's oil-refining and oil-transport sector, the last major remaining asset of Yukos. The government's decision follows Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas' unexpected October 11 statement... MORE

On October 15 in Moscow, officials from the presidential administration and other Kremlin-connected figures hosted a "Forum on Democracy and Multiculturalism in the Euro-East." The participants included representatives of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria, and Karabakh, activists of pro-Russia parties and associations from several post-Soviet countries,... MORE

Two separate events affecting Georgia's opposition groups vividly demonstrate the extremes of contemporary political life in Georgia. On October 17, the Conservative and Republican parties announced the establishment of a new parliamentary faction composed of former members of the ruling National Movement and former allies... MORE

Dushanbe's efforts to stem the flow of narcotics through its porous borders have been highlighted by the authorities in an attempt to reassert Tajikistan's domestic security credentials. Yet, despite these moves by the regime itself, security officials continue to seek international help for Tajikistan's security... MORE

On October 15, KOORT (Kyrgyz public radio and television) was re-privatized as a result of a legal investigation of the previous management on corruption charges. This news came shortly after the highly popular newspaper, Vecherny Bishkek, was returned to its previous owner, Alexander Kim, under... MORE

As Russia has failed to secure any significant economic commitments from Tokyo, notably on the Japan-bound Pacific oil pipeline route, the Kremlin is losing interest in resolving a long-standing territorial dispute any time soon.Russia appears to have ruled out any compromise over the Kuril Islands,... MORE