Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
PUTIN IN AZERBAIJAN
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to Azerbaijan on February 21-22, presumably to inaugurate the "Year of Russia in Azerbaijan 2006" celebration, following the "Year of Azerbaijan in Russia 2005." While cordial, the atmosphere was far more sober than the love fest of... MORE
MOSCOW STUNG BY GEORGIAN RESOLUTION ON SOUTH OSSETIA
Predictably, Moscow has unleashed a psychological warfare offensive in response to the Georgian Parliament's February 15 resolution on replacing Russia's "peacekeeping" operation in South Ossetia with an international peacekeeping operation (see EDM, February 15). In that resolution's aftermath, Kremlin consultant Gleb Pavlovsky -- speaking on... MORE
PUTIN IN BAKU: CHANGES IN AZERI-RUSSIAN ENERGY RELATIONS ON THE HORIZON
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Baku this week to officially open the "Year of Russia in Azerbaijan" celebration. But it is safe to assume that it was not the issues of cultural exchange between the two former Soviet republics that dominated the agenda during the... MORE
EUROPE HOPES TO REVIVE TRANS-CASPIAN ENERGY PIPELINES
The deputy energy and foreign ministers of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova will meet in Baku February 24-25 to discuss regional cooperation in the field of energy security. Senior energy officials from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Iran, Kazakhstan, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United States, and... MORE
TURKMEN GAS PRICE HIKE, DEBT COLLECTION CLAIMS COMPLICATE UKRAINE’S SITUATION
Turkmenistan has taken two steps in quick succession that pose severe problems for Ukraine's gas supplies. Ashgabat will raise the gas price in line with international market trends, and is demanding prompt payment of Ukraine's arrears for past deliveries of Turkmen gas. Missteps by Ukrainian... MORE
MAGOMEDOV OUT AS MOSCOW OPTS FOR NEW LEADERSHIP IN MAKHACHKALA
On February 20 the Kremlin announced the appointment of a new leader for Dagestan. Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated 65-year-old Mukhu Aliev to lead the North Caucasus republic and asked Dagestan's legislature to confirm his choice. All but one of the 102 local lawmakers present... MORE
KAZAKH NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE IMPLICATED IN DEATH OF ANTI-NAZARBAYEV POLITICIAN
More and more active opponents of the current regime in Kazakhstan are dying in mysterious deaths. The latest victim is Altynbek Sarsenbayev, the 43-year-old co-chairman of the Naghyz Ak Zhol (True Bright Path) political party and one of the leaders of the "For a Fair... MORE
HOW THE BELARUS ELECTION WILL BE WON
The Central Election Commission in Belarus announced on February 17 that four candidates have been officially registered for the presidential election of March 19. These include: President Alexander Lukashenka; leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Syarhey Haidukevich; and two opposition candidates, Alexander Kazulin of the... MORE
WILL GEORGIA BECOME A U.S. ALLY IN A POSSIBLE STRIKE AGAINST IRAN?
Georgian officials and pundits are vigorously denying allegations that U.S. officials are in secret talks with Tbilisi about using Georgian military bases and airfields in the event of a military conflict with Iran. The Jerusalem Post (February 20) claims a high-ranking, but anonymous, official from... MORE
MOSCOW RECYCLES OFFER TO PROCESS IRANIAN NUCLEAR FUEL
In the wake of the Iranian nuclear crisis, Moscow has advanced a new, or rather seemingly new, proposal to build a center for spent fuel from Iran and other states and for the enrichment of uranium for these states as well. Under this plan Iran... MORE