Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
KREMLIN HAS UPPER HAND IN GAS NEGOTIATIONS WITH UKRAINE
President Vladimir Putin's December 8 televised argument for tripling the price of Russian gas to Ukraine, in cash only, as of 2006 (see EDM, December 9) in effect rejected President Viktor Yushchenko's plea by telephone the previous day for moving slowly to market terms over... MORE
DOES UKRAINE REALLY HAVE COUNTER LEVERS FOR GAS SUPPLIES?
As tensions increase on all sides of the Ukrainian gas delivery dispute, each player must review its strategic assets. Kyiv may have at least three forms of counter-leverage at its disposal to prevent bankruptcy or the need to surrender partial control of its transit pipeline... MORE
RUSSIA’S ARMS DEAL WITH IRAN: KREMLIN BELIEVES U.S. TOO WEAK FOR STRONG RESPONSE
The Russian leadership appears to believe that the Iraq debacle marked the tuning point in the short-lived era of American global supremacy. The Iran arms deal suggests that the Kremlin will likely continue pursuing an assertive foreign policy in regions the U.S. deems vital for... MORE
BESLAN MOTHERS TURN TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FIND THE TRUTH
The consequences of the September 2004 terrorist attack on the town of Beslan continue to shake the political situation in North Ossetia. Tensions between the Russian authorities and local residents have increased for more than a year and have now come to a head. Relatives... MORE
AFTER ELECTION LOSS, WHAT NEXT FOR THE KAZAKH OPPOSITION?
Kazakhstan's December 4 presidential election gave both the opposition and the ruling establishment an opportunity to test the popular theory of democratic "color revolutions." Could a popular uprising after a disputed election evict another ruling regime? The ruling regime has now recognized that it must... MORE
RUSSIA INSISTS ON TRANSFORMING THE TERMS OF GAS TRADE WITH UKRAINE
On December 8, live on Russian state television (which is widely received in Ukraine), Russian President Vladimir Putin harangued Ukraine at length to triple the price for Russian natural gas, and to pay in cash. Putin skillfully calibrated his tone to avoid antagonizing Ukraine's populace... MORE
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE AGREE TO DISAGREE ON GAS SUPPLIES
Despite top-level discussions and official pledges, Russia and Ukraine remain deeply divided over natural gas supply terms for 2006. Russia is satisfied with Ukraine's readiness to review prices for Russian natural gas to be supplied to Ukraine and then piped to Europe via Ukrainian territory,... MORE
JUDGES ALLEGE THAT SAAKASHVILI’S TEAM IS PURGING GEORGIA’S JUDICIAL BENCH
Widespread allegations about restrictions on judicial independence since the Rose Revolution have received new credibility following sensational confessions by four members of the Georgian Supreme Court. Tamaz Iliashvili, Merab Turava, David Sulakvelidze, and Nino Gvenetadze have publicly accused Kote Kublashvili, chairman of the Supreme Court,... MORE
ARE THE TALIBAN RECEIVING OUTSIDE HELP IN THEIR RESISTANCE EFFORTS?
As insurgent attacks increase in Afghanistan, observers have begun to wonder whether the anti-government forces are receiving foreign training and aid. Recent attacks by the Taliban, such as suicide and multiple bombings and kidnapping foreign workers, increasingly resemble the tactics currently employed in Iraq. While... MORE
EUROPEAN UNION’S CFSP UNRAVELS AT OSCE
The OSCE's year-end ministerial conference on December 5-6 witnessed the unraveling of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The unraveling was so far-reaching that not even the usual façade of unity could be preserved at this conference. Unity of purpose was, to... MORE