The entire international community has condemned the second round of the Ukrainian presidential election, held on November 21. The only exception has been the CIS Election Observers Mission, a body established in Russia in 2003 that brings together most CIS member states. CIS Executive Secretary... MORE

The October crisis in the North Caucasus republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia continues, but the authorities have managed to mitigate the problem somewhat. On November 11, when angry demonstrators took over the Government Palace, Dmitry Kozak, Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy to the Southern Federal District, met... MORE

Russia's investment climate is undergoing profound changes, but expert opinions about the direction of these changes differ far more than traditional quarrels between economic schools should warrant. In mid-November Fitch Ratings awarded Russia one extra step and thus raised its rating to investment level (Kommersant,... MORE

A recent series of high-level meetings in the context of the Central Asian Cooperation Organization and the November 19 summit between Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov and Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov produced rhetorical statements of renewed interest in regional cooperation. But even as Central Asian political... MORE

As the tens of thousands of Ukrainians continue to protest the outcome of Sunday's presidential runoff, Moscow has embraced Ukraine's Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, as the new president-elect. Russia's President Vladimir Putin, who openly backed Yanukovych throughout the campaign, sent him his congratulations late Monday... MORE

Major-General Bolat Sembinov, Kazakhstan's Deputy Defense Minister, completed an important trip to Washington on November 19 that has served to reaffirm the long-term nature of U.S. military assistance to Kazakhstan. Sembinov, who has been a critical influence behind much of Kazakhstan's military reform and its... MORE

Visiting Astana on November 16, World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn praised Kazakhstan for its recent economic performance and stressed that the poverty rate in the country has decreased from 18% to 12%. Most importantly, he said, Kazakhstan has made remarkable success in developing its... MORE

The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, and the President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, met in Bukhara on November 19. The leaders of the two countries signed a treaty "On Friendship, Confidence-building, and Developing Cooperation." In addition, the presidents signed a bilateral agreement on mutual visits... MORE

Polls closed in the decisive presidential election runoff yesterday (November 21) between Viktor Yushchenko, the candidate of the center-right coalition of market liberals and nationalists, and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who was backed by outgoing president Leonid Kuchma and the "oligarchs." The Central Electoral Commission... MORE

While Russian President Vladimir Putin made public appearances throughout the third week of November, he has little to show for his efforts. He addressed the annual congress of Russian businessmen, but rather than telling them anything new, he simply gauged the business community's readiness to... MORE