As President George W. Bush reshuffles his cabinet, Moscow political elites are discussing what kind of changes in policy, personnel, and cooperation can be expected during his second term. The nomination of Condoleezza Rice as U.S. Secretary of State has been interpreted by the bulk... MORE

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenka has ordered drastic measures in support of the "Belarusian path" of development. These, in turn, are accompanied by official depictions of remarkable economic growth and demands for an end to "foreign" intrusion in domestic life, including hostile actions against Belarus, adoption... MORE

Yukos was hit by a series of new blows on November 18. The embattled oil company's chief lawyer, Dmitry Gololobov, told reporters in London, where he was on a business trip, that he had been placed on Russian and international wanted lists at the request... MORE

On October 29, the Russian State Duma voted to adopt in its first reading President Vladimir Putin's proposal to eliminate the direct election of regional executive-branch leaders. Despite the fact that officials have received 70 positive comments on the proposal from local legislatures and 58... MORE

With the second round of Ukraine's election set for November 21, President Leonid Kuchma will soon become an ex-president. The final vote tally is due no later than 15 days after election day; therefore, the new president should be inaugurated in early December. After a... MORE

On November 15-18, Ashgabat hosted concurrently two international oil and gas exhibitions and conferences: a bilateral event on "Turkmenistan-Russia Oil and Gas Partnership Prospects," and an international one on "Oil and Gas of Turkmenistan 2004." The two events illustrated Russia's head start over Western consumer... MORE

Abkhazia's political polarization deepened suddenly on November 17, amid continuing attempts by presidential election loser Raul Khajimba and his Moscow backers to prevent the election's winner, Sergei Bagapsh, from taking office. Nodar Khashba, an Abkhaz-born Russian officer recently installed by Moscow as prime minister in... MORE

On November 16 the Senate (upper) chamber of Kazakhstan's parliament held a round-table debate that focused on the problems of terrorism and protecting human rights in conflict situations. Most of the participants said that Kazakhstan should wield a strong national ideology rather than military muscle... MORE

The terrorist group "Jamaat of Central Asian Mujahideen," which is structurally affiliated with the international terrorist organization al-Qaeda, has been exposed and dismantled in Kazakhstan. According to Vladimir Bozhko, first deputy director of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB), the group included four female members, trained... MORE

As preparations continue for the transfer of sections of the Tajik-Afghan border to full control by the border service of Tajikistan, Dushanbe's search for American financial support for the venture is rapidly escalating. Bilateral talks between the United States and Tajikistan, currently in progress in... MORE