Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
BASAEV INTERVIEW ENRAGES RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES
The interview with Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev that aired on American television on July 29 dealt a serious blow to the Kremlin. Russian authorities made desperate efforts to prevent the ABC television network from broadcasting the interview on its "Nightline" news program. The Russian Embassy... MORE
IS UZBEKISTAN BURNING ITS BRIDGES WITH THE U.S.?
On August 3, Uzbek state media announced that the government had asked the United States to vacate the Karshi-Khanabad air base and withdraw its military units from Uzbekistan. The government had delivered that request to the U.S. Embassy on July 29, but did not immediately... MORE
TERRORISM DOMINATES RUSSIAN SECURITY AGENDA
Senior Russian security officials are once again confirming the importance and priority of terrorism in Russia's domestic security agenda. A mixture of exercises, discussions, and initiatives to advance the interests of the Federal Security Service (FSB) has culminated in substantial increases for Russian spending on... MORE
TURKMENISTAN EXPLORES EXPORT ALTERNATIVES FOR ITS NATURAL GAS
Turkmenistan has been keen to expand the export markets for its abundant natural gas resources. Not surprisingly, Turkmen authorities have been eyeing China's lucrative energy markets, although pipelines to funnel Turkmen gas to China are still at the planning stage. Last month, Turkmen President Saparmurat... MORE
BELARUS-POLAND DISPUTE REFLECTS LUKASHENKA’S GROWING MISTRUST OF THE WEST
The continuing dispute between Belarus and Poland appears to be reaching a climax, as Poland has recalled its ambassador from Belarus and appears to be considering the expulsion of the Belarusian ambassador to Poland. The conflict follows a police raid on the headquarters of the... MORE
PUTIN’S ANTI-BALTIC MONOLOGUE REBUFFED
In an unprecedented development, a European head of state has publicly and outspokenly refuted Russian President Vladimir Putin's accusations that Estonia and Latvia oppress their Russian residents. Most European officials are aware that those accusations are unfounded, but would not contradict the Kremlin publicly. Visiting... MORE
TENSIONS SIMMERING IN GEORGIA’S JAVAKHETI REGION
The recent anti-terrorist operations in Georgia (see EDM July 25, 29) have overshadowed coverage of anti-Georgian developments flaring in Georgia's turbulent Javakheti region, a southern area predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians. On July 17, Armenian residents of Samsar blocked efforts by students and nuns from... MORE
UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER TO BE PROGRESSIVELY MARGINALIZED
While President Viktor Yushchenko remains outwardly confident that his Our Ukraine party, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's bloc, and parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn's People's Party (NPU) will enter the 2006 parliamentary elections as a coalition, this scenario is now unlikely (Ukrayinska pravda, July 25). As a... MORE
KYRGYZSTAN, UN DISAGREE OVER REMAINING ANDIJAN REFUGEES
Uzbek human rights activists officially thanked Kyrgyzstan, the UN, and the OSCE for letting refugees from the May riots in Andijan, Uzbekistan, find asylum in a third country. Last week 439 Andijan refugees were sent to Romania en route to host countries that had agreed... MORE
DEPARTURE OF ANDIJAN REFUGEES MAY DESTABILIZE FERGANA VALLEY
"We shall return with victory and invite you all to the celebration party!" With these parting words to journalists, 439 refugees from the May uprising in Andijan, Uzbekistan, boarded an airplane that would carry them to Romania and on to a new host country. However,... MORE