Some 30,000 tons of U.S. poultry products have apparently been cleared for export to Russia, reports said yesterday, but the resumption of trade in this area does not appear to mark a full resolution of the high-profile chicken dispute that has raged between Russia and... MORE

The Federal Security Service (FSB) has officially confirmed a claim made earlier by an anonymous official of the agency that Khattab, the Chechen rebel field commander of Arab origin, was killed during a Russian special operation in Chechnya. The FSB's public relations center said in... MORE

Not surprisingly, Chechen rebel sources yesterday (April 25) cast doubt on the claim by the Federal Security Service (FSB) that rebel field commander Khattab had been killed. Kavkaz.org, the website representing the views of the radical Islamist wing of the Chechen rebels, yesterday reported that... MORE

The U.S. and allied deployment at the Peter Ganci air force station near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan is steadily growing toward the planned level of more than 3,000 troops. Six American F-18 Hornet fighter-bomber jets and 200 U.S. marines are the latest addition to the forces deployed... MORE

The prospects for Russia and the United States to finalize an historic strategic arms reduction agreement by the time that Presidents Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush meet for summit talks in Russia next month looked a little bleaker yesterday after a fourth round of... MORE

Former Ingush President Ruslan Aushev resigned from the Federation Council on April 23, accusing the upper parliamentary chamber of inaction in relation to the situation in the North Caucasus. Aushev said that on more than one occasion he had called the attention of his fellow... MORE

On April 22, Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Mykhaylo Potebenko called a press conference to announce his retirement. He had, he said, submitted his resignation to President Leonid Kuchma last week and suggested a replacement, but refused to disclose the name of that candidate. Potebenko, 65, has headed... MORE

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the one hand, and Central Asian leaders, on the other, continue to differ widely over America's role in Central Asia. The latest high-level statements, as well as reactions to the Russian-led antiterrorism exercise just held in Central Asia, confirm the... MORE

Tajik President Imomali Rahmonov delivered his annual address to parliament within four days of Vladimir Putin's State-of-the-Nation address to the Russian parliament. In contrast to the Russian president, Rahmonov acknowledged America's leadership in the antiterrorist effort: "We are thankful to the United States, [and] to... MORE

Russia's efforts to turn itself into a significant player in the Asian arms market have taken an interesting turn. This week, reports surfaced suggesting that a joint Indian-Russian military aircraft venture may be in the works to supply Sukhoi Su-30MK multirole fighters to Malaysia. Although... MORE