The feud between the Kremlin and former Krai Governor Yevgeny Nazdratenko's team continues, apparently out of inertia. Though the feud seems to be of little interest to voters in the region, it has attracted wide attention in the national media. Konstantin Pulikovsky, President's Putin's representative... MORE

On April 14, the same day that NTV television's facilities were occupied by the management team recently installed by Gazprom, President Vladimir Putin traveled Chechnya. While there he visited a Russian military unit at the village of Khatuni and met with senior military commanders and... MORE

The Russian government has arm-twisted Ukraine into accepting stringent limitations on steel pipe exports to Russia, the main market for that Ukrainian product. Protection of Russian steel pipe producers is only one motivation, and perhaps not the principal one, behind Moscow's action. The apparent broader... MORE

The Kremlin's hopes of moving quickly to cement ties with Europe--a policy undertaken in part to compensate for worsening relations with the United States--appeared to hit a small pothole last week when a much anticipated summit meeting between President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard... MORE

The two-week-old standoff between Gazprom, the 38-percent state-owned gas monopoly, and NTV television reached its denouement this weekend, when the channel's new Gazprom-appointed managers took over its offices and studios at Moscow's Ostankino television center. The takeover began at approximately 3:30 AM on April 14,... MORE

Politicians from across Russia's political spectrum have weighed in on the Gazprom management team's physical takeover of NTV's facilities. Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky, who showed up at the channel's studios while the takeover was in progress, denounced it as a seizure by force. Veteran human... MORE

Recent, fairly common forecasts that Georgia was about to turn away from NATO in deference to Moscow are not being borne out. Russian pressures notwithstanding, Tbilisi continues its relationship with the Atlantic alliance with undiminished conviction. The premature forecasts appeared to take their cue from... MORE

Europe's one and only Communist regime is taking its first steps as the ruling force, in a situation which may at this stage be described as postcommunism under the Communists. These moves should offer clues regarding the Moldovan Communist Party' intentions in four key areas.... MORE

The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which still lies on the bottom of the Barents Sea, was unexpectedly back in the headlines last week following the publication of reports alleging that the vessel had been carrying nuclear weapons at the time of its demise this past... MORE

The judge in the trial of Colonel Yury Budanov agreed yesterday to a one-day postponement of the trial just one day after the trial resumed in Rostov-on-Don. The Russian tank commander is accused of kidnapping a young Chechen woman, Elza Kungaeva. The postponement was made... MORE