Russia and India have engaged in a virtual love-fest over the past two weeks, as officials from the two countries used a series of high-level meetings in Moscow to boost bilateral relations and to build diplomatic momentum for Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to... MORE

Common Russian-Indian positions and the desire to boost relations were also highlighted during a five-day visit which Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes made to Russia on June 26. Indeed, a meeting between Fernandes and Russian President Vladimir Putin was described by diplomatic sources as "unprecedentedly... MORE

Demonstrating yet again the overwhelming advantages which incumbency confers on Russia's regional leaders, Konstantin Titov was re-elected governor of Samara Oblast on July 2 (RTR, July 2). Titov stepped down in April, six months before his term was officially due to end, because he had... MORE

On June 27 Russian diplomat Valery Nikolayenko, general secretary of the CIS Collective Security Council, presented Moscow's version of decisions adopted at the latest meetings of that council and of the defense ministers of countries signatory to the CIS Collective Security Treaty. Those countries are:... MORE

On June 28, Kazakhstan's parliament voted to ratify a set of bilateral intergovernmental agreements on the lease and use of military testing ranges in Kazakhstan by Russia. The ranges are: Sary-Shagan in the south of the country, Emba in the west, the "929th Flight-Testing Center"... MORE

A series of truck bombings, apparently the work of Chechen rebels, have killed at least twenty-five Russian servicemen and wounded eighty-one in the town of Argun late Sunday evening. According to eyewitness reports, the truck, a Russian-made KamAZ, blew up near a dormitory housing Interior... MORE

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has delivered an official note of protest to the embassy of Saudi Arabia connected to statements made by the Saudi state secretary about Chechnya during the Islamic conference of foreign ministers that recently took place in Malaysia. The Russian... MORE

President Vladimir Putin has reportedly spoken in favor of rehabilitating the hymn of the Soviet Union. That, at least, was the claim made today by Segodnya, the daily newspaper published by Media-Most, the media holding run by Vladimir Gusinsky, who was recently arrested and remains... MORE

Moscow intensified diplomatic efforts last week aimed at winning for itself a greater role in the accelerating Korean peace process, as Russian diplomats hosted visits by official delegations from both North and South Korea. Last week's contacts follow in the wake of the Kremlin's announcement... MORE

On June 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin elevated Vyacheslav Trubnikov to a specially created post as overseer of Moscow's policy toward CIS countries. Trubnikov--a four-star general--will be first deputy minister of foreign affairs, with the title of federal minister, full cabinet rank and the mandate... MORE