Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov launched an official tour of Asia this week which began in North Korea on Wednesday and that brought him to Japan yesterday. He is scheduled to remain in Tokyo until Sunday (February 13), and then will continue on for two... MORE

On the first leg of his Asian tour, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov oversaw the February 9 signing of a Russian-North Korean "treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation." This document, which follows several years of negotiation and was first initialed in March of last year,... MORE

In another rebuff to liberals, the pro-Kremlin and KPRF factions in the State Duma voted to reject former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, a leader of the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS), and Yabloko's Vladimir Lukin, as deputy Duma speakers (Russian agencies, February 11). Earlier... MORE

Also today, the State Duma voted 233 to 77 to reject a proposal by the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) that the body take up the plight of missing Radio Liberty journalist Andrei Babitsky. The measure was opposed by the pro-Kremlin factions--Unity, People's Deputy, and... MORE

Russian officials continue to stick to the story that Radio Liberty correspondent Andrei Babitsky voluntarily agreed to be handed over to Chechen rebel commanders in exchange for Russian POWs. Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo said yesterday that Babitsky was being held in southern Chechnya, which is... MORE

On February 1, the Council on Language Policy--a blue-ribbon advisory group, empanelled by President Leonid Kuchma--approved a draft decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on "Measures to Enhance the Role of the Ukrainian Language as the State Language." The draft decision seeks to lend some... MORE

The recently named chairman of the Russian State Duma's Defense Committee suggested earlier this week that lawmakers are going to be in no hurry to ratify the START II strategic arms reduction treaty. The comments by Andrei Nikolaev, a retired Russian general who some think... MORE

In a brief foray into Russia's never-ending military reform debate, Acting Russian President Vladimir Putin told students at a meeting outside of Moscow two days ago (February 8) that Russia needs to further professionalize its army. As is the case with so much of what... MORE

Reports continue to circulate of large splits within the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) over the issue of whether to support Acting President Vladimir Putin both in the March 26 presidential vote and more generally. Many rank-in-file members of the parties and movements which joined... MORE

Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeev said yesterday that the main phase of the counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya's foothills and mountainous regions will begin in two days. The main focus of the operation, he said, will be the Argun and Vedeno gorges, where 5,000 to 7,000... MORE