The deadline Moscow set for the return of kidnapped General Gennady Shpigun expires today, and the Russian authorities have threatened a "complex" of actions against Chechnya if the general is not freed. Among these potential actions are airstrikes against alleged terrorists bases in the breakaway... MORE

On March 5 Ukrainian lawmakers easily overrode President Leonid Kuchma's veto on the law on presidential elections. The vote was 313-14, with 30 abstentions. The parliament did not agree to Kuchma's proposals that: --both public organizations and parties be allowed to nominate presidential candidates;--Ukraine be... MORE

Three allied conservative parties--the Pro Patria Union, the Reform Party, and the Moderates--won a total of 53 out of 101 parliamentary seats in Estonia's parliamentary election held yesterday. Pro Patria is led by former Prime Minister Mart Laar, the Reform Party by former foreign minister... MORE

In a follow-up move, Yeltsin instructed Russia's Foreign Ministry to forward his decision to the presidents of eleven CIS countries and have it endorsed by them. Yeltsin's cover letter asked the presidents to "forward the written approval without delay." On March 5 and 6, Yeltsin... MORE

Russian President Boris Yeltsin's unilateral decision to dismiss Boris Berezovsky from the post of CIS Executive Secretary and to appoint a replacement has little to do with Berezovsky's CIS activities. It is, rather, a direct consequence of Russia's internal political infighting, and marks the ascendancy... MORE

Cook's subsequent talks in Moscow and Sochi were reported to have dealt with a wide range of bilateral and international issues, including Russia's economic woes. On March 4 Cook met in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. Both sides... MORE

British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook wound up a three-day visit to Russia on March 5, during which Britain's chief diplomat held talks in Murmansk, Moscow and Sochi. The most noteworthy achievement of the visit appeared to be a pledge Cook made in Murmansk on March... MORE

Following President Boris Yeltsin's surprise firing of Boris Berezovsky last week from the post of Commonwealth of Independent States executive secretary, a number of observers interpreted the sacking as the prelude to a shake-up in the Russian cabinet. According to this theory, Yeltsin, in order... MORE

A flurry of charges and countercharges fell on Moscow and Djohar (formerly Grozny) over who kidnapped Gennady Shpigun. Russian Interior Minister Sergei Stepashin said in a television interview aired yesterday evening that Shamil Basaev, the wartime field commander who served as Chechnya's premier before going... MORE

Tensions have escalated dramatically between the Russian government and the Chechen republic in the wake of the March 5 kidnapping of General Gennady Shpigun, the Russian Interior Ministry's representative in the breakaway republic. Shpigun was taken from his jet at the Djohar (formerly Grozny) airport... MORE