The prime ministers of CIS countries, meeting on November 25 in Moscow, turned down CIS Executive Secretary Boris Berezovsky's plan to centralize the organization with himself at its head. Since his appointment by the Kremlin to the CIS post last April, Berezovsky has waged a... MORE

Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov announced after the meeting of CIS countries' prime ministers (see below) that the presidents' meeting is being rescheduled from December to January. On the same day, however, Moscow confirmed that Russian President Boris Yeltsin will meet with Belarusan President Alyaksandr... MORE

Russia, which has long been Baghdad's most steadfast backer on the UN Security Council, reportedly moved last week to block approval of a statement which would have accused Iraq of failing to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors. The statement, drafted by Britain and backed by... MORE

A career intelligence official has been named to head the Russian state arms export company, Rosvooruzhenie. The Kremlin announced on November 27 that Grigory Rapota, who most recently served as a deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council, will replace Yevgeny Ananev as Rosvooruzhenie director.... MORE

Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov and Interior Minister Sergei Stepashin have called for tougher measures against crime, including the "physical elimination" of criminals who offer armed resistance to the authorities. During a visit Saturday (November 28) to the Kemerovo region, Stepashin said: "If there are armed... MORE

Yavlinsky, for his part, stated categorically that Yabloko would not enter into a coalition with either Gaidar or Chubais. The Yabloko leader said Sunday that the new coalition was an "empty and useless venture," and that its initiators, who had six years in power to... MORE

A center-right political coalition initiated by Yegor Gaidar, leader of Russia's Democratic Choice and former acting prime minister, has gotten off to an inauspicious start. The new grouping, initiated last week following the murder of Galina Starovoitova and amidst calls to "unite the democrats," was... MORE

The Russian military command in Tajikistan disclosed yesterday that supporters of the rebel ex-Colonel Mahmud Hudoberdiev are regrouping in southwestern Tajikistan. A 240-strong rebel detachment has been spotted in the Shartuz district, situated near the point where the borders of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan intersect.... MORE

According to the senior presidential adviser on foreign policy, Aram Sarkisian, Armenia could join Russia and Iran in forming a "geostrategic axis of stability" in the South Caucasus and adjacent areas. "Neither Russia nor Iran have a potential for expansion, nor do they threaten the... MORE

More than 2,000 Minsk residents braved the severe cold and the police yesterday in staging a protest march against President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's autocracy. The demonstrators marked the second anniversary of the "referendum" through which Lukashenka arrogated dictatorial powers. Speakers at the rally recalled that the... MORE