Vladimir Zhirinovsky yesterday expressed indignation over the shooting of Aleksandr Saidakov, leader of the Transdniester section of Zhirinovsky's party (see the Monitor, June 15). Interviewed on Russia's state radio network, the ultranationalist politician described the assault on Saidakov as a "commissioned political crime." Transdniester authorities... MORE

Azerbaijan and the international consortium involved in the multibillion dollar Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli project face more question marks over the reliability of the oil transit route via Russia. The consortium has recently signed an agreement with Russia's pipeline operator Transneft, a state monopoly, to transport "early" oil... MORE

Kazakhstan's pipeline operator Kazakhtransoil and China's Oil and Gas Industry Company (a subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation) signed yesterday in Almaty an agreement to prepare the technical and financial plan of an oil export pipeline from western Kazakhstan to China. The agreement envisages... MORE

Kazakhstan's new capital, Astana, was formally presented on June 10 to an audience of 1,500 foreign dignitaries and guests, but discussion continues over the motives for the move. Local observers question the choice of Astana, in terms of both its central location and the qualities... MORE

The events and guests chosen to mark the official presentation of Kazakhstan's new capital epitomized the country's geopolitical dilemmas. Two events were particularly striking: the summit of Turkic-speaking states on June 9 and the opening ceremony on June 10. Behind the pomp and ceremony, both... MORE

Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeev has accused NATO of failing to consult over the air exercises NATO plans to hold today in the South Balkans. Sergeev said that, when he visited NATO headquarters last week, he was given to understand that NATO was committed finding... MORE

At separate meetings in London and Brussels over the weekend, Russia joined with its Western partners in urging a stop to the escalating violence in the Serbian province of Kosovo. But Moscow likewise made clear its continuing opposition to any NATO military intervention in the... MORE

Meeting in London on June 12, foreign ministers from the Group of Eight agreed to halt non-humanitarian loans to India and Pakistan as a response to the nuclear tests recently carried out by the two South Asian countries. The seven leading industrial democracies and Russia... MORE

Gazprom President Rem Vyakhirev hit the media trail last week to head off possible steps to extract some of the US$700 million in back taxes his company owes. He called on the government to abandon its proposal to require Gazprom to pay taxes when gas... MORE

Miners from the Pechora, Rostov and Kuzbass coal mining regions picketed the Russian White House--seat of the government in Moscow--over the weekend. They are calling on the government to expedite payment of wage arrears, re-nationalize the coal mines and prevent the closure of unprofitable pits.... MORE