The Kremlin breathed an almost audible sign of relief April 9 when the numbers of workers joining the day of protest organized by Russia's trade unions turned out to be considerably lower than anticipated. Numbers were well down on those who joined in last year's... MORE

The Navy seems to have won a turf battle to see who will command the military forces on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East. Last week, Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Vladimir Kuroyedov announced a new joint force to be created later this year, built around... MORE

President Boris Yeltsin is expected to meet today with acting Prime Minister Sergei Kirienko to discuss tactics in the wake of last week's refusal by the State Duma to approve Kirienko as prime minister. Rejected by a vote of 186 to 143, Kirienko had needed... MORE

Long-term, the situation facing Russian oil looks even more grim. Output of crude oil fell from 400 million tons in 1992 to 302 million tons in 1997 (6.1 million barrels/day), while output of refined products similarly fell from 255 to 175 million. As production fell,... MORE

In response to a request from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, on April 8, acting First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov said Russia will cut crude oil exports by 2.3 percent as part of OPEC's efforts to stabilize the world price of oil. Just... MORE

In a report that will shed further doubt on Moscow's ability -- or intention -- to stop illegal defense technology exports, a Russian research group has concluded that more than 800 sophisticated gyroscopes for intercontinental ballistic missiles were shipped from Moscow to Iraq in 1995.... MORE

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced late last week that it had arrested three foreign citizens on charges of attempting to smuggle dual-use technology to Iran. The three, whose identity and nationality were not revealed, reportedly used several Russian private businesses as cover in trying... MORE

As detailed by Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Zhanybek Karibzhanov on April 6, the World Bank will extend a credit line of US $15 million to Kazakhstan's ailing agricultural sector. (Russian agencies, April 6) The aim is to assist newly privatized farms... MORE

On April 7, Tengizchevroil, the joint venture to develop Kazakhstan's giant Tengiz oilfield, marked five years since the beginning of its operations in Kazakhstan. The venture's shareholders are the U.S. companies Chevron and Mobil, with stakes of 45 and 25 percent respectively; Kazakhstan, with 25... MORE

Interviewed in yesterday's issue of the Moscow daily Izvestia, Armenian President-elect Robert Kocharian outlined his main terms for settling the Karabakh conflict. -- No subordination of Karabakh to Azerbaijan -- No enclave existence of Karabakh within Azerbaijan -- Reliable security guarantees to Karabakh A settlement... MORE