The Clinton administration announced on February 23 its opposition to a new plan whereby Russia will undertake an expanded role in the construction of Iran's controversial Bushehr nuclear power plant. The new plans were announced by Russian Atomic Energy Minister Viktor Mikhailov on February 18.... MORE

President Boris Yeltsin marked Russia's February 23 military holiday -- formerly Red Army Day and now Defender of the Fatherland Day -- by laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin wall. In brief remarks to Russian servicemen, Yeltsin said... MORE

The newspaper Russky telegraf reports that the Russian Communist Party is thinking of backing a non-Communist candidate in the 2000 presidential election. The newspaper says that Communist Party strategists have no illusions about party leader Gennady Zyuganov's lack of charisma and are well aware that,... MORE

Potential foreign and local investors in Kazakhstan's oil and gas sector say they are undeterred by Prime Minister Nurlan Balgimbaev's announcement that Kazakhstan was "suspending" privatization in the energy sector. (February 16) Balgimbaev announced on February 10 that the government wanted more time to choose... MORE

The Minsk Regional Court is currently trying Ales Shidlovski, 19, and Vadim Lobkovich, 16, accused of defacing public buildings and offending against the state flag. The two members of the Belarusan Popular Front's youth wing had hoisted the banned national flag on public buildings and... MORE

Addressing a congress of the governing Union of Citizens of Georgia, President Eduard Shevardnadze expressed certainty that the recent attempt against his life and the hostage seizure in western Georgia were "planned in Moscow." "I do not mean Boris Yeltsin, but forces in Moscow who... MORE

Crimea's First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Safontsev died yesterday as a result of wounds received in a February 5 assassination attempt. (UNIAN, February 23) Within the Crimean government, Safontsev was in charge of trade, foreign economic ties, the defense industry, energy and privatization. No one... MORE

Reacting to Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov's latest statements in Sevastopol, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that territorial claims on behalf of Russia "play on the pseudopatriotic sentiments of certain sections of Russia's population" and constitute a "dangerous adventure." The Ministry observed that Luzhkov was not... MORE

A presidential decree issued on February 5 seeks to change these incentives by waiving import duties for auto firms that invest at least $250 million in production (as opposed to assembly) facilities in Russia. This was followed by the February 11 signing of a deal... MORE

On February 23, Chechnya observed the Day of National Revival. This day has been marked for the last four years, in memory of Stalin's deportation of the Chechens and Ingush in 1944. In Grozny, a military parade was held in which some two thousand National... MORE