Unlike Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, both of which moved ahead of Moscow to support American-planned antiterrorist efforts in the region, Tajikistan seems to be looking to Moscow for guidance. Publicly at least, the Tajik government has not offered overflight rights or other forms of support for... MORE

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has dismissed several of his bodyguards for beating a man to death. The case has political ramifications both internal and external. The incident occurred on the night of September 24-25 in Yerevan's Aragast pub, a favorite haunt of the president in... MORE

The wave of sweeping economic reform legislation that Russia has seen this year is likely to create unprecedented favorable conditions for sustained economic growth. The country now has a unique chance to catch up with its more successful Eastern European peers in the process of... MORE

On September 18, Russia's Federal Securities Commission (FSC) released the latest draft of its Corporate Governance Code, a much-awaited document likely to be instrumental in improving the country's investment climate. The new code is to be based on a set of international best practices. Although... MORE

Russia's federal budget revenues continued strong through July, amounting to 17.5 percent of GDP for the first seven months of 2001. The preliminary estimate by the Finance Ministry for the first eight months puts total revenues for that period at the same share of GDP.... MORE

International political developments are likely to have a significant effect on Russia's economy and public finances because the prices of oil, gas and other commodities may change significantly in the short- to medium-term. The draft 2002 federal budget is based on the assumption of an... MORE

In his televised September 24 speech, President Vladimir Putin not only laid out Russia's position on the U.S.-led international antiterrorism campaign, but gave an ultimatum to the Chechen rebels, demanding that they sever all links with international terrorist organizations and contact federal officials within seventy-two... MORE

President Vladimir Putin's hint in his September 24 speech that he would negotiate with Aslan Maskhadov if the Chechen rebels disarmed within seventy-two hours may have been aimed at pre-empting criticism from the West for escalating the military campaign in Chechnya. It is worth noting... MORE

Uzbek President Islam Karimov was the first among Central Asian leaders to have offered airspace and military bases for American-led antiterrorist operations. According to unconfirmed but persisting reports since September 22, U.S. planes and equipment with a small number of ground personnel have landed in... MORE

After nearly two weeks of apparent agonizing over the role Russia should seek in the rapidly evolving U.S.-led coalition against terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin took a measured step into the Western camp last night with a television address in which he set out a... MORE