ECONOMIC PRESSURES SEEN BEHIND CIS INTEGRATION.

The power of markets rather than the political pressure from Moscow will lead to a reintegration of the former Soviet republics, Vladimir Abarinov wrote in the May 30 Segodnya. Abarinov said that “normal market principles” will do far more than Moscow politicians to draw the 11 non-Russian republics back under Russian control. Abarinov’s comments point to a new Russian strategy: the use of supposedly neutral economic pressures to achieve Moscow’s political ends.

Contract Soldiers Not Working Out.