In an apparent attempt to break the strategic deadlock now governing Russia's policies in Georgia and Moldova, some Moscow political pundits advocate a speedy recognition of the secessionist regions of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Trans-Dniester. To justify such a move, they advise putting the problem... MORE

The competition between Beijing and Tokyo for Eastern Siberia's natural resources has garnered increasing world media attention over the last six months. The latest iteration of the story has Japan prepared to supply nearly $10 billion to help support construction of an oil pipeline from... MORE

Nezavisimaya gazeta reported today (September 20) that in parallel with the Kremlin's restructuring of the country's system of governance in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks, the State Duma's Committee on Constitutional Law and State Construction is drafting legislation that would "restore the Soviet... MORE

In a sign of rising ethnic tensions in the wake of the Beslan school massacre, four people from the Caucasus were hospitalized after being beaten and stabbed in the late evening of September 18 by a group of up to 50 youths on the Moscow... MORE

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin was given the symbolic position of chairman of the CIS Council at the end of last week's summit in Astana, the gathering demonstrated that Russia has no coherent policy that would help it maintain a leadership position in the former... MORE

The last Soviet leader and the first post-Soviet Russian president have waded into the debate swirling around President Vladimir Putin's proposals to end popular elections for the governors in Russia's 89 regions and abolish State Duma seats for deputies elected in single-mandate constituencies. Gorbachev criticized... MORE

CIS heads of state gathered in Astana on September 15-16 for a scheduled Commonwealth of Independent States summit meeting. Such meetings usually serve as a forum that projects a semblance of former Soviet unity but renders few practical achievements. This meeting, however, witnessed renewed hopes... MORE

This week Moscow issued two landmark announcements. On Monday (September 13), President Vladimir Putin unveiled a radical restructuring of the political system that greatly increases executive authority. One day later, Gazprom's takeover of Rosneft was officially endorsed (see EDM, September 15). Many analysts detected a... MORE

The radical shakeup of Russia's system of power recently announced by President Vladimir Putin will further inhibit political pluralism. This shift away from democracy and toward more authoritarian practices will likely hinder Russia's long-term cooperation with the West, independent experts predict. This Russian retreat has... MORE

According to recent high-profile statements from the Russian political and military leadership, Russia is effectively at war with terrorists -- again. Many would argue that Russia has been at war with a form of terrorism in its ongoing decade-long conflict in Chechnya, officially portrayed as... MORE