Latest Articles about Russia
Yamadaev versus Kadyrov: a Sign of a Larger Battle Between the FSB and GRU?
Some Russian observers suggested this week that the latest accusations by Isa Yamadaev against Chechen President, Ramzan Kadyrov, may be part of a larger ongoing power struggle between two Russian intelligence agencies –the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the General Staff’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU).On... MORE
Jubilant Medvedev Praises Yanukovych and Threatens Lukashenka
Yesterday, Moscow achieved one of its most important long-term strategic goals –to secure a continued military presence in Ukraine by keeping its base in Sevastopol, Crimea. During a summit in Kharkov in Eastern Ukraine, Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Dmitry Medvedev signed a barter agreement that... MORE
Is a Russian-Uzbek Rapprochement in the Offing?
Uzbekistan is famous for its flexibility in maneuvering between Moscow and Washington. Most recently, President Islam Karimov has been the subject of overtures from the US and NATO to which he has responded positively. However, Moscow clearly intends to establish itself as Tashkent’s principal interlocutor... MORE
Russia’s Government-Sponsored Expert Community Reaches out to North Caucasus
On April 13 the Civic Chamber of Russia held preliminary hearings on its previous visits to Dagestan, Ingushetia, Karachaevo-Cherkessia and North Ossetia. Journalist Maxim Shevchenko, who is considered to be a Russian government loyalist, led the effort of the government-sponsored Civic Chamber to receive feedback... MORE
The Polish Revelation for Russia – and the Latin American Dream
Two distinct and remarkably dissimilar international events developed in parallel in Russian foreign policy over the last two weeks: rapprochement with Poland and networking in Latin America. The latter started with Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin’s, visit to Venezuela and continued with President, Dmitry Medvedev’s, official... MORE
Surgut Misfires Once More Against Hungarian MOL
For the second consecutive year, Russia’s Surgutneftegaz has failed to crash the door of the Hungarian MOL’s annual general meeting of its shareholders and the board of directors. The April 29 event seems set to consolidate MOL’s defenses against such predatory takeover tactics. MOL’s oil-refining... MORE
Caspian Littoral States Struggle to Forge Settlement
Russia has opted to support disarmament in the strategically important Caspian region, which is known to hold vast oil and gas resources. However, negotiations on the Caspian settlement continue as the littoral states apparently struggle to agree on crucial security and economic issues. Moscow “supports... MORE
Moscow Opens the Prospect of an Iranian Arms Embargo
After the signing of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START-3) in the Czech capital Prague with President, Barack Obama, last week, Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Washington for the two-day Nuclear Security Summit in a buoyant mood. Speaking in an often humorous tone at the... MORE
Suicide Attacks in Moscow Sparks Terrorism Debate in Turkey
The recent deadly bombings in the Moscow metro, followed by subsequent attacks in the North Caucasus, have had reverberations in Turkey. These developments sparked a debate on the troubled relationship between suicide bombings and Islam, while at the same time highlighting the unique position Turkey... MORE
Russia is Open for Nuclear Business in Asia
Although other issues have taken center stage recently, it is possible to discern in Moscow’s policies across Asia a renewed emphasis on the sale of nuclear reactors to interested Asian partners. This emphasis, of course, is not new. During 2007-2008 Moscow offered nuclear reactors to... MORE