Latest Articles about The Caucasus
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HELD IN SOUTH OSSETIA
On September 21 Georgia organized an international conference within South Ossetia about that conflict. It was the first event of this type ever held in any post-Soviet conflict area, and it was held despite an attempt by the Russian military to stop it. Ambassadors and... MORE
ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT OPPOSITION UNDER FIRE AFTER KEY VOTE
The two opposition parties represented in the Armenian parliament are facing embarrassing accusations of secret collaboration with the government after effectively acquiescing to the reappointment of the country’s top prosecutor. The National Assembly overwhelmingly voted on September 13 to endorse President Robert Kocharian’s decision to... MORE
FRIENDS OF GEORGIA HOLD STRATEGY SESSION IN LITHUANIA
The New Friends of Georgia group of countries conferred in an enlarged and upgraded format on September 13-14 in Vilnius. This meeting shows that a strong nucleus of eight countries has developed within the European Union and NATO (alongside the United States in the latter... MORE
OIL MONEY TO FUND NGOs AND OPPOSITION PARTIES IN AZERBAIJAN
Different groups in Azerbaijan are clamoring for their share of the massive flow of oil revenue generated by the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Lobbying from the ministries for additional financial resources to complete new, massive projects is leading to a new era in Azerbaijani... MORE
RUSSIANS CLOSE TO BUYING ANOTHER MAJOR ARMENIAN ENTERPRISE
A Russian financial-industrial group looks set to acquire an Indian-owned company that develops the bulk of Armenia’s gold reserves. The deal, if it goes through, will give a further boost to Russia’s already strong economic presence in the South Caucasus states resulting from not only... MORE
REBELS CONCENTRATE FORCES IN MOUNTAIN AREAS OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS
This summer the rebels in the North Caucasus have intensified their activities. The militants are very active now in some areas and still quiet in others, but it is clear that preparations for future attacks are under way in republics such as Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia,... MORE
EXPERT REPORT ON MISSILE DROP IN GEORGIA LEAVES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
On August 12-14 in Georgia, an international group of experts investigated the circumstances of the August 6 Russian air incursion and missile drop on that country. Following the incident, Georgia called for an independent international investigation -- independent meaning that the experts would volunteer their... MORE
EVIDENCE ACCUMULATES ON RUSSIAN AIR INCURSION INTO GEORGIA
A growing body of evidence confirms that the aircraft that dropped a missile on Georgia on August 6 (see EDM, August 8) entered from Russia’s North Ossetia and returned there, Russian denials notwithstanding. Some confirmation even came from Russian sources at the scene initially, before... MORE
KREMLIN HOLDS NURGALIEV PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR NORTH CAUCASUS SECURITY
As rebel attacks on police increase across the North Caucasus, Moscow is stepping up its activities to prevent large-scale raids in Ingushetia, Chechnya, Dagestan, and Kabardino-Balkaria. Anti-terrorist drills are conducted around-the-clock, involving numerous military and police units (see EDM, August 1). The Kremlin has tapped... MORE
RUSSIAN DENIALS OF AIR RAID ON GEORGIA FLY IN THE FACE OF EVIDENCE
Two Sukhoi fighter-bombers with Russian Air Force markings, flying together from the direction of North Ossetia, intruded by some 80 kilometers into Georgia’s air space on August 6. At 18:20 local time, one of these planes dived from 3,000 meters altitude and dropped a missile... MORE