Latest Articles about The Caucasus
PUTIN, ALIYEV PREPARE FOR SUMMIT IN BAKU
The Kremlin has been working hard to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan, and President Vladimir Putin's upcoming trip to Baku is widely seen as a move designed to give bilateral relations yet another boost. Officially, Putin travels to Baku on Tuesday, February 21, for talks with... MORE
TWO-TRACK RESOLUTION — GEORGIA’S BEST OPTION ON PEACEKEEPING IN SOUTH OSSETIA
The Georgian parliament is debating the terms of a resolution that would instruct Georgia's government to demand the termination of Russia's "peacekeeping" operation in Georgia's Tskhinvali Region (South Ossetia). The parliament is acting pursuant to its October 11, 2005, resolution that had assessed this operation... MORE
SAAKASHVILI TRUMPETS SUCCESSES, WHILE OPPOSITION PLOTS “NETTLE REVOLUTION”
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address at the first meeting of the parliament's spring session on February 14. Like his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko, who in his February 9 address described his country as "the regional leader for integration processes" (EDM, February... MORE
MUSAVAT DECIDES TO JOIN NEW AZERBAIJAN PARLIAMENT
After weeks of mutual accusations and growing distrust, the founding members of Azerbaijan's largest opposition coalition Azadliq (Freedom) -- Musavat, Popular Front and the Democratic Party -- have filed for divorce. On February 9 Musavat officially announced its withdrawal from the bloc, due "to the... MORE
TBILISI CLAIMS TO HAVE THWARTED ATTEMPT ON SAAKASHVILI’S LIFE
A new wave of tension is erupting between Georgia and Russia after Tbilisi announced that on February 2 it had discovered a Russian-made "Igla" portable anti-aircraft missile in Kareli -- the district adjacent to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone. Georgian authorities suspect that the missile was... MORE
AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE INSURGENCY IN NORTH OSSETIA
On February 1 three homemade bombs exploded almost simultaneously in casinos and gambling clubs in the center of Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia. Two persons were killed and 25 wounded in the blasts. The republican prosecutor's office subsequently initiated criminal proceeding under the "terrorism"... MORE
MOSCOW KILLS BODEN PAPER, THREATENS TO TERMINATE UNOMIG IN GEORGIA
During his five-day visit to Germany, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told the press that Russia's process of self-definition includes the issue of recognizing where Russia's borders end. In Georgia's case, the unlawful presence of Russian troops within Georgia's borders represents the only real source of... MORE
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE DEFIANT HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Armenia's Office of the Human Rights Defender is facing an uncertain future after a government-engineered leadership change. The country's first human rights ombudsperson, Larisa Alaverdian, is set to be replaced by a staunch loyalist of President Robert Kocharian after two years of high-profile activities that... MORE
HEAD OF GEORGIA’S NATIONAL GUARD RESIGNS AFTER 10 DAYS
The Georgian armed forces anticipate two major challenges in 2006. First, Russian peacekeeping troops are expected to withdraw from the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Second, Georgia must redesign its defense system according to NATO standards if it hopes to join that organization.... MORE
U.S., RUSSIAN DEFENSE LEADERS COURT BAKU WITH INCENTIVE OFFERS
Several high-level foreign military dignitaries visited Baku in late January, indicating the start of a new global struggle over Azerbaijan. First came Charles Wald, deputy head of U.S. military forces in Europe, and then Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov followed him to Baku on January... MORE