Latest Articles about The Caucasus
RUSSIAN ENERGY SUPPLY CUTOFF TO GEORGIA: ANOTHER WAKE-UP SIGNAL TO THE WEST
At 2:52 and 3:15 AM, Moscow time, on January 22, TNT bomb explosions in Russia's North Ossetia damaged the North Caucasus-South Caucasus main pipeline and Mozdok-Tbilisi auxiliary pipeline that supply Georgia (and Armenia through Georgia) with gas. At 11:50 AM that same day, another TNT... MORE
GAS FROM IRAN TO BREAK GAZPROM’S MONOPOLY IN ARMENIA
Moscow's intention to double the price of gas supplies to Armenia (see EDM, January 17) vindicates Yerevan's decision to de-monopolize the market by importing gas from Iran. Armenia thus becomes the first among formerly Soviet-ruled countries (outside Central Asia) to diversify its supply sources away... MORE
AZERBAIJAN WORRIED OVER POTENTIAL SANCTIONS OR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN
Iran's recent decision to resume nuclear fuel research has sparked a strong reaction from the United States, the European Union, and even Tehran's traditional ally, Russia. It also brought back the question of referring Iran to the UN Security Council, which could eventually lead to... MORE
CHANGES IN GEORGIAN MEDIA INDUSTRY REFLECT POLITICAL INFIGHTING
On January 4, two leading Georgian private television companies announced a merger, suggesting to analysts that these changes in the country's media industry reflect domestic political jockeying. According to the deal, most likely concluded behind tightly closed doors, the owner of Rustavi-2 TV has bought... MORE
ARMENIA GAINS SHORT REPRIEVE FROM 100% PRICE HIKE ON RUSSIAN GAS
At a December 16, 2005 meeting in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Gazprom's top management informed Armenian President Robert Kocharian that the price of gas supplies to Armenia would rise from the existing level of $54 to $56 per 1,000 cubic meters to $110,... MORE
ARMENIAN OLIGARCH MAKES BID FOR POWER WITH NEW POLITICAL PARTY
Armenia's arguably wealthiest government-connected businessman has caused a stir in the domestic political arena by setting up a new party with far-reaching political ambitions. Gagik Tsarukian appears to have enlisted the support of prominent public figures and even an opposition leader for his bid to... MORE
RESIDENTS ANGRY AS AZERBAIJAN HIKES GASOLINE PRICES
The new year has brought new economic surprises for the average Azerbaijani citizen. The Council on Tariffs decided on January 6 to double the price of diesel fuel (from 20 cents per liter to 40 cents), giving it the same price tag as regular gasoline.... MORE
RUSSIAN GENERALS WARN OF NEW REBEL OFFENSIVE IN THE NORTH CAUCASUS
Less than three months after the rebel attack on the city of Nalchik, the capital of the republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in the North Caucasus, the Russian military command has again begun to talk about new rebel attacks. On January 8, Sergei Topchy, deputy commander of... MORE
SAAKASHVILI GOVERNMENT CRACKS DOWN ON PRISON MAFIA
A wave of strikes by inmates at prisons across Georgia is part of the criminal world's carefully crafted plan to resist government efforts to assert their authority in the penal system. The first strike began on December 24 in Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city, and... MORE
IS ALIYEV GOVERNMENT MEDDLING IN AZERBAIJAN’S BUSINESS SECTOR?
The post-parliamentary election period in Azerbaijan was marked by an unusually harsh crackdown on a group of high-profile businessmen. Foremost, the assets of the country's largest private oil company, Azpetrol, were stripped from its owner, Rafik Aliyev, who had been arrested even before the November... MORE