Latest Articles about The Caucasus
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
PUTIN-KOCHARIAN LOVE FEST CONCEALS REAL PROBLEMS
Russia's gas price hike to Armenia, demands for property in return for temporary price relief, supply cuts following the pipeline blasts in the North Caucasus, unilateral Russian announcements about adding weaponry to the Russian base in Armenia, and finally three murders of ethnic Armenians within... MORE
TBILISI TURNS TO TEHRAN TO BRIDGE ENERGY DEFICIT
The Russian-Georgian gas crisis following the January 22 explosion of two gas pipelines in Russian territory (see EDM, January 23) seemed to be resolved by a plan to deliver Russian natural gas through Azerbaijan. But on January 24 Georgian Energy Minister Nika Gilauri reported a... MORE
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