Latest Articles about South Caucasus
DESECRATION OF KORAN COULD PROVOKE ATTACK IN DAGESTAN
On March 3 Russian security officials swept through several villages in the Khasavyurt district of Dagestan, North Caucasus. According to RIA-Dagestan, "Officers of the Ministry of Interior Affairs [MVD] and the Federal Security Service [FSB] are combing the Khasavyurt area adjacent to Chechnya with the... MORE
NEWFOUND U.S. INTEREST IN AZERBAIJAN PROMISES MORE HEADACHES FOR BAKU
On March 13-14, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried and U.S. Special Negotiator for Eurasian Conflicts and U.S. Minsk Group co-chair Ambassador Steven Mann visited Azerbaijan for a two-day official trip. During their visit, the U.S. officials held talks... MORE
KOSOVO IMPEDES SETTLEMENT OF ABKHAZ SITUATION
Talk of possible independence for Kosovo, Serbia's separatist enclave, is markedly hampering the Georgian government's efforts to find a mutually acceptable model for the reintegration of its breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Abkhaz separatists argue that the possible recognition of Kosovo's independence strengthens... MORE
KARABAKH CONFLICT HANGS OVER GEORGIA’S ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGIONS
Tensions are running high in Tsalka and Akhalkalaki, two regions of Georgia that are predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians. The latest problem began in Tsalka on March 9, when a trivial brawl at a restaurant between local Armenians and Georgians resulted in the death of... MORE
AZERBAIJAN SIGNALS EASTWARD TILT WITH PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN
President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Japan on March 8 marks another milestone in Azerbaijan's slow re-orientation toward Asia. During the visit, he met with Japanese Emperor Akihito, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and the head of the Japanese International Development Agency... MORE
GEORGIAN POLICE CLAIM TO SOLVE HIGH-PROFILE MURDER
The Georgian Interior Ministry has announced that it has solved the killing of Sandro Girgvliani, the 28-year-old chief of the international relations division at the United Georgian Bank. On March 6, Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili told a news conference that four officers from the Interior... MORE
RULING PARTY CONTINUES TO LOSE GROUND IN AZERBAIJAN
Recent sweeping changes in the ministerial positions in Azerbaijan's government have brought a new dynamic to the country's internal political developments. Whereas these developments highlighted the growing and consolidating position of President Ilham Aliyev, they also revealed the fading role of the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan... MORE
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS PLANS TO BUILD NEW NUCLEAR PLANT
The Armenian government has pledged to press ahead with the realization of its extremely ambitious plans to build a new nuclear power station in place of the aging Metsamor plant, which is due to be shut down by 2016. Underlining the seriousness of its intentions,... MORE
MULTIPLE ISSUES MAKE OPPOSITION SEEM ATTRACTIVE TO GEORGIAN VOTERS
In recent weeks Georgia's ruling National Movement party has repelled attacks from opposition groups criticizing the government's policies in various fields. The opposition charges that Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili is teetering between illiberal democracy and liberal autocracy. Saakashvili's government is facing criticism over a... MORE
PUTIN IN AZERBAIJAN
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to Azerbaijan on February 21-22, presumably to inaugurate the "Year of Russia in Azerbaijan 2006" celebration, following the "Year of Azerbaijan in Russia 2005." While cordial, the atmosphere was far more sober than the love fest of... MORE