Latest Eurasia Daily Monitor Articles
DONETSK REGIONAL LEADER RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, VISIBLY TAMED
On August 2 the Kyiv Court of Appeals released from custody Donetsk regional council head Borys Kolesnykov. He is one of the two top representatives of the old corrupt elite that Ukrainian prosecutors have managed to catch since the Orange Revolution. Trans-Carpathia's former governor, Ivan... MORE
ARMENIAN NUCLEAR PLANT TO FUNCTION FOR ANOTHER DECADE
Armenia appears to have decided to keep its vital nuclear power station at Metsamor operational for another decade, despite persisting Western concerns about the safety of the Soviet-built facility. The authorities in Yerevan, reluctant to set a date for the plant's inevitable closure until recently,... MORE
U.S. REVIEWING OPTIONS IN CENTRAL ASIA
Faced with restrictions on the use of its air base in Uzbekistan and, now, an eviction notice (see EDM, August 4), the United States is looking for alternative or substitute basing options in the region. An active search had begun in the wake of the... MORE
ISSUES CLOUDING GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS BETWEEN MOSCOW AND HELSINKI
On August 1-2, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a quick visit to Finland. Relations between the two neighboring countries are in an excellent state now, and the level of bilateral cooperation is intense, Finnish President Tarja Halonen told a news conference in the city of... MORE
RUSSIA’S DISREGARD FOR JAPANESE INTERESTS MAY REDUCE JAPANESE ECONOMIC INVESTMENT
As Russian President Vladimir Putin looks toward a scheduled state visit to Japan November 20-22, the pace of bilateral diplomatic activity has recently quickened. The upswing in contacts is also related to the resumption of the six-party talks over North Korean nuclearization and Russia's efforts... MORE
YUSHCHENKO AND TYMOSHENKO CALL FOR CREATION OF PARLIAMENTARY MAJORITY
After Ukraine's parliament recessed for summer on July 8, the government issued a damning indictment of parliament and parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn for not facilitating the passage of legislation required for Ukraine to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the fall (kmu.gov.ua, July 8).... MORE
BASAEV INTERVIEW ENRAGES RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES
The interview with Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev that aired on American television on July 29 dealt a serious blow to the Kremlin. Russian authorities made desperate efforts to prevent the ABC television network from broadcasting the interview on its "Nightline" news program. The Russian Embassy... MORE
IS UZBEKISTAN BURNING ITS BRIDGES WITH THE U.S.?
On August 3, Uzbek state media announced that the government had asked the United States to vacate the Karshi-Khanabad air base and withdraw its military units from Uzbekistan. The government had delivered that request to the U.S. Embassy on July 29, but did not immediately... MORE
TERRORISM DOMINATES RUSSIAN SECURITY AGENDA
Senior Russian security officials are once again confirming the importance and priority of terrorism in Russia's domestic security agenda. A mixture of exercises, discussions, and initiatives to advance the interests of the Federal Security Service (FSB) has culminated in substantial increases for Russian spending on... MORE
TURKMENISTAN EXPLORES EXPORT ALTERNATIVES FOR ITS NATURAL GAS
Turkmenistan has been keen to expand the export markets for its abundant natural gas resources. Not surprisingly, Turkmen authorities have been eyeing China's lucrative energy markets, although pipelines to funnel Turkmen gas to China are still at the planning stage. Last month, Turkmen President Saparmurat... MORE