Latest Articles about Middle East
GAZPROM’S CRISIS OF OVERGROWTH
Gazprom, Russia's almighty monopoly producer, distributor, and exporter of natural gas, is in serious trouble. Its directors' meeting on January 26 was expected to reveal the bitter disagreements about the current budget and investment program that have been smoldering since last autumn (Gazeta.ru, January 26).... MORE
SECURITY FORCES AND MILITANTS SHOOT IT OUT IN NALCHIK
Russian special forces backed by armored personnel carriers battled for more than five hours on January 27 with suspected Islamic militants holed up in two apartments in a building in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. Seven people, including three women, died in the shoot-out, which followed a two-day... MORE
BAGAPSH, KOKOITI, SMIRNOV TOUCH BASE IN MOSCOW
On January 25-27, senior Russian officials conferred in Moscow with Igor Smirnov, Eduard Kokoiti, and Sergei Bagapsh and Raul Khajimba, Russian-installed leaders of Transnistria, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia, respectively. Although their schedule of meetings was kept confidential, there was official confirmation of meetings with First... MORE
KREMLIN POLITICAL REFORMS FACE FIRST REAL CHALLENGES
On January 1 a new law came into force, whereby Russia's regional executive leaders will be appointed by the president rather than elected directly by the people. The people's voice will only be able to sway local parliaments, but even this influence will be limited... MORE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IN DISARRAY
Some observers continue to hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin's centralization of power will at least produce more effective economic decision-making, along the lines of South Korea in the 1960s. Alas, that does not seem to be the case. The government of Mikhail Fradkov, who... MORE
BASHAR ASSAD COMES TO MOSCOW, SEEKING GIFTS
Earlier this month a scandal broke out when it became known that Moscow was planning to sell Syria the Iskander-E and Igla anti-air missiles (see EDM, January 17). Rumors of this sale prompted first Israel and then America to publicly warn Russia about disturbing the... MORE
KREMLIN WARY OF EMERGING KYIV-TBILISI AXIS
Russian analysts are growing uneasy over what they see as a nascent geostrategic relationship between the "post-revolutionary" governments of Georgia and Ukraine. Moscow is wary that pro-Western leaders in Kyiv and Tbilisi will weaken its geopolitical dominance in the former Soviet lands by challenging Russia-led... MORE
WHILE PENSIONERS PROTEST, BUREAUCRATS THRIVE
As demonstrations against the Kremlin's benefits reform continue, some opponents of the changes have noted that while millions of pensioners, war veterans, and invalids have seen their in-kind social benefits replaced by meager cash payments ranging from $5 to $55 a month, the changes have... MORE
PUTIN’S ERODING SUPPORT BASE
Putin's extraordinary approval ratings have become a constant in the multi-variable equations of Russian politics; it is quite possible that they would remain up in the 60% range even after the January protests. Analysts have long argued about the real value of this popularity and... MORE
KREMLIN USES MIX OF OIL AND WEAPONS TO RESOLVE FAR EASTERN BORDER DISPUTES
Moscow has offered Japan and China different packages to improve bilateral relations. Russia and Japan remain divided by the Kuril territorial dispute, despite recent moves to mend differences through energy cooperation. Meanwhile, Moscow has so far refrained from large-scale commitments in energy ties with China... MORE