It’s Time to Sharpen NATO’s ‘Spearhead’ Force
Funding issues and decision-making challenges may render obsolete NATO’s “spearhead” force, which was set up in response to Russia’s military aggression along its eastern flank. This is another critical gap for NATO given Russia’s ramped up pressure on Eastern Europe, a move that has many Alliance officials even more worried...
Ukrainian Media Speculate That Akhmetov, Boyko May Head Rebel-Occupied Provinces
Two years since Russia’s annexation of Crimea and Moscow’s initiation of the war in Donbas, the peace process in Ukraine is at a standstill. Moreover, there are fears that after a pullout from Syria, Moscow may mount a new offensive in Ukraine (Segodnya.ua, March 18). On the other hand, if Moscow decides to back away from all-out...
Attack in Grozny on Member of Presidential Council Forces Kremlin Response
On March 16, a well-known human rights activist, Igor Kalyapin, who heads the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, was attacked in Grozny, Chechnya. Soon after Kalyapin’s arrival in Grozny, the administration of the hotel where he was staying asked him to leave the premises. After the rights activist stepped out of the hotel, a mob...
Did Putin win in Syria? Or is he cutting his losses?
By Putin’s own definition, Russia won in Syria By Sergey Aleksashenko Pavel and I agree that while the withdrawal of Russian military power from Syria came as a surprise in the immediate sense, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to pull out was logical given the circumstances he faced in Syria. Where we differ is in our...
Russian Investigators Probe FlyDubai Crash
High winds, crew error, or a technical malfunction have all been suggested as causes for the south Russian disaster that killed 62. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
Two Years After Crimea: The Evolution of a Political Regime
The system, its leader, and the popular majority formed after Crimea will survive the 2018 presidential election. The existing regime is incapable of democratization. At the same time it is dangerous to ratchet up repression. The government is trying to encourage inertia, but this is becoming increasingly difficult after Crimea, Donbas, Syria,...
Where is Russia hiding Crimean political prisoner Oleg Sentsov?
Russian rights activists have called on colleagues, particularly in the Far East of Russia, to try to locate Crimean filmmaker and political prisoner Oleg Sentsov whose whereabouts have been unknown for over two weeks …read more Source: Kharkiv Human Rights Protection...
Experts from France and Greece Told How to Keep Ukraine on the EU Agenda
On March 16-17, the Institute of World Policy organized a study visit to Kyiv for two experts from France and Greece. At the meetings with the Ukrainian thoughts leaders they told about the perception of Ukraine and how to conduct an awareness campaign in the EU member states. …read more Source: Institute of World...
OSCE Chairmanship Special Representative Erler and Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group reiterate strong commitment to negotiated settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Vienna/Berlin, 20 March 2016 –Special Representative of the German Government for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler, together with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France, reiterated today their strong commitment to a...
Nadia Savchenko Guilty of Murder
Russian court verdict means the Ukrainian pilot could face 23 years in prison – or be swapped for captive Russian soldiers. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
