Despite Multiple Troubles, Russia Continues Its Pressure Against Georgia
One might expect that while Russia’s political, diplomatic, military and economic resources are tied down in its protracted war in Ukraine, the Kremlin would have difficulty focusing on other regions within the post-Soviet space. But even a casual glance at Russia’s recent activities in Georgia immediately dispels such assumptions....
North Caucasus Economic Woes Likely Due to the Shrinking Role of the Central Government
In February, the Arbitration Court of North Ossetia declared the Vladikavkaz Thermal Networks joint stock company insolvent and put in under external management until June 1, 2015. Vladikavkaz Thermal Networks is a monopolistic public utilities management company in North Ossetia’s capital, Vladikavkaz. The company owed overall over $12...
Ukraine Has Escaped Financial Meltdown—But Challenges Lie Ahead
The desperate financial crisis that Ukraine faced in February has been lifted temporarily by recent positive actions in Kiev. Ukraine is far from out of the woods, but it has bought time to undertake the reforms that its new government appears committed to carrying out. RealTime post by Anders Åslund. …read more Source: Peterson Institute...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 3 March 2015
This report is for media and the general public. The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. The SMM, based on its monitoring – which was restricted by third parties and by security considerations – assessed the security situation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as...
Russian aggression against Ukraine and the West’s policy response
Introduction Mr. Chairman, Senator Shaheen, distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the U.S. and West’s policy response. What began as an internal Ukrainian political dispute became a Ukraine-Russia crisis in early 2014. Since then, Moscow has used...
Russia after the Nemtsov murder
Boris Nemtsov’s murder may be a turning point in current Russian history. Unfortunately, it is almost surely not a turn to the better, but one to something bad or to something even worse. This point needs to be made clear from the beginning. It is an illusion to think that this event will lead to anything positive, such as a backlash in the...
Croatian President Tempers Rhetoric for Sarajevo Visit, Hungary Classifies Details of Russian …
Plus, more outbreaks of mystery diseases in Kazakhstan and traces of a dictator vanish from a Russian gulag camp where thousands toiled on his orders. …read more Source: Transitions Online...
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug to visit Vienna
KYIV/VIENNA, 04 March 2015 – The Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Alexander Hug, will visit Vienna, Austria, on 5-6 March. During the visit Alexander Hug will be available for individual media interviews on the Mission’s monitoring of the implementation of the Minsk package, latest activities,...
The Battle of the Fifth Columns
On February 17–18, the president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Sir Suma Chakrabarti, paid a visit to Minsk and met with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka (ONT, February 17). This was the first trip by an EBRD president to the Belarusian capital since the mid-1990s. On February 20, Belarus also hosted Edgars...
Looking at the Crisis in Ukraine through Russia’s Eyes
Colorado’s Honorary Consul General to Russia Deb Palmieri sought to challenge the West’s perception of the situation in Ukraine at a recent Fireside Chat and Reception at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado. …read more Source: Aspen...
