: :inin Kyiv (EET)

Section: The Jamestown Foundation (USA)

      Is Moscow Preparing for a New War Against Georgia?
      Mar24

      Is Moscow Preparing for a New War Against Georgia?

      President Vladimir Putin has been organizing so many military exercises in so many parts of the Russian Federation (see EDM, March 19)—a process that has required Moscow to shift units from one area to another—that it is virtually impossible to say just where he intends to use military force next. But there is one possible clue: A recent article...

      Two Summits and a Military Exercise
      Mar23

      Two Summits and a Military Exercise

      The postponed Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan summit took place last Friday (March 20) in Astana, but the program was cut so short that the only point for staging the event appeared to be to confirm President Vladimir Putin’s return to business as usual (Kommersant, March 21). Presidents Nursultan Nazarbaev and Alyaksandr Lukashenka spent more...

      Expert: North Caucasus May Start Exporting Instability to Other Parts of Russia
      Mar23

      Expert: North Caucasus May Start Exporting Instability to Other Parts of Russia

      A well-known Russian expert on the North Caucasus, Konstantin Kazenin, has warned that the paramilitary groups of North Caucasus leaders may end up destabilizing the Russian Federation. According to Kazenin, several leaders from the North Caucasus have created essentially private armies, which defend their patrons and improve their bargaining...

      Belarus: Economic Hardships and Diplomacy
      Mar23

      Belarus: Economic Hardships and Diplomacy

      Belarus has once again entered rough economic waters. In 2015, economic growth will likely be absent (Naviny.by, February 5). In January 2015, industrial output equaled just 93.8 percent of that in January 2014. All processing industries shrank except for chemicals, oil refining, potassium and pharmaceuticals. Inflation this year will likely...

      Reaching out to the Balkans: Expansion of Azerbaijan’s Defense Cooperation?
      Mar20

      Reaching out to the Balkans: Expansion of Azerbaijan’s Defense Cooperation?

      The March 10–14 visit by Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov to Croatia and Slovenia attracted little attention in the local media. However, various background developments in the wake of these meetings—held to discuss the potential directions of bilateral military cooperation (Mod.gov.az, March 11)—suggest that the trip should perhaps...

      Kadyrov’s Future Hangs in the Balance After Nemtsov Murder
      Mar19

      Kadyrov’s Future Hangs in the Balance After Nemtsov Murder

      Chechen involvement in the murder of the prominent Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, on February 27, was considered one of the most probable versions of what happened from the outset of the official investigation. However, the arrest of Chechen suspects by the Russian Drug Control Agency (Gosnarkokontrol) in Ingushetia (Rusplt.ru, March...

      Eurasia Daily Monitor — Volume 12, Issue 51
      Mar19

      Eurasia Daily Monitor — Volume 12, Issue 51

      This week (March 16–21), the Russian military began massive, “sudden” military exercises (“vnezapnaya proverka”). The authorities initially announced that the “sudden exercises” are intended to check out the battle readiness of Russia’s Northern Fleet and the possibility of reinforcing it with forces from other military districts. According...

      Is Belarus’s Name Recognition on the Mend?
      Mar18

      Is Belarus’s Name Recognition on the Mend?

      The word “Belarus” brings to mind few, if any, specific connotations for many in the West. Until recently, they did not associate significant positive developments with that country. But now, this situation is changing. One clearly significant development is the country’s growing export of software products. Throughout 2014, the overall...

      Ukraine to Negotiate New Contract With Gazprom
      Mar18

      Ukraine to Negotiate New Contract With Gazprom

      On March 20, Ukraine, the European Union and Russia plan to negotiate Gazprom’s natural gas deliveries to Ukraine after March 31, when the “winter package,” which was agreed upon at trilateral talks last October, expires (Eurointegration.com.ua, March 17). Russia says there is no need for a new agreement, suggesting Ukraine should simply...

      Leadership Change in Terek Cossack Military Points to Increasing Government Role
      Mar18

      Leadership Change in Terek Cossack Military Points to Increasing Government Role

      The Terek Cossack Military is undergoing profound changes as its leaders are systematically replaced with new figures, backed by the government. The change is especially visible in the largest part of the Terek Cossack force, the Stavropol region Cossack district. The previous ataman (chieftain) of the Stavropol branch, Alexander Falko, stepped...