Top headlines this week include: Russia harboring Bosnian war criminals, opposition lose heavily in Kyrgyz elections and details of a new Chamber, appointed by Putin of course, to oversee the Duma. (This...
Archive - March 2005
AndyRussia harbouring Bosnian war criminals?
The Guardian today claims that Russia is sheltering Bosnian war ciminals, including a number suspected of involvement in the Srebrenica massacre, from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. The...
Russia backs China over Taiwan
Following the passing of an anti-secession law by China directed at Taiwan, Russia has come out firmly on the side of China. "The law outlines the key priority of the Chinese government – peaceful...
Chechnya: Just who is in charge?
Abu Havs, or Abu Hafs, according to the Sunday Times is, with Shamil Basayev, in effective joint control of the Chechen rebel movement. Newly appointed leader Abdul-Khalim Sadulayev is merely a figurehead. Abu...
Chechnya: The economic cost
This Sam Vaknin article analyzes the economic costs to Russia of the war in Chechnya, which cannot be measured just in terms of money. However, even leaving aside the tens of thousands who have died over the last...
Kasparov swaps chess for politics
Garry Kasparov, probably the greatest chess player in the history of the game, has announced his retirement from professional competition. He now plans to focus his considerable energies on Russian politics...
Weekly News #12
A ‘President’ is killed in Chechnya, Communists win elections in Moldova, anti-government protests are held in both Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, and two Baltic Presidents thumb their noses at Russia. ...
Chechens name Maskhadov successor
Abdul-Khalim Sadulayev has been named as the successor to Aslan Maskhadov. Shamil Basayev has openly declared his support, as have both London-based Akhmed Zakayev, and Maskhadov’s son, also in exile. ...
Decision time in Chechnya
The death of Aslan Maskhadov, Chechnya’s rebel President, has handed Russia’s President Putin has a great opportunity to make moves towards a peace deal in Chechnya. Unfortunately for him, though, the...
Maskhadov – around the blogs
The blogs have been pretty quick to react to the killing of Chechnya’s rebel President, Aslan Maskhadov, by Russian troops earlier today (see here for my report of the news as it broke). Here’s a...