Robert Parsons

Also by Robert Parsons

• February 02, 2006

  Is Putin Looking To Impose Solutions To Frozen Conflicts?

  Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his recent Kremlin press conference that there is a need for "universal principles" to settle "frozen" conflicts.

• February 01, 2006

  Georgia, Armenia Consider Options After Russia Pipeline Explosions

  Russia has repaired its damaged pipeline to Georgia and Armenia but the political and economic reverberations continue.

• January 25, 2006

  Council Of Europe Condemns Chechnya Human Rights Violations

  The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today delivered a stinging rebuke to Russia for its record on human rights abuse in Chechnya. In a resolution adopted by the assembly, it condemned what it called the excessively harsh behavior of the Russian security forces, numerous human rights violations, and the climate of impunity in which the security forces operated. It also urged the Council of Ministers to restart monitoring of human rights abuses in Chechnya.

• January 24, 2006

  Georgia: Council Of Europe Warns Tbilisi Of Democratic Challenges Ahead

  The Council of Europe has said Georgia's period of grace after the Rose Revolution is over (AFP) The Council of Europe today hailed the achievements of the Georgian government over the last year but warned too of many problems that remain to be overcome. The resolution passed by the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) said that post-revolutionary euphoria has given way to more pragmatism but also warned that Georgia is still only at the beginning of its path to democratisation and that major challenges lie ahead.

• January 17, 2006

  Is Russia Changing Course On Iran?

  Russia, after months of dismissing a possible UN Security Council referral for Iran, has begun to signal a change of course. President Vladimir Putin said in Moscow on 16 January that there was little dividing Russia from the European Union and the United States on the issue of Iran's decision to resume uranium enrichment activities. But how far is Moscow prepared to go? Does it still believe there is mileage in the Russian proposal to enrich uranium on Russian soil for Iranian use?

• January 13, 2006

  Opposition Faces Harassment, Abuse

  With two weeks left to collect the voter signatures needed to add candidates' names to the ballot, opposition canvassers complain of routine harassment by the authorities.

• January 12, 2006

  Who's Afraid Of Gazprom?

  Moscow's monopoly of Russian energy supplies and domestic distribution is all but complete, but the Kremlin appears to want more. Gas pipelines in Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia are in Gazprom's sights.

• January 10, 2006

  Turkey's Neighbors Tighten Borders As Alarm Mounts

  As the number of human cases of bird flu rise in Turkey, neighboring countries are tightening border controls, looking carefully for signs of the disease, and preparing to fight bird flu. But despite those efforts, the EU has banned poultry imports from them.

• January 06, 2006

  A Return To Old Ways?

  After 70 years in the wilderness, the rhythms and festivals of the Eastern Rite and Orthodox churches are reclaiming their place at the heart of the culture and life of Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere.

• December 23, 2005

  Police Don Santa Suits To Boost Image, Public Security

  Police in Minsk are dressing up as Ded Moroz, or Grandfather Frost -- donning red suits, white beards, and their police badges -- and calling on citizens at home to discuss safety issues.

• December 09, 2005

  Russia: New International Channel Ready To Begin Broadcasting

  Will Russia Today succeed in presenting a more positive image of Russia? (AFP) Russia begins broadcasting a new 24-hour English-language satellite TV news channel on Saturday, aimed at presenting a more positive image of Russia abroad. The channel, which is called Russia Today, can be seen throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. According to its directors, the channel will aim to reflect Russia's position on the main international issues of the day and seek to inform viewers about Russian life.

• December 06, 2005

  Putin Backtracks On NGO Bill

  Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his chief of staff to draft amendments to a controversial bill on nongovernmental organizations after the Council of Europe expressed reservations about its content.

• December 05, 2005

  Pro-Kremlin Party Wins Landslide In Moscow Election

  The pro-Kremlin Unified Russia party has won a resounding victory in Moscow's City Duma election. Preliminary results show Unified Russia taking around 46 percent of the vote in a contest seen as a dress rehearsal for national parliamentary elections in 2007.

• December 02, 2005

  Security Bill To Criminalize Range Of Political Activities

  A tough new security bill is moving through parliament that, among other things, would make it a criminal offense both to discredit Belarus's standing abroad and to train people to take part in street demonstrations.

• November 28, 2005

  Armenia's Referendum

  Early results from Armenia's 27 November referendum on constitutional change suggest overwhelming support -- but opposition leaders insist the figures were rigged.

• November 25, 2005

  Vote Marks Final Stage In 'Normalization Plan'

  If Russian President Vladimir Putin is to be believed, today's Chechen elections provide proof that the war against the Chechen resistance is truly over.

• November 23, 2005

  Opposition Calls For Referendum Boycott

  Armenia votes on 27 November in a referendum on constitutional changes that the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the United States describe as vital to the future of reform. But the opposition is calling for a boycott of the vote and is urging Armenians to demonstrate in protest against the government instead. Opposition leaders say the issue for them is not so much constitutional change as regime change. Could Armenia go the same way as Georgia and Ukraine and add another chapter to the history of the "colored revolutions," or is the government strong enough to emerge triumphant from the constitutional vote?

• November 18, 2005

  Lawmakers To Blacklist Russian Politicians

  Deputies in the Georgian parliament say they are drafting a list of Russian politicians who will be banned from entering the country.

• November 16, 2005

  Opposition Struggles To Keep Momentum

  The opposition and independent candidates are challenging the government's claim that elections were democratic, but their efforts are failing to generate widespread popular support.

• November 15, 2005

  The Kremlin Reshuffle

  The promotion of two key allies of Vladimir Putin has led to speculation in Moscow that the Russian president is preparing the way for a successor in 2008.

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