Sergei Danilochkin

Also by Sergei Danilochkin

• April 02, 2004

  Russia: Authorities Close Ingush Camp, But Call Returns To Chechnya Voluntary

  One of two remaining camps in Ingushetia housing internally displaced persons from Chechnya was closed yesterday. The authorities are trying to encourage Chechens to return to their homeland, claiming the situation there is improving.

• April 01, 2004

  Uzbekistan: After Days Of Bombings And Armed Clashes, Citizens Remain Wary

  More than 40 people are reported to have been killed in Uzbekistan since 28 March in a wave of bombings and clashes that authorities are blaming on Islamic militants. What is the mood in the capital, Tashkent, and how are ordinary Uzbeks reacting to the violence?

• March 31, 2004

  Iraq: Violence Flaring In Normally Peaceful South

  Fresh violence in southern Iraq is shattering the relative calm the region had been enjoying.

• March 26, 2004

  Russia: Presidential Candidate Khakamada Forms Her Own Party

  Irina Khakamada, the sole woman candidate in this month's Russian presidential elections, has announced her departure from her longtime party, the Union of Rightist Forces (SPS) and the creation of her own party, to be called Free Russia. Her move comes at a time when Russia's opposition parties are seeing their influence on the wane.

• March 25, 2004

  Russia: Nuclear Warship Docked After Navy Chief Voices Safety Concerns

  One of Russia's leading warships, the nuclear-powered "Peter the Great" missile cruiser, has been temporarily docked following critical remarks by the Russian navy chief regarding the ship's maintenance. Vladimir Kuroyedov said the cruiser was in such poor condition that the possibility of a nuclear accident could not be ruled out. He later retracted the statement, prompting some observers to speculate his comments were motivated more by politics than safety concerns.

• March 23, 2004

  Uzbekistan: Azerbaijani President Receiving Warm Welcome

  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived today in Uzbekistan for a two-day state visit. He is meeting with President Islam Karimov and other top Uzbek officials and participating in many ceremonies, including the inauguration of an Azerbaijani cultural center. What explains Aliyev's warm welcome in Uzbekistan?

• March 22, 2004

  Russia: In A Political Season, Are The Challenges Of Russia's Mass Media Unique?

  International monitors of the Russian presidential election on 14 March say that the voting was generally well-administered and reflected the consistently high approval rating of the incumbent, Vladimir Putin. At the same time, they say the race lacked the elements of a genuine democratic contest, and criticized media coverage for failing to present an unbiased view of all the candidates. But such accusations plague many political races -- not only those in Russia.

• March 15, 2004

  Iraq: In Kirkuk, Triumph And Concern As Basic Law Moves Toward Future

  The mood is mixed among the different ethnic communities of the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk following the signing of the country's transitional governing law. Kurds, who claim to be the dominant group in the area, have high hopes their wish for broader autonomy will become part of Iraq's permanent legislation, and aspire to see the region included in a Kurdish-controlled zone. But other groups -- Turkomans and Arabs -- are more cautious, and want to see their rights protected as the future of the region is determined.

• March 12, 2004

  Russia: Moscow, Qatar In Heated Standoff Over Yandarbiev Assassination

  Tensions are rising between Russia and the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, which are engaged in a heated standoff over the fate of two Russian special agents detained in connection with last month's assassination of former Chechen separatist President Zelimkhan Yandarbiev. Moscow says the two men are innocent and is demanding their release. But Qatar -- which recently passed legislation mandating the death penalty in all murder cases -- is standing firm.

• March 02, 2004

  Kazakhstan: Astana Denies Links To Nuclear Smuggling Network

  Authorities in Kazakhstan deny the country's involvement in any international nuclear-technology-smuggling network. A company suspected of playing a role in the transfer of nuclear secrets and materials from Pakistan to Iran, Libya, and North Korea was reported to have offices in Almaty and Baku, Azerbaijan. That triggered speculation about a nuclear black market in these two former Soviet republics.

• March 01, 2004

  Putin Nominates Fradkov As Prime Minister

  Moscow, 1 March 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today nominated Mikhail Fradkov as the country's new prime minister.

• February 25, 2004

  Russia: Putin's Dismissal Of Government Raises More Questions Than It Answers

  Yesterday's decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismiss his government -- just three weeks before the presidential election -- took many politicians and analysts by surprise. Putin says the move reflects a shift in Kremlin policies. But observers say it is difficult to tell what impact the change will have on Russia's future.

• February 19, 2004

  Belarus: Moscow And Minsk Back Down From Gas Crisis As Temporary Supplies Resume

  Prague, 19 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Russian energy officials today announced they are resuming short-term gas supplies to Belarus, temporarily easing a severe political crisis between Moscow and Minsk following yesterday's cut-off.

• February 17, 2004

  Russia: Yukos Shareholders Offer To Sell Shares To Free Jailed Executives

  Major Yukos shareholders have made a bold offer, saying they would considering selling their shares in Russia's biggest oil company in exchange for freeing top executives in prison. Yesterday's offer made big news, but authorities in Russia appear to be giving it a pass. RFE/RL's Sergei Danilochkin reports that officials are unlikely to accept any offer that -- on its face -- looks like a ransom payment.

• February 16, 2004

  Russia: Probe Begins Into Construction, Maintenance Of Collapsed Moscow Water Park

  Russian emergency crews today called off search-and-rescue operations at the site of a Moscow water park, where a roof collapse over the weekend killed at least 25 people. Dozens were injured, and up to 17 are still missing. City authorities have launched an investigation into the disaster and have suspended the licenses of two companies involved in the building's creation.

• February 11, 2004

  Russia: Security Services Looking For Broader Powers In Wake Of Subway Bombing

  In the wake of last week's bombing on the Moscow subway, which killed at least 39 people, Russian security services are demanding broader powers and harsher punishments to more effectively fight terrorism. They point to the controversial USA Patriot Act of 2001 as an example of the type of national security reforms they, too, are seeking.

• February 06, 2004

  Russia: After a Long, Hard Winter, Yukos Sees Its Prospects Improving

  It's been a tough couple of months for Russia's Yukos oil giant. But there may be light at the end of the tunnel. The company's stock is rising on the news that it will not go through with a questionable merger with the Sibneft oil company. And yesterday, a former top manager for Yukos walked away from his tax-evasion conviction with a far lighter sentence than the prosecution had sought. Analysts say the company's position is on the rise. But is Yukos still the same company it was since the arrest and resignation of its charismatic CEO, Mikhail Khodorkovskii?

• February 03, 2004

  Iraq: Now That Saddam's Gone, Iraqis Are Free To Travel the World -- At Least In Theory

  Many Iraqis want to travel abroad for business, education, and leisure. Under Saddam Hussein, the ability to travel internationally was limited by the authorities. Now, although such restrictions are no longer in place, Iraqi citizens still face major problems when planning a journey abroad.

• January 16, 2004

  Iraq: Bremer To Meet Bush Amid Opposition To Handover Plan

  Prague, 16 January 2004 (RFE/RL) -- The top U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, is due to meet President George W. Bush at the White House today to discuss Washington's plans for the handover of power.

• January 14, 2004

  Iraq: Authorities Announce New De-Ba'athification Measures

  Iraqi authorities have unveiled new plans to purge more members of Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party from government and other jobs. Official accounts say so far about 28,000 party members have already been ousted. Iraqi politicians say as many more may soon follow.

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