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Victor Yasmann

Also by Victor Yasmann

November 03, 2006
The Fiction And Fact Of Empire

In a new book by a well-known nationalist writer, a dynamic leader comes to power after winning a war against proud mountain-dwellers in the Caucasus.
October 19, 2006
Russia: Kremlin Sets Its Sights On Gambling

(RFE/RL) PRAGUE, October 19, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Speaker Boris Gryzlov has announced that the State Duma is set to consider the first reading of a new bill that would push the bulk of Russia's gambling halls into four Las Vegas-style "colonies."
October 16, 2006
Russia: Moscow's Shifting Policy Toward Georgia

Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia (ITAR-TASS) PRAGUE, October 16, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- As Russia begins to implement economic sanctions --> http://www.rferl.org/features/features_Article.aspx?m= 10&y=2006&id=8DF7034F-6CC5-42A6-A42B-92850EE39C63 against Georgia many in Georgia, Russia, and the West are asking: how far can Moscow go?
October 02, 2006
Georgia: Moscow's Next Step In Spy Row

A Georgian police officer escorts one of the detained Russian 'spies' today (InterPressNews) PRAGUE, October 2, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Even with the four arrested intelligence officers safely back in Russian hands, Moscow is likely to take a number of retaliatory measures.
October 02, 2006
Monarchist Nostalgia Remains Powerful

Interest in the Russian monarchy has always been high, and some in the political elite believe it could solve the perennial succession problem.
September 26, 2006
The Mysterious Three Whales Affair

A major corruption scandal could disrupt the superficially buoyant facade of the Putin administration.
September 15, 2006
Independence Referendums | The Kremlin's new revanchism

There are many reasons to expect Moscow's deteriorating ties with the West will continue their downward trend this autumn. But the key one may be growing differences over the breakaway regions of Transdniester, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia and their stated desire to proclaim independence from Moldova and Georgia. The issue pushing the frozen conflicts to the fore are two independence referendums -- one in Transdniester on September 17, the second in South Ossetia on November 12.
September 08, 2006
What Is Behind The Karelia Violence?

Some analysts are looking at local corruption to explain a spate of ethnic violence in the northwestern city of Kondopoga.
September 04, 2006
Russia: Moscow Takes Assertive Stance In Kuriles Dispute

(RFE/RL) PRAGUE, September 4, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- There are numerous signs that Moscow has taken a hard line on its longstanding dispute with Japan over ownership of the Kurile Islands -- essentially telling Tokyo that the chain of 56 islands are no longer subject to negotiation and that it can forget about recovering any of them.
August 25, 2006
Slavic Converts To Radical Islam Pose New Threat

Russian terrorism investigators are worried by the growing number of ethnic Slavs among the perpetrators of terrorist acts.
August 17, 2006
Russia: Kremlin Attempts To Get Ukraine Back In Its Orbit

Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych (file photo) (epa) PRAGUE, August 17, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- It was perhaps no coincidence that Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych's meeting in Sochi with his Russian counterpart, Mikhail Fradkov, coincided with an informal meeting of the Eurasian Economic Community (Eurasec) -- an organization Ukraine is not a member of.
August 10, 2006
Russia: As Middle East Heats Up, Moscow Maintains Balancing Act

Russia has asked Hizballah to stop its rocket attacks on Israel (Fars) PRAGUE, August 10, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- As tensions rise in the Middle East with the conflict between Israel and Hizballah and the continuing Iran nuclear crisis, Russia continues to play a careful game.
August 04, 2006
Russia: Ideological Doctrine Paves Kremlin's Course

(RFE/RL) Two developments have become obvious in the wake of the recent G8 Summit in St. Petersburg: Russia's rising political and economic clout, and growing concern in the West about how the Kremlin might use it. But talk of a reversal in Russia's intention of following its own democratic path may be misguided.
July 24, 2006
WTO Bid Still An Issue For U.S.-Russian Relations

Although Russia's recent hosting of the G8 summit in St. Petersburg was widely seen as a triumph for President Vladimir Putin, one nagging failure marred the rosy picture.
June 21, 2006
Russia Enters Arab-World Media Battleground

Russia's RIA Novosti has announced that it will launch a satellite-television channel that will broadcast to the Middle East and North Africa. Thus Russia joins a growing list of countries vying to gain a media influence in the region.
June 21, 2006
Could Yakunin Be 'First-Called' As Putin's Successor?

Speaking on June 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin dropped the latest in a series of tantalizing clues as to who his potential choice of successor might be.
June 19, 2006
Timeline: Recent Racial Incidents

Timeline: Recent Racial Incidents
June 09, 2006
Russia: Media Create Friends, Foes

Nearly half of those polled didn't have a good impression of Latvia (ITAR-TASS) A recent poll has shown that many Russians have a low opinion of some of their neighbors and the United States. According to a May poll conducted by the national Levada Center, 37 percent of Russians regard the United States as an unfriendly state, compared with 23 percent last year. Forty-six percent of Russians consider Latvia to be unfriendly, 44 percent think the same of Georgia, and 42 percent about Lithuania.
June 06, 2006
Prosecutor's Removal A Clue To Putin's Exit Strategy?

The resignation of Russian Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov last week was baffling for many. Russia's Federation Council had just in April confirmed Ustinov for the next five years in office.
June 05, 2006
Russia Plays Hard Ball With EU

Russia has taken an increasingly tough stance in its dealings with the European Union of late, turning the tables on Brussels by criticizing the bloc's own policies on foreign policy, energy, privatization, and human rights.

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