Carnegie Moscow Center
The U.S.-Russia reset is off to a solid beginning, but it is incomplete in many respects; while the countries have made good progress in their relationship, much remains to be done.
President Medvedev used his visit to the contested Kuril Islands to pursue his domestic political objectives, at the cost of undermining Russia’s strategic goal to turn Japan into a key partner in the East.
The results of the American midterm elections, held on November 2, could have an impact on the U.S.-Russia relationship and on key agenda items, including New START, the 123 agreement, and Russia’s accession to the WTO.
The second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev is overtly political and aims not only to justify then-President Vladimir Putin's brand of Russian governance, but also to show that Putin is not ready to step down from power.
The attack by militants on the Chechen parliament is a new blow to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. It is becoming increasingly clear that Kadyrov’s heavy-handed methods for suppressing opponents are no guarantee of long-term security.
Parliamentary elections held in Kyrgyzstan on October 10 were the first under the country’s new constitution, which institutes a parliamentary system with a relatively weak president. They have shown the level of awareness in Kyrgyz society, demonstrating that people take an interest in their future.
The Egyptian parliamentary elections in 2010 and the presidential succession question offer a valuable opportunity to understand the regime’s preferences on striking a balance between stability and the urgent need for reform.
Prominent Russian political scientist Georgy Arbatov, founder and first director of the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, passed away on October 1, 2010. He was 87.
The Ukrainian Constitutional Court’s decision to overturn the political reform of 2004 acts as a relative guarantee that, should the opposition win the majority in future parliamentary elections, it will not be able to threaten the president’s agenda.
The person who is chosen to replace ousted Moscow Mayor Luzhkov is less important than the extent to which the new City Hall changes its relationship with Moscow's citizens, business community, and its political opponents.
With inflation rising, trade balances falling, and economic growth slowing, the outlook for Russia's economy is bleak. Official plans for strict budget tightening will only add to the troubles.
The current political and economic situation in the South Caucasus is partly the result of the misconceptions about the region that have been propagated by both outsiders and locals.
The blast in Vladikavkaz is the latest episode in what is becoming a latent civil war in the North Caucasus, where the Russian authorities are facing an opposition with its own specific religious and political ideology.
The real challenge facing Kyiv today is to deliver on the promise of effective government in the short term, without sacrificing Ukraine’s long-term strategic interests.
As the October 10 parliamentary elections approach, Kyrgyz political parties must clarify their positions on the most pressing issues facing voters, such as reforming the electoral system.
Growth in emerging economies has slowed from torrid post-crisis rates, but remains high and will likely mitigate—but not fully compensate for—a sharp slowdown in advanced countries.
Given Moldova’s economic potential and political openness, the United States, the European Union, and Russia can play a significant role in aiding Moldova on the path to EU membership and helping to transform the country into a prosperous pluralistic democratic state.
The militant attack on Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s home village has shown the vulnerability of the Kadyrov regime, which is commonly considered the most successful in the North Caucasus and quite capable of guaranteeing stability.
As Central Asia’s geopolitical role grows, its states face a number of transnational issues, including instability in Afghanistan, energy resources and development, and transport communications, which have a significant impact on regional security.
The Russian wildfires provide an opportunity for the country's leadership to increase domestic awareness about their new commitments to combating climate change while helping move international agreements forward.