Black Sea Exotica
The last remnants of the Cherkess population on the Black Sea coast find themselves the unwilling stars of a cheap tourist pantomime
24 Nov 00
Middle East
Tensions Grow in Stepanakert
For many of Nagorny Karabakh's erstwhile freedom-fighters, the fruits of victory are rapidly turning sour
24 Nov 00
Hijack Drama Descends into Tragicomedy
The blaze of publicity which surrounded the hijacking of a Russian aeroplane last week could well serve the interests of Islamic extremist groups
17 Nov 00
Russian Defector May Prove a Disappointment
The sensational defection of a former FSB officer is unlikely to furnish Western intelligence services with anything more than speculation and hearsay
10 Nov 00
Big Brother Refuses to Take Sides
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan try to win Russia's support over the Nagorny Karabakh deadlock
27 Oct 00
Putin Keeps his Distance
The war in Chechnya has inspired new political sympathies between Russia and Israel - but President Putin is still wary of taking sides in the Middle East crisis
20 Oct 00
Should Old Acquaintance be Forgot?
Despite close historical and political ties with Armenia, Moscow is wary of backing its old ally over the Nagorny Karabakh debate
6 Oct 00
Violence Flares in Armenian Enclave
Political analysts across the South Caucasus are warning of a "second Nagorny Karabakh" in southern Georgia
8 Sep 00
Romania Moves To Stem Illegal Immigration
Romania has in recent years become a transit centre for clandestine immigration to the European Union
5 Sep 00
State Targets Balkaria's Islamic Community
Moscow continues to regard Kabardino-Balkaria as a potential breeding-ground for Islamic extremists
1 Sep 00
Support local journalists