By Sergey Medrea (1/9/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

On December 25, Emomali Rahmon initiated a meeting with local business entrepreneurs in Dushanbe,  to allow local businessmen to discuss the problems and difficulties they face while conducting small-scale private business. The meeting lasted for six hours. For the first two, the president read a report of recent economic achievements and developments; afterwards, local entrepreneurs were given a chance to express their concerns and have a discussion with the president.

By Nurshat Ababakirov (1/9/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The results of the contentious parliamentary elections held in Kyrgyzstan on December 16 seem to show the last stages of President Kurmanbek Bakiev’s plans to ensure strong centralized power and to force stability on the country.  The pro-presidential party, Ak Zhol, won 71 out of 90 seats in the parliament. However, Ata Meken, the popular radical oriented party that was racing second in the popular vote, was left with no seats, failing narrowly to pass the controversial threshold in one electoral unit, the city of Osh.

By Kakha Jibladze (11/14/2007 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Georgia is bracing for early elections after President Mikheil Saakashvili announced plans for snap presidential elections last week in an effort to end a political confrontation between the government and opposition groups. While the international community has applauded the move, local opposition leaders maintain the country is still in crisis.

On November 7, after six days of peaceful protests in the capital, Tbilisi, the Georgian government attempted to clear the main avenue of demonstrators.