By empty (3/4/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

For the first time, a senior federal-level official has admitted the existence of \"right-wing, extremist, fascist youth groups\" in Russia, \"Izvestiya\" reported on 3 March. According to the daily, acting Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliev told a meeting of top law enforcement officials on 2 March that Russia \"is threatened by extreme manifestations of extremism in the youth sphere.\" According to the daily, federal officials have not previously acknowledged the existence of the fascist youth movement, devotees of \"white power\" or skinheads.

By empty (3/4/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A highly placed official in the Russian Defense Ministry said talks with Tajikistan on the transformation of Russia\'s 201st Motorized Infantry Division into a military base are \"deadlocked.\" According to the source, Tajikistan wants Russia to forgive $300 million in Tajik sovereign debt to Russia and to pay $50 million for the use of a military communications facility in Nurek. \"The Tajik authorities have gone so far as to consider their own property all of the Russian weapons, equipment, and infrastructure facilities located in the republic,\" the Russian Defense Ministry source told the news agency.

By empty (3/3/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Rebel attacks and land mines killed five Russian soldiers in Chechnya over the previous day, an official in the Moscow-backed Chechen administration said Wednesday. Three of the Russian soldiers were killed and another five were wounded as federal outposts came under rebels\' fire 20 times, the official said on condition of anonymity. Two others were killed and one wounded in two separate land mine explosions, he said.