News Digest
HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL WANTS CHECHEN MILITIA CONFINED TO BARRACKS
By empty (9/11/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on 11 September, Ella Pamfilova, who heads the Russian presidential commission for human rights, argued that the Chechen militia commanded by Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of Chechen administration head Akhmad-hadji Kadyrov, should be confined to barracks for the duration of the presidential election campaign. Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov is the clear favorite among the eight remaining candidates for the 5 October Chechen presidential ballot. Pamfilova said either federal troops or Chechen police should guarantee order at polling stations, and that \"people affiliated with [presidential] candidates\" should not be in a position to influence the outcome of the vote.KAZAKH OPPOSITION, AUTHORITIES COMPLAIN OF DIRTY CAMPAIGN PRACTICES
By empty (9/11/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
As Kazakhstan\'s 20 September nationwide elections to local councils approach, both the opposition and the authorities are complaining of the \"dirty\" campaign practices being employed. Opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) official and Almaty city council candidate Petr Svoik showed a news conference in Almaty a leaflet allegedly written by him, but which he said was actually a provocation by a \"powerful and influential body.\" The leaflet offers to pay for information on people who do not trust the DVK.AZERBAIJAN OIL SECTOR GOOD TARGET FOR TERRORISM - OFFICIAL
By empty (9/11/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The chief of civil defense in the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Dzhavad Gasymov, warned on 10 September that the country\'s oil infrastructure is a potential target for international terrorism. The official added that Azerbaijan has solicited assistance from NATO\'s Civil Defense Committee and is hosting a joint counter terrorism exercise with NATO experts. The 11 September exercise involved a simulated security operation at the Azerneftyanacag oil refinery, including measures to protect the facility from a terrorist attack.OSCE LAUNCHES ELECTION-MONITORING MISSION IN AZERBAIJAN
By empty (9/11/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The OSCE\'s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) launched its election-observation mission on 11 September to monitor Azerbaijan\'s 15 October presidential election. The OSCE mission in Azerbaijan consists of 30 international election experts from 18 OSCE countries, and it will deploy 500 observers to monitor the election campaign and media coverage and to assess voting throughout the country. Speaking at a Baku press conference, the head of the OSCE mission in Azerbaijan, Peter Eicher, stated that the coming presidential \"election is a critical test for democracy in Azerbaijan.Visit also
Staff Publications
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, Greater Central Asia as A Component of U.S. Global Strategy, October 2024.
Analysis Laura Linderman, "Rising Stakes in Tbilisi as Elections Approach," Civil Georgia, September 7, 2024.
Analysis Mamuka Tsereteli, "U.S. Black Sea Strategy: The Georgian Connection", CEPA, February 9, 2024.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, ed., Türkiye's Return to Central Asia and the Caucasus, July 2024.
Book Svante E. Cornell, ed., "The Changing Geopolitics of Central Asia and the Caucasus" AFPC Press/Armin LEar, 2023.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell and S. Frederick Starr, Stepping up to the “Agency Challenge”: Central Asian Diplomacy in a Time of Troubles, July 2023.
Silk Road Paper S. Frederick Starr, U.S. Policy in Central Asia through Central Asian Eyes, May 2023.