By empty (11/4/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Campaigning is drawing to a close in Azerbaijan as the country prepares for parliamentary elections on Sunday. Nearly 2,000 candidates are running for 125 seats in the first vote since Ilham Aliyev replaced his father, Heydar Aliyev, as president in 2003. That election was widely criticised for voting irregularities and violence.

By empty (11/16/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Former Kyrgyz president Askar Akayev is now working for Moscow University. The Kyrgyz embassy in Moscow is ready to give him support, Ambassador Apas Jumagulov told a Thursday press conference. \"Askar Akayev is currently a professor at Moscow University.

By empty (11/2/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

British Ambassador to Russia Tony Brenton said Russia has still not provided evidence that a British court could find credible enough to order the extradition of Chechen separatist emissary Akhmed Zakayev. In an interview with Interfax, Brenton noted that taking into account the new level of relations between Moscow and London, and considering that both countries are strong opponents of any forms of terrorism, Britain regrets that a man charged with terrorism is staying on its territory. Brenton suggested that if Zakayev\'s direct involvement in committing terrorist acts is difficult to prove, Russia could probably prove that he might have encouraged terrorism.