Editor: Eugene Imas

Country News Digest Vol.4, Issue #9

03/17/14-03/21/14

Contributors: -Risa Chubinsky -Glyn Cozart -Joseph Gates -Thomas Hyde -Katya Quinn-Judge

Two prominent opposition leaders were found guilty on Wednesday of sparking riots in the central Azerbaijani town of Ismayili in January. Tofi Yagublu, deputy chairman of the Musavat Party, was sentenced to five years in prison, while Ilgar Mahhamadov, leader of the Republican Alternative rights group, was sentenced to seven years. The US embassy has called the arrests politically motivated. Articles: Eurasianet Reuters

Azerbaijan

Country News Digest

Russia

Doku Umarov, head of the Caucasus Emirate, Russias key Islamist movement, has been pronounced dead by Kavkaz Center, the movements defacto mouthpiece. Although Russia has not yet confirmed the death, the Kavkaz Center website has posted an obituary and a new leader, Ali Abu Mukhammad, claims to have been chosen. If confirmed, Umarovs death would be seen as a Kremlin victory. Articles: Wall Street Journal Huffington Post

A video showing postmortem photographs of former Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who was found dead in his Tbilisi apartment in 2005, was anonymously leaked to YouTube on Wednesday. The photos suggest Zhvania, who was officially declared to have died from an accidental gas leak, sustained injuries to his head prior to death. Authorities have arrested the doctor who performed the post mortem for neglect of duty.

Georgia

Rustavi 2

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The Russian Parliament has agreed to annex Crimea following a referendum held on Sunday in the region that was largely condemned by western authorities as a violation of international law. Following the referendum and legislation for annexation, pro-Russian forces have taken over the naval headquarters in Sevastopol. Kiev said it would seek support from the United Nations in declaring Crimea a demilitarized zone, which would lead to the evacuation of Ukrainian troops.

Ukraine

Civil.ge

CNN

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Washington Post

On Wednesday, Armenia approved a deal with Iran to increase gas infrastructure in border cities with the aid of a $2 million Iranian donation. In return, Armenia will abolish $500 thousand worth of taxes for imported equipment and supplies. Minister of Energy Movsisian said the government plans to buy up to 2 billion cubic meters of Iranian gas each year, despite pre-existing agreements with Russian provider Gazprom to fulfill Armenian gas demands.

Armenia

Belarus is preparing for elections to local councils, with early voting having commenced Tuesday, while the nationwide poll will be held on March 23. Last week, the Central Election Commission denied a proposal from a pro-democracy activist to install cameras in polling stations at his expense, on the grounds that the electoral code contained no such provisions.

Belarus

Asbarez

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Panarmenian

Democratic Belarus

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Naviny

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Turkey violated the rights of Abdullah Ocalan, a Kurdish separatist leader who has been imprisoned since 1999. The Court ruled that his solitary confinement was inhuman, and that his sentence of life imprisonment without any possibility of conditional release conviction was also a violation of his rights. The Turkish government will appeal the ruling.

Turkey

BBC

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RAPSI

Following the referendum in Crimea on Sunday, authorities in Moldovas breakaway republic of Transnistria sent an appeal to the Duma on Monday asking to join Russia. Moldovas president has said that for Russia to accept the appeal would be a mistake. Transnistrias authorities held a referendum on joining Russia in 2006, in which 97.5% voted in favor. Nevertheless, Transnistrias independence from Moldova remains unrecognized by any nation, including Russia. Articles: Reuters Moldova.org

Moldova

On Tuesday, Kyrgyzstans ruling coalition fell apart as a result of alleged corruption within the Prime Minister Satybaldiyevs party. The Ata Meken party left the coalition and accused Satybaldiyev of abusing his office, as well as misappropriating funds. Without Ata Meken, the coalition does not have a parliamentary majority. A new majority coalition and prime minister will be nominated within the week. Articles: Reuters Eurasia Net

Kyrgyzstan

Country News Digest

At least 16 people have been killed in a bazaar in northern Afghanistan after a suicide bomber detonated explosives packed into a rickshaw on Tuesday. It is still unknown who is responsible for the attack; the Taliban did not claim responsibility by Tuesday afternoon. Some officials believe the bombing is intended to create more fear before the elections in April, to discourage people from voting. Articles: New York Times Time

Afghanistan

The foreign ministry of Kazakhstan announced on Wednesday that it considers Crimeas referendum a free expression of the will of the population of the Autonomous Republic, and understands the decision of the Russian Federation. The same day, Ukraines foreign ministry expressed concern about the statement, noting that it contradicted expressions of support for Ukraines territorial integrity made by Nazarbayev last week.

Kazakhstan

Government delegations from Tehran and six world powers concluded two-day long negotiations regarding Irans nuclear program on Friday at the United Nations complex in Vienna. At the end of negotiations an Iranian Foreign Ministry official and the European Unions lead negotiator Catherine Ashton both called the talks substantiveand useful.

Iran

Trend

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Azattyq

New York Times

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Reuters

Tajikistans ministry of finance has announced that the countrys largest industrial outfit, the aluminum giant Talco, faces bankruptcy, citing a $350 million debt accrued over a nine-month period in 2013. Talcos press service has refuted this allegation, arguing that worldwide declines in the aluminum trades profitability in the past few years mean numerous companies around the world could be considered insolvent according to the ministrys logic.

Tajikistan

This week the Turkmen government reportedly called up military reservists for retraining exercises along the countrys eastern border with Afghanistan. This announcement follows weeks of disturbances along the border, most notably the killings of several Turkmen border guards by Taliban militants in late February. Central Asia Online

Turkmenistan

Centrasia

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Asia Plus

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Eurasianet

The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating TeliaSoneras transactions and investments in Uzbekistan, requesting that the company submit documents related to their activities in the country. Two of TeliaSoneras daugher companies are currently under investigation in a bribery and moneylaundering case in The Netherlands.

Uzbekistan

Eurasia Net

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Reuters

Mongolian censors have published a list of over 700 vulgar phrases that Mongolian websites cannot use without risking prosecution and shutdown by authorities. The list includes a strange selection of English words, ranging from terms like bugs, jerk, and dildo to much harsher slang, as well as Chinese and Russian words. Activists are condemning the regulations as a step towards greater internet censorship in the country. Articles: The Next Web Shuum.mn

Mongolia

On Wednesday a Russian diplomat expressed concern at the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding Estonias language policies towards its ethnic Russian minority. He is reported as saying, Language should not be used to segregate and isolate groups. This rhetoric has concerned Estonian officials, as it echoes that which led to the Russian annexation of Crimea this week. Articles: Reuters IBT

Country News Digest

Estonia

In response to the conflict in Ukraine, the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry is sending a mission in Ukraine to map the needs of Volhynian Czechs to potentially help them repatriate to the Czech Republic if the situation continues to deteriorate. The Ministry plans to monitor the situation and respond to the needs of the minority population. Prague Post

Czech Republic

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RT

The domestic intelligence service of Lithuania publicly accused a Russian diplomat of espionage in a report issued to media this week. Specifically, the report alleges that the Russian diplomat attempted to recruit a Lithuanian bureaucrat, offering him monetary benefits in exchange for access to information.

Lithuania

Two-time Prime Minister Robert Fico won a narrow lead in the first-round of the Slovakian presidential elections this week, garnering 28% of the votes. He will face the runner-up, Andrej Kiska, an independent businessman who received 24% of the vote. The decisive run-off round will take place in two weeks.

Slovakia

Reuters

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Naharnet

ABC News

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Slovak Spectator

Latvians who served in local units of the German SS during World War II celebrated Legionnaires Day with a parade in the nations capital of Riga this week. The annual event drew ire from the large ethnic Russian population living in Latvia, but the parade was held without any violent incidents.

Latvia

The first trial of an excommunist leader in Hungary since the fall of the communist regime began this week. Bela Biszcu stands accused of war crimes in connection with his stint as interior minister following the 1956 Hugarian Revolution. Specifically, prosecutors allege that Biszcu served in a committee that ordered soldiers to open fire on protesters in Budapest and Salgotarjan.

Hungary

Reuters

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ABC News

Voice of America

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The Star

On Thursday Jacek Sonta, a spokesperson for the Polish Defense Ministry, announced Polands plans accelerate its tender for a missile defense system. The Ministry plans to choose a missile defense provider in the next few weeks from a group of four bidders. The project is expected to cost anywhere between $5 billion and $40 billion and be completed by 2022.

Poland

On Wednesday Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti met in Bucharest with Romanian President Traian Baescu. In a joint press conference Baescu publicly urged European Union leadership to swiftly accept Moldovas membership bid and Association Agreement in order to ensure [Moldovas] security.

Romania

Reuters

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Voice of Russia

RFE/RL

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Europe Online

Energy minister Dragomir Stoynev spoke out this week in defense of the governments commitment to the South Stream gas pipeline project, rejecting claims that the government is to blame for the project being at a standstill. He confirmed that the pipeline is a priority project and that it is the socialist-led Cabinet that has caused the current development problems. Articles: Novinite Focus

Country News Digest

Croatia

Bulgaria

Authorities in Croatias second city announced this week that the Split Science Museum and Zoo will close and its animals will be moved to other facilities. Tourists have reportedly been leaving scathing comments about the zoo on online forums for years, noting, among other things, that animals looked depressed. The monkeys will move to Germany, while the destination of the 14 year-old tiger is unknown. Articles: Croatian Times Daily Mail On Tuesday morning, Montenegrin officials transferred drug lord Darko Saric to Serbian authorities. Saric had been arrested in Latin America the day before and saw family members in Podgorica during the airport transfer. Justice Minister Markovic stated that, contrary to allegations, Saric had not been arrested fifteen days earlier, and had not been hiding out in Montenegro. Markovic also highlighted Serbian and Montenegrin cooperation in the case.

Albanias Minister of Justice announced Tuesday that the country would implement tougher sanctions against people caught breaking environmental laws. According to both governmental and independent studies, Albanias wildlife numbers have declined sharply in the past decade, due to illegal hunting and an increasingly transnational trade in endangered species. The Environmental Ministry announced a twoyear moratorium on all hunting in February.

Albania

Montenegro

Bota Sot

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Balkan Insight

B92

Articles: Gov. of Montenegro

On Sunday the ruling Serbia Progressive Party won an overall majority in parliamentary elections. The SNS won 157 seats, or 49% of the vote, while Serbias Socialist Party came in second with 15% of the vote. The SNS has been described as center right and is led by Aleksandar Vucic, who served in Slobodan Milosevics administration.

Serbia

BBC

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Kosovos Prime Minister Hashim Thaci stated this week that making parallels between Crimea and Kosovo is an incorrect analysis of the current situation and that Kosovo should not be used to understand Ukraines situation. In his view, it is a false comparison because Kosovo was created after the deportation of 2 million citizens of Kosovo and a genocide. He also stated that Kosovo was created after post-war negotiations, which is not the case in Ukraine.

Kosovo

Reuters

Business New Europe Articles:

Novinite

On Wednesday afternoon a large fire broke out near Stanke Lisichkovo, a border crossing point between Macedonia and Bulgaria. The fire was located less than one kilometer from the Bulgarian border, prompting firefighters from the Bulgarian border town of Blagoevgrad to closely monitor the fires movements.

Macedonia

NonInvite

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Balkans.com

The Slovenian government decided on Wednesday that Banka Celje would be eligible for state recapitalization should it be unable to attract 160 million euro of private capital by April 25. If it is doesnt, the state will transfer its bad loans to the state bad bank. The government also extended the deadline for recapitalization of Gorenjska Banka to the end of this year. These recapitalizations are part of a state overhaul of the banking system to avoid an international bailout. Articles: Slovenia Times Reuters

Slovenia

Country News Digest

NATO Secretary General Bosnia & Rasmussen met with Herzegovina Zeljko Komsic, a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Tuesday to discuss the countrys progress regarding reforms required to activate the Membership Action Plan (MAP). NATO allies invited Bosnia to join the MAP in 2010, but still require many reforms, notably the registration of immovable defense property, before the country can activate the plan. Rasmussen also stated that the country must be united, referring to tensions among Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs. Articles: Reuters NATO

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