Russia

Jittery Kremlin hits out at Central Asia NGOs

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 03:35:56 +0000

Jittery Kremlin hits out at Central Asia NGOs

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking on the occasion of the Special Operations Forces Day at a meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in Moscow on 27 February, unleashed an attack against Central Asian NGOs, accusing them of "continuously increasing hostile activities against Russia", especially in the "creation of new initiatives and structures aimed at discrediting and countering the Russian presence in countries traditionally our friends". Shoigu said the situation in this region is "very delicate", recalling the contemporary threat of the Afghan Taliban and ISIS terrorists, to which he equates the works of non-governmental organizations. In his speech, Shoigu said "over 100 large pro-Western NGOs operate in these countries, which have more than 16 thousand representations and branches, which aim to weaken the technical-military, economic and cultural collaboration with the Russian Federation, against the background of the special military operation [Ukraine War], and we have to do something." Central Asia is hardly the first place that comes to mind when it comes to civil society activism, but the process of opening up to the world, and the reforms being put in place across the region, has widened the space for NGO activity – even if only to a small extent. Enough it seems to worry the head of the Russian Defence Ministry who one would have thought would have other things to worry about at the moment. But Kremlin observers say that Shoigu’s outburst is a jittery reaction of a paranoic Kremlin that is obsessed by criticism at home or abroad, and sees everything as one big conspiracy. Reaction in Central Asia has been mixed but in Kazakhstan, where President Tokayev has set out a course for systematic reforms in the country, and where the government is looking at civil society as partners in this process, the reaction to Shoigu’s speech was negative, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roman Vasilenko, spoke out in defence of the NGOs in Kazakhstan. “As you know, support for the civil sector and support for NGOs are a top priority for the president, for the government and for the Ministry of Culture and Information, which is responsible for this area”, Vassilenko said on 29 February.

dennis2020 Wed, 03/06/2024 - 04:35

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Opinion: Recent incidents on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border remind us of the fragility of peace in the South Caucasus

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 06:41:23 +0000

Opinion: Recent incidents on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border remind us of the fragility of peace in the South Caucasus

As recently as 1 February, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev celebrated peaceful stability along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border following the dissolution of the separatist regime in the Karabakh region in September 2023. There is already de facto peace between the two countries, and a state of peace has prevailed along the border for several months, he said in a meeting with the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

dennis2020 Fri, 02/16/2024 - 07:41

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Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 6: Central Asia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine - What does the future hold?

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:20:00 +0000

Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 6: Central Asia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine - What does the future hold? Maximiliaan va… Thu, 01/18/2024 - 16:20

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Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 3: Georgia - The five persons who defined post-Soviet Georgia

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:16:23 +0000

Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 3: Georgia - The five persons who defined post-Soviet Georgia Maximiliaan va… Thu, 01/18/2024 - 16:16

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Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 2: Chechnya - A distant war that defined post-Soviet Russia

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:15:40 +0000

Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 2: Chechnya - A distant war that defined post-Soviet Russia Maximiliaan va… Thu, 01/18/2024 - 16:15

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Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 1: Russia - The Inelegant end of an empire

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:13:05 +0000

Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut: Episode 1: Russia - The Inelegant end of an empire Maximiliaan va… Thu, 01/18/2024 - 16:13

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Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut reflecting on more than three decades of work in countries of the former Soviet Union

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 09:31:09 +0000

Video Diaries of Dennis Sammut reflecting on more than three decades of work in countries of the former Soviet Union

LINKS Europe is pleased to announce that it is releasing six video diaries, recorded by its Director, Dennis Sammut, in which he reflects on his more than three decades of work in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The six video diaries are available on YouTube:

Episode 1: Russia - The Inelegant end of an empire

Episode 2: Chechnya - A distant war that defined post-Soviet Russia

Maximiliaan va… Thu, 01/18/2024 - 10:31

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Russia confirms damage to one of its Black Sea fleet ships

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:23:43 +0000

Russia confirms damage to one of its Black Sea fleet ships

Russia has confirmed one of its warships has been damaged in a Ukrainian attack on a Black Sea port. The airstrike took place at Feodosiya in Russian-occupied Crimea early on Tuesday morning. Russia's Ministry of Defence said the large landing ship Novocherkassk was struck by Ukrainian aircraft carrying guided missiles. The head of the Ukrainian Air Force said earlier its warplanes had destroyed the ship. One person was killed in the attack, according to the Russian-installed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov. Several others were reportedly hurt. Six buildings were damaged and a small number of people had to be taken to temporary accommodation centres, Mr Aksyonov added. The port's transport operations are said to be functioning as normal after the area was cordoned off, while a fire caused by the attack was contained. Footage purportedly showing a huge explosion in the port was shared by Ukrainian air force commander Lt Gen Mykola Oleshchuk. The images have not been independently verified. However, satellite imagery from 24 December shows a ship at port in Feodosiya that appears to be the same length as the Novocherkassk - a landing ship designed to transport troops, weapons and cargo to shore. Any significant damage to the ship will be a welcome bit of good news for Ukraine, with waning Western support now affecting its front-line operations. Given that the Novocherkassk was in dock, it is highly likely it was being loaded with soldiers, equipment or both. There was speculation that the ship was carrying Iranian-made Shahed drones, which Russia has been using in its attacks on Ukrainian targets.

dennis2020 Wed, 12/27/2023 - 11:23

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Opinion: A Ukrainian defeat will have serious implications for the South Caucasus

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 06:59:02 +0000

Opinion: A Ukrainian defeat will have serious implications for the South Caucasus

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has unfolded in ways that were likely not anticipated by either party several months ago. Initial optimism in the West about Russia’s presumed defeat and Ukraine’s victory seems to be fading away. The inability of Ukraine’s long-anticipated counteroffensive operations to breach Russia’s defensive lines is leading to growing weariness in countries that had been providing military, financial, and other support to Ukraine.

dennis2020 Wed, 12/13/2023 - 07:59

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Opinion: Is Armenia a logistical hub in Putin's war against Ukraine?

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:10:57 +0000

Opinion: Is Armenia a logistical hub in Putin's war against Ukraine?

According to recent reports, Armenia based entities are using the sea route Batumi-Novorossiysk to re-export sanctioned goods to Russia. Through the Armenian Shipping Company, 600 containers with a total weight of 6 tons are transported to Russia weekly via Georgian ports.

dennis2020 Wed, 11/15/2023 - 15:10

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