Brian Whitmore

Playing Politics With Racism

Violent attacks on ethnic minorities and foreigners in Russia have become the focus of international attention. Much of this has examined how ineffective the authorities have been at combating the racist scourge. But analysts have suggested that rather than being an embarrassment for the Kremlin, the wave of skinhead and neo-Nazi violence is actually politically useful.

'Phallic' Case Threatens Internet Freedom

When a regional journalist described Vladimir Putin as Russia's "phallic symbol," he raised more than eyebrows -- he raised someone's hackles. A court summons followed, creating a new cause celebre about freedom in Russia.

Possible Gas Price Hike Could End Warm Ties

For more than a decade, Russia's relations with Alyaksandr Lukashenka's Belarus have been a fairly predictable affair. Moscow provided cheap energy, and Minsk returned the favor with absolute political loyalty.

Russia: Catholic, Orthodox Churches Unite Against European Secularism

The Da Vinci Code has angered some Orthodox and Catholic believers (official website) PRAGUE, May 29, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- As the Moscow Patriarchate's external relations head, Metropolitan Kiril of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, met Pope Benedict XVI earlier this month, a demonstration was taking place in Moscow that would have pleased many in the Vatican.

Ballots Instead Of Guns

On May 21, the tiny Balkan republic of Montenegro voted to dissolve its union with Serbia and become an independent state. This peaceful act of self-determination could have potential significance for separatism-minded regions in the former Soviet Union, including breakaway territories in Georgia and Moldova.

Concerns Raised About Moscow Chairing Rights Committee

Activists expressed concern when Russia inherited the chairmanship of the Group of Eight (G-8) major industrialized nations at the beginning of 2006. And Moscow's accession today to the head of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers -- the organization's decision-making body -- is likely to spark even more controversy. But Russian officials say they plan to use the position to combat what they call Western double standards.

Profile: Socialist Party of Ukraine's Oleksandr Moroz

Oleksandr Moroz (Ukrinform) Socialist Party leader Oleksandr Moroz may have been the biggest winner in Ukraine's Orange Revolution. In the first round of the 2004 presidential election, he came in third place with just 5.81 percent of the vote. But after throwing his support in the second round to eventual winner Viktor Yushchenko, Moroz's Socialist Party ended up with three ministers in the government the chairmanship of the State Property Fund and several regional governorships.

In Adamov Case, Is It Moscow 1, Washington 0?

The extradition of former Russian Atomic Energy Minister Yevgenii Adamov to his homeland rather than to the U.S., where he also faces charges, is being seen as a diplomatic victory for Moscow and an unexpected setback for Washington.

Russia: The End Of Loans-For-Shares

Nearly a decade ago in a move that reshaped Russia's political landscape, the ailing and embattled Kremlin leader Boris Yeltsin sold off the crown jewels of the country's economy to a select group of oligarchs. Russian President Vladimir Putin is now ready to buy them back.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Moving Beyond Dayton

High Representative Paddy Ashdown Sadic Ahmetvic is hoping to work himself right out of a job. The Srebrenica native is just one of 10 Muslims serving in the 82-member Republika Srpska parliament, an institution he hopes will someday cease to exist. "I am ready for a political fight to dismantle the Republika Srpska," Ahmetvic, 36, said in a recent interview in a cafe on the outskirts of Sarajevo. "The Republika Srpska only exists due to Radovan Karadzic's policy of genocide. It never existed before."

Analysis: Converging Policies On Iran

For two years of often frustrating negotiations over Iran's alleged nuclear weapons ambitions, the United States and the European Union have pursued divergent policies. In recent weeks, however, Washington and Brussels have been reading from the same script.

Analysis: Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime Needs Overhaul

IAEA head el-Baradei (file photo) The system of controls and safeguards the world has relied on for more than three decades to prevent states from acquiring nuclear weapons is no longer adequate and needs to be dramatically overhauled to reflect new realities, nonproliferation officials and diplomats say.

Analysis: 'Orange Revolution' Highlights Ukraine's Religious Divide

As Pope John Paul II greeted thousands of Catholic faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square a week after Ukraine's disputed 21 November presidential election, he noticed some in the crowd were waving orange banners in support of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko.

Factbox: Timeline Of Iran Nuclear Crisis

Analysis: How Close Is Iran To The Bomb?

Is this site producing a nuclear weapon? (file photo) This week, the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany and EU foreign-policy chief Javier Solana met with Iran's top nuclear negotiator in an ongoing attempt to convince Iran to permanently suspend its uranium-enrichment activities. Meanwhile, with each passing day, Iran could be getting closer to producing a nuclear bomb, a growing number of nonproliferation officials believe.

Analysis: The Iranian Nuclear Imbroglio

Vienna, 8 December 2004 -- A year ago, efforts to rein in Iran's alleged nuclear-weapons program looked like a triumph of multilateral diplomacy. Now they look like a diplomatic quagmire with no end in sight.

Russia: Ford Sets Its Sights on St. Petersburg

Russia: Manevich Death Investigation Gains Momentum

Russia: Manevich Threats Surface; Police Chief Criticized

Russia: St. Petersburg Pioneering Public Treasury System