The latest: Bush Plans to Press Putin on Democracy Backsliding, Meet NGO Activists

14.07.2006
Bush Plans to Press Putin on Democracy Backsliding, Meet NGO Activists
President George W. Bush arrived in Russia on Friday planning to press President Vladimir Putin at the weekend G8 summit over concerns the Kremlin is curbing the rights of the Russian opposition and media.

14.07.2006
Russia Cracks Down on Anti-Globalists Ahead of G8
The hundred or so anti-globalism activists milling around in a tent camp were a far cry from the tens of thousands who have converged for Group of Eight summit protests in recent years. But even at that, their presence seemed to them like a small victory.

14.07.2006
Kyrgyzstan Raises Rent for U.S. Air Base to $150 Million in 2007
The United States will pay Kyrgyzstan about $150 million for the continued use of an air base in the country in 2007, the Kyrgyz government said Friday.

14.07.2006
Georgia Recalls Approval of Russian WTO Membership, Urges New Talks
Georgia has decided to recall its approval of Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization and called for the re-opening of bilateral market-access negotiations with Moscow, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on Friday July 14.

14.07.2006
2 German Journalists Jailed in St. Petersburg Ahead of G8, Watchdog Decries Violence
A court in St. Petersburgh has jailed two German reporters for ten days; they were detained last weekend in St. Petersburgh as they were working on a report about G8 protests. A leading journalism watchdog has condemned the verdict and warned G8 leaders that such measures on the part of Russian officials does not bode well for the summit.

14.07.2006
Helicopter Crashes Near Putin, Youth G8 Confrence
A Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter has crashed in the town of Pushkin, a St. Petersburgh suburb, where the summit of the Youth Group of Eight takes place Friday. The tragedy occurred near the Agricultural University situated near the center of the small town.

14.07.2006
Five Dead, Three Missing as Russian Ship Sinks off Pacific Coast
At least five people have been killed when a Russian search and rescue vessel sank off the coast of the Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka, according to emergency officials.

14.07.2006
Moscow, Beijing Soften Stance, Iran Sent Back to UN Security Council
Russia and China fell into line with the U.S. and Europe Thursday and agreed to send Iran back to the UN Security Council to face sanctions if it does not freeze its nuclear activities. World powers agreed Iran now has days, not weeks, to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities or face a UN resolution and sanctions.

14.07.2006
Belarus Opposition Leader, Lukashenko’s Rival Jailed for 5 1/2 Years
Belarus’ opposition leader who challenged President Alexander Lukashenko’s bid to win a third term in office and led protests against his landslide victory was jailed for 5-1/2 years on Thursday. His supporters denounced the verdict as “illegal and groundless”, aimed at keeping him out of future elections.

14.07.2006
Bomb Blast Kills 2 Teenage Boys in Georgia’s Breakaway Region
Two boys aged 15 and 16 were killed and two more people were injured when a homemade bomb exploded in Tskhinvali —- the main city of Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia on Friday.

14.07.2006
Leaders of Neo-Nazi, Leftist Extremist Groups Detained Ahead of Russian G8 Summit
In view of the G8 summit which opens in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday, the police have detained the leader of the leftist extremist movement NBP as well as the leader of the Neo-Nazi group Mad Crowd.

14.07.2006
Serial Killer Confesses to 61 Murders on Russian TV
A Moscow resident’s confession that he murdered 61 people over 14 years has been broadcast on Russian television.

14.07.2006
Ukraine’s Yushchenko Rejects Yanukovich, Hints at Dissolving Crisis-Ridden Parliament
While allies of President Viktor Yushchenko on Thursday kept up noisy protests in and outside the parliament building against the formation of a new pro-Russian coalition, the Ukrainian leader signaled that he might dissolve parliament altogether and call new elections.

14.07.2006
Over 100 European MPs Urge Putin to Give Khodorkovsky New Trial
More than 100 members of the European Parliament have signed an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to give jailed former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky a new, fair trial.

14.07.2006
Russia Challenges UN Power on Kosovo, Calls for Talks
Russia said on Thursday the United Nations had no authority to impose a solution on Serbia over the status of its breakaway Kosovo province and only a negotiated deal was acceptable.