The generally negative tenor in the coverage of Russia is due to bitter criticism of the Kremlin's domestic policy. Vladimir Putin is blamed for an unprecedented clampdown on media freedom and a desire to establish a dictatorship in Russia. "The management of Russia's NTV television took a program off the air that described the investigation of the killing of journalist Georgy Gongadze. Sources in the company said that the ban on the program came directly from the Kremlin. It was also made clear to the management that NTV should not take up this subject in future at all." (ProUA, 03.10.)
News of Aslan Maskhadov's death triggered numerous accusations that Moscow wants to prevent the implementation of his peace initiatives in Chechnya. Most media agree that Maskhadov's death will lead to a surge in terrorist activity. "Continued terror benefits influential forces in Russia. The 'siloviki' [former security officers] around Putin hope that continued instability in the country, constant threats and demonstrative successes in efforts to counter them, such as Maskhadov's death, will somehow help to solve the problem of a third presidential term." (Den, 03.11.)
Journalists call a Kiev meeting between Viktor Yushchenko and leading Russian businessmen productive. The press notes that the successful talks with Russian investors strengthened the Ukrainian president's positions ahead of Putin's visit to the country. (ForUm, Ukraine, 03.15.)
Russia's plans to build a natural gas pipeline to Europe bypassing Ukraine are given a beating in the press. "Moscow is trying to put gas transportation into Europe under its sole control ... But the new pipeline will be unable to meet Europe's growing demand for Russian natural gas. Besides, experts note that it would be much cheaper to modernize the Ukrainian and Belarussian system of gas pipelines." (Ukrainskaya Pravda, Ukraine, 03.15.)
MOLDOVA
Media view the results of the past parliamentary elections as another failure for Moscow's CIS policy. It is claimed that the new parliament will take a tougher stance toward Moscow. (Flux, 03.10.; Vremya, 03.11.)
The press is again stepping up its campaign against the Democratic Moldova Bloc (BMD), which it accuses of being aligned with the Kremlin. "Moscow's backing gave the bloc a certain number of votes, but at the same time lost it even more." (Jurnal de Chisinau, 03.11.)
The press sees the arrest in Moldova of Valery Pasat, foreign affairs adviser to the UES CEO, as a response made by officials in Chisinau. "The arrest of Pasat, who supported the BMD, opens up avenues for blackmailing other members of that formation who will need to vote for the head of Moldova in the necessary way." (Timpul, 03.15.)
Passively responding to the news of Maskhadov's death, the press only displays interest in forecasts about who will become the new leader of Chechnya's separatists. "It is not inconceivable that Akhmed Zakayev, a representative of the president of Ichkeria residing in London, may be put up as leader of self-proclaimed Ichkeria to preserve the possibility of political interaction with the West." (Vremya, 03.09.)
ESTONIA
The refusal of President Arnold Ruutel to attend the May 9 V-E Day celebrations in Moscow has split up Estonian society on ethnic grounds, but the press in general approves of his decision. "The question of the Baltic countries' representation in Moscow has been solved beautifully - they will be represented there by the president of Latvia, while the absence of two presidents calls attention to the problem." (Eesti Paevaleht, 09.03)
Media reacted negatively to the killing of Chechen militant leader Aslan Maskhadov and they saw it as a reason to speak about the loss of all hope for peace in Chechnya. Some articles attempt to make a hero out of Maskhadov, quote Akhmed Zakayev copiously, and predict a fresh spiral of the war in Chechnya. "The political scene in Chechnya remains in the hands of two troubling figures: the terrorist Basayev and vice-premier Ramzan Kadyrov. Many people in Moscow admit that it is still unclear who is more dangerous for the Kremlin in the long run -Basayev who has been declared enemy or Kadyrov who is considered a friend." (Postimees, 03.11.)
Some articles are devoted to the 20th anniversary of Mikhail Gorbachev's appointment as Secretary-General of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee. They highlight his reforming role. "The resurgence of Estonia and its further development were largely made possible by Gorbachev. He proved to the world that empires can crash and states revive without disasters." (Postimees, 03.12.)
LATVIA
The death of Chechen militant leader Aslan Maskhadov dominates the press. Latvian media and politicians are unanimous in condemning the act. "It is important to differentiate between freedom fighters and terrorists" (Latvijas Avize, 03.10.). The press speaks of the deliberate killing of the sole potential partner in peace talks and depicts a catastrophic scenario for Russia in the future. "Now seems to be the time of Ramzan Kadyrov, the son of the former president of Chechnya, who is hated and feared by Chechens." (Rigas Balss, 03.10.)
Resumed discussions in Ukraine and Georgia about the practicality of reviving GUUAM (an alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova) and the recent visit by the Ukrainian president to Germany have again shifted the focus to the subject of the excessive dependence of the Baltic countries and some European states on Russian energy sources. "The GUUAM project will send oil transit in detour of Russia through the Baku-Supsa-Odessa-Brody route." (Dienas Bizness, 03.11)
The press does not conceal its satisfaction with the results of municipal elections in which none of the Russian parties garnered a majority, while in the Riga Duma right-wing forces gained a slight advantage. "It is high time to stop creating parties on ethnic principles, which split society." (Neatkariga Rita Avize, 03.15)
LITHUANIA
The refusal of Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus to attend the May 9 celebrations in Moscow is drawing increasingly critical comments in society. "Public polls show: most of society would be fin favor of Adamkus visiting Moscow" (Respublika, 03.09.)
The 15th anniversary of the republic's restored independence provided an occasion for another collection of negative articles about Russia, which describe it mostly as "Lithuania's historical opponent."
Officials in Vilnius reacted highly negatively to a statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that it is wrong to portray "the liberators as occupiers and the Nazi henchmen as freedom fighters."
Lithuanian public opinion reacts negatively to the killing of Maskhadov. "The killing of Chechen President Maskhadov is evidence that terrorism is given a legal standing at the state level." (Respublika, 03. 09.)
There is a sharp fall in the number of positive articles about advantageous Russian-Lithuanian economic cooperation.
GEORGIA
Georgian media interpret Moscow's cool reaction to a Georgian parliament resolution on the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia as a willingness to make concessions. At the same time, they express the fear that Russia might demand in return control over vital economic facilities in the republic.
The press also views Moscow's reaction as a sign that it is getting ready to take tough measures and actively discusses the issue of the Russian bases' debts to Georgia.
Georgian media give broad coverage to the Russian security services' killing of Aslan Maskhadov, which they unanimously interpret as unwise. "Russia will certainly be made to pay for this and for many other crimes, and not only by Chechens but also by the rest of the world. Russia itself is the world's biggest terrorist." (Akhali Taoba, 03.14.)
They also discuss an initiative on simplifying the admission scheme for new members to the Russian Federation that was submitted to the State Duma by the Rodina (Homeland) faction. Russia is accused of making an attempt to disrupt Georgia's territorial integrity. "The Kremlin, which is facing the threat of a new and major civil war in the North Caucasus, is encouraging separatism in Georgia. At worst, this may develop into an all-out Caucasian war; at best, this may become the forerunner of the final dissolution of the Russian empire." (Khvalindeli Ge, 03.14.)
The press condemns the possible sale of the Georgian gas trunkline to Gazprom. "Gazprom cannot manage effectively; it will bring old, Soviet-style authoritarian management." (24 Sati, 03.14.)
ARMENIA
Despite the concern of the Armenian press over Georgia's intention to push Russia into closing its military bases early, Armenian media support the official position of the Yerevan authorities not to interfere in Georgia's internal affairs.
When commenting on a visit to Armenia made by Vladimir Rushailo, the executive secretary of the CIS, the press concludes that the CIS is unviable and notes the newsmaking non-professionalism of Rushailo.
Comment pages are positive about how Russia's electricity giant RAO UES is working in Armenia and praises the possibility of long-tern cooperation with the Russian energy holding.
The press considers the idea of laying the Iran-Ukraine gas pipeline across Armenia, trying to predict possible changes in Russia's negative attitude to the project. "There are two most likely routes, both of them via Yerevan: Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Russia-Ukraine and Iran-Armenia-Georgia-the Black Sea- Ukraine. The former will be much cheaper, but its implementation is hindered by Russia's unwillingness to accept that it has a rival on the European gas market. Moscow will resist the project until it sees that the pipeline will be laid anyway. In this situation, it would be better for Russia to sign up to at least get a mechanism of control over the blue stream." (Aistani Anrapetutyun, 03.10.)
AZERBAIJAN
Local media are sharply critical of the bill discussed in the State Duma on simplifying the admission of former Soviet autonomies (including Nagorno Karabakh) into Russia. "Individual democratic elements have not changed the imperial essence of Russia. Russia is discussing the possibility of violating the territorial integrity of the states that incorporate these so-called autonomies, whose international legal status has not been allegedly determined." (Ekho, 03.12.)
Azerbaijani media view the death of Aslan Maskhadov as clear proof that Moscow does not want to resolve the conflict peacefully. "For the past few years, Maskhadov has been offering peace to Putin. But the Russian authorities killed him. They killed Dzhokhar Dudayev, but the war grew bigger after that." (Ekho, 03.11.)
KAZAKHSTAN
Media spotlight a statement made by Alexander Yakovenko, the official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, who put forth Russia's position on a foreign policy initiative from Nursultan Nazarbayev on a Union of Central Asian States. "Yakovenko rejected an idea put forward by some foreign media that the Kazakh initiative contains anti-Russian elements." (Kazinform, 03.14.)
Nationalist media in Kazakhstan interpret some sharp statements made by the Latvian president about Russia as Vaira Vike-Freiberga's refusal to attend the V-E Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9 and a pretext for raising the question in Kazakhstan of compensation for "the Soviet occupation." "After WWII, not only the Baltic countries but also Central Asian states, in particular Kazakhstan, suffered from the 'Red Empire.' But we keep silent." (Turkestan, 03.10.)
Referring to "official data," the press reportsthat 44 Kazakh citizens were murdered by skinheads in Russia in 2004. "Russia does not punish skinheads because they work for the idea of a Greater Russia. This means that dozens of coffins with the bodies of members of other nations will be sent from Russia." (Turkestan, 03.10.)
Media write about the difficult life of labor migrants from the former Soviet republics in Russia. "As usual, money is confiscated from the migrants but the police are saving on deportation." (Navigator II, 03.15)
KYRGYZSTAN
Opposition media claim that the February election to the Kyrgyz parliament proved that the ruling establishment is agonizing. They note that the Kremlin's support for President Askar Akayev may result in a loss of influence in the region. "By pursuing this clumsy policy, Russia might cede Kyrgyzstan to the Americans, losing what influence it had here." (Agym, 03.11.)
The press writes about the delivery of more weapons to the Russian air force base in Kyrgyzstan. (Kyrgyz Ruhu, 03.11.)
UZBEKISTAN
There are claims that Muslims in the Russian republic of Udmurtia are being persecuted. "It appears that law enforcers interpret anti-terrorism efforts as a fight against those who follow Islam." (Muslim Uzbekistan, 03.14.)
There are reports of demonstrations in the republic against the construction of an aluminum factory in Tajikistan by Russky Aluminy (RusAl). Protesters are concerned about possible damage to the regional environment.
TAJIKISTAN
Local media publish an interview with Colonel General Saidimir Zukhurov, chairman of the Border Protection Committee of Tajikistan, who claims that the Tajik-Afghan border will be fully controlled by Tajikistan by the end of 2006, while a group of Russian border guards will remain in the republic as military advisors. "The committee's border guards have been deployed as a second echelon together with the Russian military in the area of the Moscow border station." (Asia Plus, 03.15.)
