ESTONIA
The anniversary of the Estonians' deportation to Siberia on June 14, 1941 was accompanied by numerous publications describing the Soviet era as an occupation. "Russia, as the biggest part of the former Soviet Union, should acknowledge its crimes and apologize to its former population. Only then will we be able to forgive and sympathize with Russians, whose huge mistake was to allow Vladimir Ulyanov-Lenin and his forces, financed by German gold, to come to power." (Parnu Postimees, June 17.)
Mass media pointed to the main contradiction in the Russian leadership's stance: Russia considers itself to be the Soviet Union's successor when it comes to Soviet property, but refuses to accept its responsibility for Stalin-era crimes. "Those who expect apologies for Estonia's occupation will be disappointed: it was occupied by another state that no longer exists." (Postimees, June 15.) "After the Soviet Union's collapse, Russia declared itself the successor to the deceased colossus. Unfortunately, it was a selective approach: it recognizes Soviet property, but not Soviet crimes. So the Baltic states are unlikely to receive an official apology from Russia for past suffering, to say nothing of compensation." (Parnu Postimees, June 17.)
LATVIA
More frequent contacts between the Russian and Latvian leaderships, notably the meeting between Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are interpreted as a Russian PR campaign meant to improve the country's image ahead of the Group of Eight summit. "The big neighbor's sudden goodwill towards its No. 1 enemy might turn out to be just another part of Putin's international PR campaign ahead of events that are important for Russia. The occasion most frequently cited in this context is the G8 summit that will be held in St. Petersburg in July, during which Russia risks coming under harsh criticism from the seven industrially developed democracies. Russia is determined to join the WTO, and so it needs the U.S.'s support. Its present goodwill towards the "most unfriendly country", whose president meets with the U.S. Administration on a regular basis, might pay off." (Diena, June 15.)
"The G8 summit will be held in July, and Russia needs to show its goodwill towards countries that have in the past been the objects of Russian antagonism." (Latvijas Avize, June 15.)
Russian-language media do not reject the theory that Russia wants to improve its image ahead of the summit, but say the paradoxical thaw is caused by interest on the part of the Latvian authorities. It even raises the question, "Is this yet another pre-election trick by the Latvian leadership? The fact is that Putin did not have any reason to deny Kalvitis (who initiated the meeting) a few minutes of polite conversation... But why would Kalvitis need it, if any contacts with Moscow might be seen in Riga as a "betrayal of Latvians' interests"? Why would he risk asking for a meeting that, as he knew in advance, would not settle anything...? In order to... take credit for other people's achievements. Now Kazakhstan, strongly supported by Russian businesses, is in talks to transport its oil through Russia and, partly, Latvia. It looks as though the Kazakh-Russian efforts might benefit Latvia: perhaps oil will flow through the republic again." (Chas, June 15.) "It is high time Latvia understood that we are more interested in having good relations with Russia than vice versa. If we want to succeed, we should evaluate recent signals and start building a pragmatic relationship. After all, this would be good for us and for our friends - the European Union and the United States." (Telegraf, June 15.)
LITHUANIA
The danger of Russia's energy expansion remains one of the key topics in the Lithuanian press. "Russia's political authorities hinder access to the country's state-controlled, half-closed energy market, but at the same time take advantage of market conditions in the EU to aggressively enter its market and increase their influence on alternative sources of oil and gas and on transit routes. In this way Russia is trying to become a dominant energy superpower capable of dictating its political terms to the West... Even Russian analysts admit that Gazprom's strategy is meant to set up a system that will make it impossible for Europe to diversify its gas flow." (Verslo zinios, June 30.)
There is a heated debate in the press concerning the Russian President's statement that he will not stand for a third term. "Vladimir Putin announced he would not seek a third term, but there can be no doubt that Russia's next ruler will not abandon his hard-line policies. Theoretically, a new president will come to power via democratic elections, but no one doubts that, given his gigantic influence on the mass media, the Kremlin master can handpick a successor just as a tzar could. He will not necessarily be Putin's blood relative, but it is 99.9% certain that the anointed [successor] will be able to don presidential regalia. Russia has always believed in a good tzar, and the majority of its population prefer a steady hand, because otherwise Russia would fall apart." (Verslo zinios, June 20.)
UKRAINE
There are suggestions in the media that in the run-up to the G8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia is trying to shield itself against Western accusations of putting energy pressure on Ukraine. They claim that the Kremlin has already launched a campaign to tarnish Kiev's political image. Gazprom has actually warned Europe that the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute may be repeated. The gas giant's CEO, Alexei Miller, said Ukraine might again try to siphon off Russian gas... "Ukraine will not allow its interests to be infringed," he said. (ForUm, June 19.) Gazprom is meticulously crafting an energy enemy for Europe. Recent statements that Ukraine will soon start "stealing" gas from European consumers, as well as other transparent warnings of a reduction in supply via the Ukrainian gas transportation network, prove that Gazprom has launched a serious offensive... These statements target EU officials... Russians are creating a scenario in which Ukraine will be to blame for any of Gazprom's mistakes. (RUpor, June 19.)
Greater efforts on the part of Moscow, which allegedly wants to cast doubt upon Ukraine's reliability as a partner, are interpreted in the press as the result of Russia's interest in the Ukrainian gas network, since only by controlling it will the Kremlin be able to go ahead with its plans to set up an energy monopoly. "Russia will be content only when everyone refuses to cooperate with Ukraine, when it is no longer viewed as a country that can guarantee an alternative gas supply... Ukraine will have nothing to do but to consider bids for its gas network." (RUpor, June 19.)
MOLDOVA
Russia, journalists say, interferes in the internal affairs of other states and supports criminal groups in office in the unrecognized republics. "As regards self-determination, this concept does not apply to the criminal gang headed by Russian citizen Igor Smirnov, but is the prerogative of the population living in the occupied territory and deprived, including by the Russian troops illegally stationed in the east of Moldova, of the possibility of expressing their own will." (Moldova Suverana, June 20.)
Commentators say political forces in the Balkans and the Black Sea area are regrouping at a time when the West is going over from a policy of partnership with Russia to that of competition. "Washington and its allies did not opt for global rivalry; all they did was respond to Moscow's challenge... The West is seeking, above all, to set up a cordon sanitaire and, secondly, to destroy Russia's energy monopoly ... As regards Moldova, it stands to gain in the new geopolitical situation, since it comes under the 'Euro Atlantic umbrella'." (Flux, June 16.)
ARMENIA
Xenophobia in Russia and growth in ethnic crimes claiming Armenian victims remain the leading theme in the press. In expert view, the situation with nationalism in Russia has got out of hand. "Several years ago, large gangs broke up into many smaller groups, and every populated locality now has its own Nazis who kill, plunder and think up nationalist slogans. The Nazis have taken over the Internet, and give instructions how to kill in detail on their sites. Non-Aryans are pictured on these sites as 'apes' or 'an inferior race', and their destruction is viewed as a sacred cause ... Many analysts do not believe that the neo-nazis are any longer controllable." (168 Zham, June 16.)
Analyzing the prospects for Armenia's entry into NATO, analysts speak of an existing obstacle: Russia. "NATO is theoretically ready to accept us, but agreeing at this moment to membership in that organization means opening ourselves up to very tough economic sanctions from Russia (a break in the supply of gas, grain, nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants, etc.), and also creating a threat to Nagorny Karabakh ... There are no guarantees today that the West will provide us with enough resources to stand up to these two threats - the economic and the military." (Aravot, June 16.)
GEORGIA
Russia's allocation of 3 million euros in additional aid for South Ossetia (not included in the donors' basket), and a proposal to continue donor meetings in Moscow have been qualified by the media as "one-sided" initiatives designed to keep Moscow's control over the settlement of the conflict. "The Western countries and international donors have begun giving funds for an economic solution to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. At the same time Russia has announced its own plan for financing South Ossetia. Moscow is reluctant to give up the monopoly on conflict settlement ... Russia has shown to other parties involved in the process that it intends to keep both military-political and financial clout in the conflict area. And by proposing that international measures to rehabilitate the region economically be 'moved to Moscow' Russia is trying to put this process under its control as well." (24 saati, June 15.)
AZERBAIJAN
The participation of Iran's President Akhmadinejad in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and his meeting with Vladimir Putin have given the media the grounds for saying that the Russian leadership risks becoming a hostage to Tehran's unpredictable policy. "Russian leaders have found themselves in precisely this role ... It is unlikely that Russia is flirting with Iran just to spite the United States. Political mediation in such conflicts is, in the view of many analysts, a sound way of maintaining relations with both sides, scoring points and keeping a measure of freedom to act on such issues as nuclear and arms trade with dubious regimes. The point, however, is that Iran is a very dangerous ally... Practically all of Russia is today hostage to the unpredictable Iranian regime. It will be good if Vladimir Putin's attempts to persuade Iran to accept the terms of the six nations are heard by Akhmadinejad. If not, Russia will find it very difficult to prove that it makes sense to play diplomatic games with Tehran at all - with all ensuing consequences" (Echo, June 17.)
The press follows closely Russia's moves in the self-determined parts of the former U.S.S.R. "In observers' view, by supporting separatist regions, Russia plans again to apply pressure on Moldova, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The situation with Moldova and Georgia is simple. With 90% of Abkhazia's population issued Russian domestic passports, Russia can move in at any time under the pretext of protecting its citizens. Russian passports are also being issued at an accelerated rate in Transdnestr. The situation in Nagorny Karabakh is somewhat different. With Russia, the U.S. and France acting as co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Moscow's room for maneuver is slightly limited... Although, according to Marat Aliyev, an expert with the CIS Center for Geopolitical Research, it is Russia that keeps the separatists regions alive and supports them in every way, including financially and militarily." (Express, June 14.)
The meeting in Sukhumi of the heads of the unrecognized republics - Abkhazia, Transdnestr Moldovan Republic and South Ossetia - and the documents signed are presented as a result of Moscow's political intrigues to restore and reinforce Russia's influence in Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan.
"Russia has begun acting more openly. While it used to stay in the shadows, now it has come out into the open. The Kremlin, sponsoring separatists in Abkhazia, Transdnestr and South Ossetia (and, of course, Nagorny Karabakh), has abandoned all restraint. With the separatist community united by 'peace-keeping bonds' and Russia's role in it dominant, Moscow is simply unable to act otherwise" (Zerkalo, June 17.)
The media accuse Moscow of cooperating with Tehran with the aim of fomenting religious confrontation in Azerbaijan. "The intelligence services of Iran and Russia are plotting serious acts of sabotage to create Shia-Sunni confrontation in Azerbaijan... A reliable source has said that the complicated situation in Azerbaijan is in the interests of both Tehran and Moscow. Russia wants to take advantage of this tension to solve the Karabakh issue in Armenia's favor, while Iran, worried by the situation in its northern provinces (South Azerbaijan), is trying to refocus Azerbaijan's attention on its domestic problems... Russia is trying to instill the view that the Shia doctrine widespread in the north of Azerbaijan is wrong, and is even making use of relevant literature to demonstrate its point. The Kremlin is seeking to spread radical Sunni Islam in the northern parts of Azerbaijan" (Yeni Musavat, June 19.)
KAZAKHSTAN
The media are showing considerable interest in Russia's relations with the Caucasian countries. The political situation in Armenia is given special emphasis. Commentators see a statement by Armenian parliamentary speaker Tigran Torosyan that his country is seeking EU membership as a sign that Yerevan is dropping out of Moscow's orbit. "Discussing Armenia, they often speak of two camps in the country's leadership... If the Armenian Atlanticists prevail in the end, Russia may lose a region which is an important stronghold in the post-Soviet territory" (Liter.kz, June 16.)
UZBEKISTAN
The annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Shanghai has evoked a wide-ranging response. While the official press quoted the meeting's participants at length, the opposition press cited breaches of democratic principles in SCO member countries. "The banner of the fight against terrorism is used to cover up serious violations of human rights and norms of humanitarian law... The SCO policy aims to justify arbitrary practices and may lead to a further worsening of the situation" (Musulmansky Uzbekistan, June 15.)
TAJIKISTAN
The media began talking of early signs of a cooling in relations between Uzbekistan and its strategic partner Russia, and also of the republic's deliberate slowing down of its integration into the EurAsEC. The main reason, commentators say, is the refusal by Russian oil and gas tycoons to undertake large-scale projects in Uzbekistan. "The Uzbek president, putting aside his ego and concealing his bitter hatred of Russia, has failed to receive the money Moscow promised... Russia, on the other hand, is forcing him to normalize relations with neighboring but despised countries. Later on, the Uzbek regime will start moving gently away from the mainstream of Russian politics... so that its slow but steady drifting in the opposite direction is certain to catch the eye of Uzbekistan's current allies and those who acted as it allies in the past" (Kurier Tajikistana, June 15.)
The press stresses that Tajik citizens are regularly mistreated in Russia. "Findings released by the Levada Public Opinion Research Center show that at the end of 2005 only 3-4% of Russians looked kindly on migrants from the Caucasus and Central Asia, 16% of the them subscribed to the view of 'Russia for the Russians', and 20% despised migrants" (Zindagi, June 15.)
