Estonia
Some media are calling Dmitry Medvedev a grey figure and believe that his presidential nomination is yet another Kremlin trick. "Dmitry Medvedev is believed to be more democratic and friendlier to the West. Although he has occupied high positions since Yeltsin times, his influence on Russia's foreign policy has been minimal. Foreign policy is made by other circles, of which he is not part. These circles are the KGB descendants. The reason for Medvedev's nomination is that he is not too scandalous and plays by the rules... Russia has big problems linked with the demographic situation, infrastructure and the nation's health, which is being ruined by alcohol and drugs. Resolution of these problems requires enormous investment and energy... Medvedev does not have a single chance to turn the tide on all that. He is no more than a bureaucrat." (Eesti Paevaheht, December 11).
Latvia
Analysts are linking the hopes for the development of Russian-Latvian government and business contacts with the December 18 visit of a representative Russian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "Lavrov's visit will crown a whole series of visits by Russian statesmen this year. Since the summer, our country has been visited by three federal ministers, heads of federal agencies and the Audit Chamber, and Russian billionaires, not to mention endless delegations from different parts of Russia. Spring in Latvian-Russian relations continues even in winter." (Vesti-segodnya, December 6).
Lithuania
The press is writing about the views of different political forces on relations with the Big Neighbor. The conservatives are emphasizing that the anti-Western vector of Russian foreign policy is a threat for Lithuania, while the more moderate commentators are attributing the opponents' rhetoric to the upcoming parliamentary elections and claiming that Vilnius will not gain anything from its confrontation with Moscow. "It is worth recalling Vladimir Putin's advice to the West not to poke its 'runny nose' into Russia's affairs... We must admit that there is no clear-cut strategy in relations with Russia in Lithuania." (Lietuvos rytas, December 10). "With the approaching elections to the Seimas, all political parties will be lavishly giving out advice and promises. The conservatives are no exception. In a bid to attract more votes, they will be using their anti-Russian hobby horse. One does not need to be a forecaster to predict that this will make bad Russian-Lithuanian relations even worse. Lithuania will get absolutely nothing from this, while Vladimir Putin's "hawks" will only gain from this." (Respublika, December 7).
Belarus
The opposition press is critical of Alexander Lukashenko's belated congratulations to the Russian President on United Russia's landslide victory in the parliamentary elections. Commentators are emphasizing Lukashenko's ambivalent attitude toward Putin. "Alexander Lukashenko congratulated Vladimir Putin on United Russia's victory in the State Duma elections. But, for some reason, he didn't do it right away... Lukashenko is consistent in his actions. At the October 12 news conference for Russian journalists, the head of Belarus voiced his apprehensions about the trend towards the formation of Putin's cult of personality in Russia." (Solidarnost, December 7).
Ukraine
Journalists believe that the Kremlin's desire to preserve its political system points to the further consolidation of the Soviet-style trends of the stagnation period and de facto replacement of the government bodies by the party structures. "Russia's elite will again turn into a gathering of yes-men eager to please their superiors, follow orders and manipulate processes. Once again, these will be people who are unable or unwilling to develop innovative projects or promote original ones... Like his Soviet predecessors, Putin is making his own compatriots and his country hostage to his personal political ambitions." (Zerkalo nedeli, December 8).
The media are convinced that Kiev should be put on guard by the fact that Putin's nominee heads Gazprom's board of directors. "Dmitry Medvedev's name is associated with the most aggressive and toughest elements of Russian policy in Ukraine... Medvedev is said to have coordinated the performance of the Russian emissaries sent to the presidential elections in Ukraine in 2004... Medvedev is brilliant at using gas levers in foreign policy." (UNIAN, December 11).
Moldova
Experts are still worrying about Moldovan wine supplies to the Russian market. "Vendors are not rushing to buy Moldovan wine and brandy because of high prices. They argue that prices of liquor have almost doubled (to reach 140 rubles -150 rubles per bottle), while consumers prefer to buy Chilean or Argentine wine for this price." (Basa-press, December 12).
Armenia
Analysts are attributing the defeat of the right-wing parties in the Russian parliamentary elections to their political mistakes during their stay in power. "In Russia, the liberal idea has not been reanimated and will continue to be devalued. With their current deep political crisis the right-wing forces are paying primarily for what happened in the country in the early 1990s... People in Russia do not want to go back to those times. Many dislike the idea of a liberal revenge of the early 1990s. In the upcoming presidential elections, the Russian Liberals cannot even hope to double their votes [to 2%-2.5%]." (Golos Armenii, December 6).
The media are accusing the Kremlin of falsifying the results of the elections to prevent even the smallest possibility of opposition parties being elected to the Duma. "The results of the State Duma elections... generally reflect the public and political attitudes prevailing in Putin's Russia. But numerous falsifications can be seen with a naked eye... The right-wing parties were surprised to get one percent of the vote in all regions, cities and constituencies although they had different numbers of supporters in these entities. This is tell-tale proof that the quoted votes have been 'counted' in advance." (Aravot, December 12).
Georgia
The regime's critics are comparing the policies of Mikhail Saakashvili and Vladimir Putin. In their opinion, the Georgian leader has approached the brink of authoritarianism too closely. However, as distinct from the Kremlin boss, his Tbilisi colleague does not enjoy popular support. "Saakashvili rules as Putin does and has no other option than to enforce authoritarian rule like Putin. The difference is that the overwhelming majority of the Russian population is devoted to Putin, whereas the Georgians have a contrary attitude to Saakashvili. The second difference is that Putin has oil, gas and money to buy the population. Saakashvili has no money and therefore cannot buy the population. This is why his attempt to turn into Putin and 'putinize' Georgia is ridiculous." (Akhali Taoba, December 10).
The media are worried that Russia's moratorium on the CFE Treaty will only further the uncontrolled armament of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia. "Moscow will have no limit on arms in the North Caucasus... Russia is already starting to arm itself in a rush... Russia is against NATO expansion. Before long, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia will join NATO. Putin has openly stated that he feels encircled and this is why is getting ready to surround himself with a wall of arms as usual. Needless to say, in this context he will move his forces to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region." (Alia, December 8).
Azerbaijan
Analysts are pointing to the tougher Russia-NATO confrontation in the Caucasus. "NATO is at the closest proximity to the Russian borders... It would be naive, to say the least, to believe that NATO will stop its program of expansion. Its priority task is to advance eastward, in particular to the Caucasus and the Caspian... Russia does not hesitate to take counter measures, either. It has already suspended its participation in the CFE Treaty... Russia and NATO are already in confrontation, although neither admits it." (Aina, December 7).
Some experts believe that Washington is losing the struggle for the Caspian energy resources to Moscow. "The United States wants to destroy the monopoly on natural gas supplies to Europe and expects Azerbaijan to play a key role in this venture... The available gas reserves should allow it to start and possibly complete the construction of alternative gas pipelines to link South and Central Europe with the Caspian Sea." (APA, December 11).
For the time being, the Americans have merely succeeded in getting reassurances of all-round support from Azerbaijan. But the local gas and oil reserves are far from limitless. The recently commissioned gas pipeline between Turkey and Greece has too low a capacity to be a serious alternative to Russia... Other American-lobbied projects of alternative supplies are hopeless. The Nabucco gas pipeline project seems to have died on its feet." (Novoye vremya, December 6).
Kazakhstan
The media are discussing the subject of energy in the context of U.S. pressure on Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Washington wants to persuade them to diversify gas supplies like Azerbaijan, which has started supplying gas to Turkey via Georgia. "We should bear in mind that at this point Azerbaijan simply has no alternative. It must by all means get EU and U.S. support for the Karabakh settlement. Gas and oil bows to Brussels and Washington are supposed to help Baku resolve its long-standing extremely painful political dispute with the neighboring country. At the same time, neither Kazakhstan, nor Turkmenistan are fighting with anyone and do not need any particular favors from either Europe or America. This typically Oriental maneuvering between all clients eager to get Central Asian gas and oil will be very helpful to Astana and Ashgabat in their future policies." (Delovaya nedelya, December 12).
Turkmenistan
Experts are analyzing the potential consequences of Azerbaijani-EU cooperation in energy supplies for Turkmenistan. "While Azerbaijan is actively promoting its gas (and oil) interests in Europe, Turkmenistan is rushing to the same market... But Ashgabat does not have direct access to Europe and while Berdymukhammedov is deciding whether he should have a gas pipeline with Russia or the European Union, Azerbaijan will have already occupied the advantageous positions in Europe." (Gundogar, December 7).
The majority of opposition analysts have qualified a ban on the use of private satellite antennas as the Turkmen President's attempt to limit public access to foreign television channels. "The majority of dwellers in cities with a population of 600,000 are watching Western and Russian channels by satellite TV... The establishment of centralized satellite antennas will limit the choice of TV programs. For many residents of an isolated country satellite antennas are the only source of alternative information." (Turkmenia.info, Dedcember 5).
Tajikistan
The press is again writing about the problems of Tajik migrants in Russia. "At the airport, guest workers were met by the representatives of a recruiting agency. 'Some people appeared and started openly bargaining for us,' said one of the migrants. 'They offered money for us to that recruiting agency - from $300 to $500 for each, depending on the body frame. They were looking at us like commodities!'" (Asia-Plus, December 6).
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