TODAY: International Court of Justice gives Georgia green light on ethnic cleansing case; Georgia-Russia talks suspended amid accusations on both sides; EU makes friendly moves towards former Soviet republics; Karina Moskalenko story hits global press; Russia makes ties with Argentina; Mitvol to head Yabloko?

The International Court of Justice has given Georgia permission to go ahead with its case accusing Russia of ethnic cleansing, and has ordered both sides to ensure the security of all ethnic groups in the breakaway regions. Attempts by Russia and Georgia to hold talks about how to proceed were almost immediately suspended, with both sides blaming each other for a failure to engage. The talks began ‘on a tense note’, as the Russian negotiator reportedly arrived late. Russia has withdrawn troops from some Georgian areas, says this article, but many remain: ‘the Kremlin is, in effect, unilaterally redrawing Georgia’s map.’ The EU’s suspension on a travel ban on the Belarusian president is ‘part of an initiative to promote closer ties with former Soviet republics after Russia’s invasion of Georgia’. On the ‘heavy costs of drawing fragile post-Communist nations’ like Bulgaria away from Russian influence.

Last 5 posts by Robert Amsterdam

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