TODAY:  Georgia-Russia tensions simmer in advance of EU report; Council of Europe hullabaloo.  Russia edgy on Washington's new defense scheme; Obama forward looking; Kremlin does not feel Iran missiles justify sanctions.  Journalist in hiding over anti-Soviet article; no joy for beer drinkers and hackersAccusations are flying ahead of today's publication of EU-backed report on the war in Georgia which is expected to be critical of both parties.  The Times says that Georgia has preemptively accused Russia of spreading 'patently false information about fictitious attacks on Russian peacekeepers'.  Tbilisi has also claimed that the report has concluded that Russian troops were responsible for ethnic cleansing during the conflict.  Russia is bristling at motions in the Parliamentary ...

So much for the reset, writes Steve LeVine, as Joe Biden visited both Kiev and Tbilisi stating that Washington will continue to support their drive for NATO membership if that is the route they choose to take.  He does a very good job explaining why Biden said what he said, pointing out that the political reality of the situation certainly doesn't mean that they are going to become NATO members soon (for example, Washington rejected Saakashvili's requests for arms).  Almost nothing is guaranteed to raise the hackles of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin more than the suggestion that Georgia should be permitted to join NATO; a close second would be the same formulation for Ukraine. Russia regards both nations as its own. Indeed, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin responded by saying that Georgia is "remilitarizing" after being pummeled by Russia ...

TODAY: Russia says no to Georgia rearmament; Biden firm on support for Georgia, asserts that democracy and prosperity key to reintegration of rebel territories.  Incumbent president of Kyrgyzstan looks set to win; the opposition claims electoral fraud; Ukraine to expel Russia diplomat.  Anti-graft cases rake in money.  US Vice-President Joe Biden has adopted a more aggressive tone on Russia, stating that the Kremlin used a 'pretext' to invade Georgia, and has asserted that renewed relations with Russia 'have not...will not, and...cannot' imperil the relationship Georgia has with the US.  To see a video of Biden's standing ovation met address, see the BBC.  Biden has called upon Russia to honor last summer's ceasefire agreement, including ...

TODAY: Biden in Georgia expresses support for freedom and territorial integrity; Russia-NATO Council meeting pragmatic.  Body of missing Russian activist  Andrei Kulagin found, second murder in a week.  Nobel laureates plead for justice for Estemirova; Russia says no to UN probe into her death. Mikheil Saakashvili wasted no words in condemning Russia in his meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden.  Biden pledged his support by sending out an 'unequivocal, clear message to all who will listen and some who don't want to', in an apparent tacit reference to the Kremlin.  'We refuse to recognise that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are not part of Georgia', Biden told the BBC.  Resurrected discussions of the expulsion ...

TODAY: Georgia fuming about war games; US-Russia officials meet in advance of Obama trip; more US cargo to go throgh Russia to Afghanistan?; journalist dies of injuries sustained in an assault two months ago; casino closure imminentThe military exercises in the Caucasus will be the largest to take place since the fall of the Soviet Union, with 8,500 troops participating.  'They involve an unprecedented number of servicemen and the newest military hardware of Russia', says Georgia's deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Nalbandov.  Tbilisi has described the exercises as 'pure provocation'.  RFE/RL looks at how Russia's heavy-handed tactics in the North Caucasus have only spurred on insurgent movements, rather than eradicating them.  Will the head ...