TODAY: Medvedev pushes for cooperation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.  Lavrov says no justification for Ukrainian expulsions; mortars rumble in South Ossetia as anniversary tensions brew; Russia puts the no in NATO.  Journalist denied entry to Lithuania. No smokes for soldiers.In his meeting with leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan President Medvedev spoke of their 'common space', 'which should be filled with all sorts of projects' emphasizing energy, trade and transport.  Will today's CSTO summit be hindered by differences?  In the capital of South Ossetia two loud explosions have been reported, serving an an early reminder of the imminent anniversary of last year's 5 day war.  South Ossetia apparently intends to demand the ...

Andrew Sullivan at the Daily Dish has posted a piece alleging that Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf accused Iran's contested President, Mahmoud Ahamdinejad, of giving up Iran's rights in the Caspian Sea to Russia in exchange for 'firm backing'.  You can read the piece here.Russian opposition coalition The Other Russia has seized on the story.

Makhmalbaf also claimed to have information that Russia had provided high-ranking consultants to teach Iranian authorities effective ways to repress the opposition.

Russia was one of the first countries to congratulate Ahmadinejad of victory in Iran's highly contested presidential elections.  Observers noted irregularities during the vote, and Mousavi has called the June 12th election a "charade."

As result of Russia's quick support for Ahmadinejad, as well as Makhmalbaf's accusations, supporters of the Iranian opposition staged a protest outside the Russian embassy in Toronto.

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TODAY: SCO wraps up in blaze of activity; Medvedev calls BRIC 'historic event'; no decision from US on defense system; German MPs agree Khodorkovsky trial is trial for Russian justice; Vaclev Havel speaks out against RussiaFor detailed step-by-step coverage of the SCO summit, see Ria-Novosti.  The countries endorsed the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov calling his visit to Russia 'symbolic'.  Yulia Latynina comments on long-standing collusion between Russia and Iran:  'Iran spends so much money on Russia that supporters of the Islamic revolution work in the Russian Embassy in Tehran'.   The summit also saw: the signing of a declaration affirming a multipolar world, castigation of North Korea, promises to help Afghanistan and ...

Over the weekend I had read the reports about the bitter "milk war" going on between Russia and Belarus, which is actually just one of many food-related trade disputes we've seen in recent months (see also the confusing ban on U.S. pork imports).  Most surprisingly, the Belarusian delegation refused to attend the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a relatively new regional grouping consisting of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.  Thanks to the Belarusian boycott of the summit, the CSTO was unable to sign the agreement to found a new NATO-like rapid reaction force to jointly respond to threats in the region (though the Uzbeks also refused to sign).  The Russians are naturally quite upset about the disobedience of Europe's last dictator - and at least one official let his/her tongue slip, threatening to ...

TODAY: Russia condemns North Korea 'Hiroshima' size bomb test; Lavrov says election result in Lebanon must be respected; Medvedev believes influence in CIS states should be extended; streamlining the military provokes discontentA spokesman for President Medvedev has said that 'North Korea's underground nuclear test in the region adjacent to the territory of the Russian Federation ... causes deep regret and the most serious concern'.  The detonation was, according to Russian experts, of a bomb roughly the same size as that dropped on Nagasaki or Hiroshima.  Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that the international community must recognize the results of Lebanon's upcoming general election, regardless of who wins.  This comment comes hot on the heels of those by US Vice President ...

TODAY: Troops begin controversial Georgia border control; EU fears Russia not a 'reliable partner'; Medvedev's first year analyzed; Russians unimpressed by income anti-corruption drive; democracy dwindling but economy bolstered in Sochi?; balletSurveillance on the borders between Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Geogia has begun with hundreds of troops deployed; Russia apparently plans to construct a naval base in Abkhazia.  Russian Ambassador to Abkhazia Semyon Grigoryev has set up the country's new Russian embassy.  Reuters has a list of 'tipping points' in relations between Georgia and Russia here.  The Chairman of the Duma's International Affairs Committee has apparently reiterated that Russia was forced to intervene in Georgia due to actions undertaken by President Mikheil Saakashvili.  'Any hope for trust, which is ...

Veronica Khokhlova at Global Voices Online, who's always been very kind to link over to us, has a great post up linking to a LiveJournal user blogging about a satirical protest staged in Tbilisi in front of the Russian Embassy to bring attention to the widespread looting and robberies being carried out under the Russian occupation. […] To the Russian embassy in Tbilisi they brought old refrigerators, toilets, rolls of toilet paper, irons, bottles of vodka, forks and spoons, clothes and other objects that [looters from the Russian army] took interest in during their visits to private houses of Georgians, state institutions, military bases and army barracks. People are coming up to have a closer look, shake their heads, laugh. Cars that are passing by are honking… The photos are worth a look.