26 Armenians were killed In the pogrom of Sumgait, in Azerbaijan, 35 years ago. In February 1992, Russian-Armenian troops attacked the Azerbaijani city of Khodžali. Perennial tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
He was the great prompter in the first two presidential terms of the Russian 'tsar'.Promoter of a Russian presidential model of 'imperial democracy'. He ended up on the fringes of power for opposing Putin's tenure.
The hardest on the Kremlin are the Kazakhs. Turkmenistan most aligned with Moscow's positions. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan the most guarded. All are on hold, not knowing whether to realign with the old masters, or join the new divisions.
They are economists, journalists, academics and activists. They demand the truth about the arrests after the January 2022 protests. The system favours parties directly and indirectly linked to the ruling elite. Electoral Commission controlled by the government.
An effort at reconciliation between leaders who have fought each other. The thorny Bakiev case, convicted at home for abuse of power. In 30 years of independence, the country has had only one peaceful transition to power. Some believe that Biškek is moving towards an authoritarian drift.
The well-known Putin opponent filtered it from the Melekhovo prison. Divided into 15 points, it envisages the 'dismantling' of the Putin dictatorship. End the war and recognise the 1991 borders between Russia and Ukraine. Replace the presidential model with a parliamentary republic.
Changes generated by the war on Ukraine. Kiev remains enemy number one, Belarus the country with the best relations. Kazakhstan fluctuates, increasingly viewed with suspicion by the Kremlin. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are stable. The understanding with Georgia improves.
Pressure on Ašgabat to shelve the development of the Trans-Caspian pipeline, which should supply the EU. Moscow wants Turkmen gas to go to Turkey via Iran. Turkmenistan is unlikely to be intimidated by the Kremlin.
Synergy for common defence of traditional Christian morals in the face of "the invasion of liberal ideology". Ethiopian Orthodox experience internal schism reflected in the country's civil war. Now they claim the support of their 'Russian brother' Kirill, unwilling to compromise in diatribes with other Orthodox jurisdictions.
Historical tensions remain between the two Nato countries. The issue of Skopje's entry into the European Union. The Russians are used to acting as masters in Bulgaria, thanks to the entrenchment of their security services.
Armenians agree EU observer mission at disputed border with Azerbaijan. The irritation of the Kremlin, their historical partner. The Russians fear that Armenia is preparing a geopolitical turn. After Syria and Ukraine, risk of a third front of conflict between Putin and the Western front.
The 'Russian Theatre' in Berlin puts on a play about the war in Ukraine. Built along the lines of the historical play 'It wasn't me, it was Adolf Hitler'. It tries to understand what the majority of Russians think about the conflict. 'Russia will be able to rise again on the road of repentance'.
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