October 12:
Tensions between the United States and Russia remain high regarding the ongoing trial of suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Russian officials have questioned the likelihood of a fair trial for Bout, reports the New York Times, and the Kremlin continues to regard Bout’s recent extradition from Thailand to America as illegal. Federal prosecutors in the U.S. have argued that Bout “jumped at the opportunity” to supply surface-to-air missiles, AK-47 machine guns, fragmentation grenades, sniper rifles, and explosives to men he believed to be members of the Colombian terrorist group FARC. For their part, several Duma officials have written letters to the judge, urging her to remain unbiased and calling Bout a “responsible and reliable entrepreneur,” and “an exemplary family man.”
The ongoing trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko could place Kyiv at a disadvantage in its negotiations with both the European Union and Russia. In an editorial for Bloomberg, Agnes Lovas and Daryna Krasnodatska suggest that the controversial trial has alienated the EU, which will force Ukraine to become increasingly reliant on Russia for gas supplies. “Ukraine’s already stuttering movement towards the EU ‘has come to a grinding halt,’” the authors cite one expert from the Centre for European reform as saying. “What they’ve done is sacrifice the European option for the sake of domestic political gains. Against their wishes, they are now somewhat closer to Russia.” Calling the gas deal reached in 2009 “discriminatory, unfair, and enslaving,” current Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych now is seeking to restart price negotiations with Russia, but the Kremlin so far has rejected these overtures.
October 14:
The Kremlin aims to hit Moldovan rebels where it hurts in its latest efforts to push Transniestrian rebel leader Igor Smirnov out of office: their alcohol. Smirnov, Reuters reports, is seeking his fifth presidential term, against Moscow’s wishes. Though Russian officials have cited multiple reasons for the ban on imports of the area’s brandy, the strategy is a well-known punishment the Kremlin has employed numerous times against ex-Soviet states that have fallen out of favor. A similar ban was placed on imports of Moldovan wine last year, after the country incorporated a “Soviet Occupation Day” into its calendar.
October 16:
In his latest attempt to reassure disgruntled supporters, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has publicly promised to “seriously reconstruct” the United Russia party, the Moscow Times reports. In front of about 200 carefully chosen guests, including businessmen, artists, activists, bloggers, and celebrities, Medvedev announced his intention to expand his cabinet upon assuming the position of Prime Minister next year. Medvedev's notional "expanded cabinet," of which scant details have so far been revealed, would work along with the “traditional Cabinet, United Russia, civil society, experts, regional and municipal authorities and voters,” the President said.
October 18:
The Kremlin has renewed its efforts to entice Ukraine to join a regional customs union after the country was snubbed by the European Union. Talks between the two sides became strained, Bloomberg reports, over the trial of the former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko - a case which the EU believes was politically motivated. EU officials postponed a planned meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich “to a later date when the conditions will be more conducive to making progress on the bilateral relations.” Meanwhile, a meeting between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine — all potential members for the customs union — has been scheduled in Moscow for later this month.
October 19:
Negotiations between Russia and the United States over the Obama administration's planned missile defense system in Europe have hit another wall. According to Reuters, Russian officials have cited a “dead end” in talks between the two countries - an impasse caused by continued Russian demands for binding guarantees that the system be limited so as not to invalidate Russia's nuclear deterrent. The U.S. has so far balked at granting such assurance, even as it has maintained that the system is designed solely to safeguard against attacks from countries with smaller arsenals, like Iran. The Pentagon has even invited the Kremlin to monitor an interceptor flight test to view the effects for themselves — an offer that was summarily rejected by Russian officials.