#3 - JRL 6407
ORT Review
www.ortv.ru
Compiled by Luba Schwartzman (luba_sch@hotmail.com)
Research Analyst, Center for Defense Information, Moscow office
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
Saturday, August 24, 2002
|
The Russian Foreign Ministry called upon the Georgian government to join
forces and solve the problem in the Pankisi Gorge. The declaration asserted:
"As soon as Tbilisi moves from words to real action against terrorism and
to the unconditional fulfillment of promises implied under the anti-terrorist
resolution of the UN, the reasons for the complications along the
Russian-Georgian border will disappear." |
|
|
The rebel formation headed by Ruslan Gelaev is leaving the Pankisi Gorge
and heading towards Russia. |
|
|
Five soldiers died and four were injured when a driver lost
control of a military truck and the truck rolled down a mountainous slope.
Commander of the North Caucasus Military District Colonel-General Gennady
Troshev arrived at the site of the tragedy to oversee the investigation. |
|
|
A referendum on Constitutional Amendments is underway in Azerbaijan.
Citizens will be able to vote on questions including the cancellation of
parliamentary elections based on party lists, empowerment of courts to liquidate
political parties, and a new procedure for the transfer of presidential powers
to the prime minister. |
|
|
In a major operation in the Galsyn-Chu settlement of Chechnya's
Nozhai-Yurt
region an 80-strong rebel formation was blocked off by federal forces.
Representatives of the military say that most of the fighters were Arab
mercenaries. |
|
|
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov met with the leaders of the Duma's
centrist factions to discuss the 2003 budget. |
|
|
A funeral was held in Moscow for the nine residents of Akademik Korolev
Street, building No. 32, which caught fire Friday night. Acording to the
investigation, the fire was caused by a gas leak. |
|
|
Ukraine celebrates its independence day today. A military parade was held
in Kyiv. |
|
|
North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Il is finishing up his five-day tour of the
Russian Far East. He said that he is "one thousand percent satisfied"
with his trip. One of the projects Kim Jong Il discussed with Russian
authorities was the connection of the Trans-Korean and the Trans-Siberian
railroads. |
|
|
Russian Defense minister Sergei Ivanov continues his inspection of Russian
military divisions. He will attend military exercises in Kemerovo and then head
to the Chita headquarters of the Siberian Military District. |
|
|
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with journalists from the Far Eastern
Federal District. Questions at the press conference concerned issues from
Russian-Georgian relations to the development of the Far East. |
Sunday, August 25, 2002
|
|
A traditional cheese festival was held in Latvia. |
|
|
Chechen fighters set off a series of explosions in the republic. A landmine
was detonated under a military truck in the Cheri-Yurt settlement of the
Shalinsk region -- according to preliminary information, there were victims, but
precise information is not available; nine interior ministry troops from the
Karelia police division were injured by a landmine in Grozny; and three interior
ministry troops were injured by a landmine in the Gudermes region. |
|
|
The first stage of the anti-criminal operation in the Pankisi Gorge has
been completed successfully. Interior troops have entered the region and set up
seven block-posts. The military promises not to conduct cleansing operations in
the local settlements. |
|
|
Russian and Georgian officials continue exchanging scathing declarations
concerning the situation in the Pankisi Gorge. Georgian President Eduard
Shevarnadze asserted on national television that the whole world supports
Georgia. |
|
|
A major search operation is underway in the Ingush mountains, where eight
Russian border guards were ambushed by rebels. Two soldiers may have been taken
alive. According to another version, the soldiers deserted their posts. |
|
|
A mourning ceremony for the victims of the Mi-26 helicopter crash was held
in Rostov-on-the-Don. |
|
|
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov announced that Russia will help
prepare Afghan military cadres at the 201st motorized artillery division in
Tajikistan. |
|
|
President Putin continues his trip through the Far East. Today he met with
local scientists and fishermen to discuss the application of new technologies in
the fishing industry. |
|
|
In response to Washington's reproach to Russia for cooperating with a
number of Asian and Arabic states, Boris Malakhov, a representative of the
Foreign Ministry, declared that "this is not the first time when the
Pentagon took upon itself the uncharacteristic mission of making declarations on
behalf of American -- and not only American -- business. It is difficult to
judge who delegated the Pentagon to do that, and in what way." |
|
|
The trial run of contract military service system begins in the Pskov 76th
paratroopers division. If everything goes according to plan, the transition to
the system will be completed by next summer. |
|
|
Russian miners celebrate their professional day today. |
|
|
Four people died and 11 were injured in Primorsky Krai's Yaroslavsky
settlement when a local resident walked into a bar and opened fire. The criminal
then shot himself. An investigation is underway. |
|
|
According to the preliminary results of the referendum in Azerbaijan, over
97 percent voted in favor of the amendments put forward by the government. |
|
|
The Russian Cabinet submitted the draft 2003 Budget to the State Duma. |
Next Article
August 26, 2002:
#6407
- Back to the Top -