Threats to Stability of Karachay-Cherkessia
By Dr. Edward Djegutanov
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In 2005, Dr. Stephen R. Bowers attended a conference in Karachay-Cherkessia that dealt with the republic's response to terrorist threats. One of the presentations was made by Dr. Edward Djegutanov who is the Director of the Karachay-Cherkessia Humanitarian University. He and Dr. Bowers collaborated in preparing Dr. Djegutanov's conference remarks for publication by the Center for Security and Science. The paper is an examination of current threats to the republic's physical safety and sovereignty.
Frozen and Forgotten Conflicts in the Post-Soviet States: Genesis, Political Economy and Prospects for Solution (Lessons from Moldova)
By Ambassador Ceslav Ciobanu
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​Examines one of the most disputed issues in post-Soviet history - regional conflicts in the Black Sea - South Caucasus - Caspian region and explores their roots, their current status, and prospects for resolution.
The Stability of the Dniester Moldovan Republic: A Post-Electoral Analysis
By Oazu Nantoi, Dr. Stephen R. Bowers, and Thomas Houlahan
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Analyzes the issue of stability of the Dniester Moldovan Republic in the context of the communists' electoral victory and Voronin's rise to the Presidency, which drew the Republic of Moldova closer to the Russian Federation.
Moldova: The Dniester Moldovan Republic (DMR)
By Ceslav Ciobanu
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The subject of this report - the "Dniester Moldovan Republic" (the Transnistria region of Moldova) - is a central issue for understanding the genesis, current situation and prospects for conflict resolution and stability in this region.
Illegal Weapons Traffic in Eastern Europe
By Zaur Borov and Dr. Stephen Bowers
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The primary focus of this study is on illegal weapons trade in Romania and the Caucasus region of the former USSR. Illegal weapons traffic in these regions is linked with both organized crime and terrorist activities. The main source of weapons for conflicts in the Caucasus region is corruption in Russian military circles.
Islam in the North Caucasus: A People Divided
By Yavus Akhmadov and Dr. Stephen R. Bowers
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Religious diversity has had a dramatic impact on the development of the North Caucasus region. People do not identify primarily with either a national or international Islamic community. This paper examines religious issues in the Caucasus region, with special emphasis on the Chechen conflict.
Transdnistrea: The DMR Political System
By Andrei Safronov
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The Transdnistrean region formally separated from what was at the time the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic on 2 September 1991 as a result of the collapse of the USSR. Powerful secessionist tendencies on the left bank of the Dnestr had been noted since 1989 as a response to the national radical movement headed by the National Front Moldova (NFM) which had gained power throughout the territory of Bessarabia. In early 1990, the NFM ended its second congress with a declaration that the Republic of Moldova was the second Romanian state and the ultimate goal of the Front was the unification of Moldova and Romania into a single state.
Montenegro: Vassal or Sovereign?
By Octavian Sofransky, Dr. Stephen R. Bowers, and Marion T. Doss, Jr.
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The authors conclude that Montenegro could be the key for Balkan peace. Relieved of its Yugoslav appendix, Serbia might finally focus inward on the pressing economic problems and opt for democratization and cooperation with the international community. However, it might also be that Montenegro is a trigger for a new protracted civil war, a new Vietnam, which will immerse the future of Balkan people in uncertainty.
Papers Presented at the Conference on Conflicts in the North Caucasus: Social and Political Balance in the Region
By Center for Security and Science
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Includes papers written by Andrei Kamenshcikov, Yavus Akhmadov, Vsevolod Ryazanov, Adlan Dinayev, Roman Gashayev, and Albert Avduev. All papers deal with the social and political issues of the North Caucasus, including illegal military formations, the influence of mass media, and the origin and evolution of conflicts in the region.
False Documents in Former USSR
By Dr. Stephen R. Bowers, Mousafar A. Olimov, Viorica Vladeca, and Valeria Ciobanu
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The false documents trade is prevalent in three areas: counterfeiting of passports and identity cards, creation of false documents for vehicle sales, and education certifications. This activity facilitates the movements of terrorists from Afghanistan and Somalia through Tajikistan and toward the West via Moldova. This paper explores the techniques used in the production and marketing of false documents.
Religious Brotherhoods in Chechnya
By Yavus Z. Akhmadov, Dr. Stephen R. Bowers, Marion T. Doss, Jr., and Valeria Ciobanu
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​In 1997, Professors Stephen R. Bowers and Marion T. Doss, Jr. began an effort to promote the systematic study of the problems of political violence and eventually opened an office in the Former Soviet Union to develop research on this topic. Their operating philosophy governing was that such a base would enable them to involve local scholars in research, thus producing internationally based studies that would reflect both the U.S. and the non-U.S. perspectives. This document is the first produced by this method and is a study of the Chechen Sufi brotherhoods in Chechnya and their role in that conflict.
The Social and Political Background of Moldova's 2005 Elections
By ​Elizabeth Villarroel
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Research Associate and Monitor for Moldova's 2005 Elections
The Parliamentary elections on March 6, 2005 were monumental in that they have marked a departure from past elections. This shift has been a result of the new geopolitical situation in which Moldova now finds itself. The greatest significance of the 2005 elections was in solidifying President Voronin's western-leaning intentions
A Survey of Islamic Fundamentalist Activism in Central Asia and the Caucasus
By Dr. Stephen R. Bowers and Valeria Ciobanu
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This survey of regional elites, conducted in November 2001, concludes that the goals of the region's Islamic fundamentalist groups include mobilization of Islamic faithful into radical activities, planning for sabotage of US military operations, and working to overthrow secular regimes.
Kitaani: Georgian Ossetians
By ​Dr. Stephen R. Bowers and Ekatarina Janiashvili
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In spite of a South Ossetian independence referendum, there are indications that this trend does not mean the alienation of all Ossetians from Georgia. Residents of Kitaani recognize their special kinship with nearby Ossetian villages but their allegiance is with the Georgian nation.
Assessments of the Russian petroleum industry
By Professor Rodion Kandyba of Pyatigorsk State University
Minister of Energy of Russia Alexander Novak and Deputy Energy Minister Kirill
Molodtsov have provided useful insights to the development of Russia’s petroleum
industry and its future prospects. This essay is based on a review of recent
observations made by Novak and Molodtsov.