ESTONIA
Commenting on the leakage in the Druzhba pipeline, the press suggested that it was arranged by Russia in order to take revenge on Lithuania for selling its Mazeikiu Nafta refinery to Poland's PKN Orlen.
"By making repairs Russia is refuting accusations of imposing an oil blockade on Lithuania. Analysts believe that the announced repairs are Russia's way of putting pressure on PKN Orlen, which bought MN." (SL Ohtuleht, August 4).
The news that the Moscow Arbitration Court had declared Yukos bankrupt was accompanied by the usual comments about the political motives of the case and the Russian government's desire to establish state control in the oil sector.
"Yukos' dismantling is seen as an important landmark of President Vladimir Putin's rule and a sign that Russia is ready to liberalize only within rigid limits set by the government. Critics believe that the Kremlin viewed Khodorkovsky's influence as a threat to its power." (SL Ohtuleht, August 3).
"The campaign against Yukos, whose climax came in the bankruptcy hearings, has political motives. The Russian government intended to destroy Yukos from the very beginning... Moreover, many viewed the Yukos case as an attempt by the government to establish control over the country's huge oil reserves." (Delfi, August 2).
LATVIA
The press called into question the official explanations for the disruption in the supply of Russian oil to the Mazeikiu Nafta refinery.
"The suspension of oil deliveries to Lithuania has been explained by the need to reduce pressure on the pipeline in the Bryansk Region, where an accident took place in late July. However, the most likely reason is the Kremlin's desire to punish Lithuania for selling MN to Poland's PKN Orlen instead of Russia's Rosneft and Gazprom. This theory is proved by the fact that the Belarussian Naftan refinery continues receiving its due amount of oil despite the accident. This bolsters suspicions that Transneft, the Russian [pipeline operator] monopoly, is using the minor crack in the pipeline as a pretext to suspend oil supplies to Lithuania in order to punish it." (Neatkariga rita avize, August 4).
LITHUANIA
The main topic covered in the Lithuanian mass media is the suspension of oil supplies from Russia. The main explanation being discussed is political revenge by the Kremlin for the "incorrect" sale of the Mazeikiu Nafta refinery.
"The oil taps stand dry not because of the accident in the Bryansk Region, but because of the Kremlin's political decision, and the evidence is abundant. First of all, oil to Belarus is pumped through the same pipeline, but their supply does not seem to have stopped for a minute. Secondly, a week later Russia announced that the oil meant for MN was already on its way to Ukrainian ports and may not reach MN for a year. There is no talk of resuming normal, mutually beneficial and responsible commercial cooperation." (Lietuvos rytas, August 7).
Experts point out that the long-term suspension caused by the poor condition of Russia's oil export infrastructure may undermine Europe's confidence in Russian suppliers and therefore damage Transneft.
"The incident gives the West yet another reason to question Russia's reliability as an energy exporter. Foreign mass media are already saying that the reliability of the world's second-largest oil exporter is questionable: the oil transportation system built in the Soviet era is coming apart at the seams, so it would be naive to hope for an uninterrupted, long-term supply." (Lietuvos zinios, August 7).
UKRAINE
Some journalists view the success of Viktor Yanukovych and his Party of Regions as a sign that a significant number of voters want Ukraine to return to its pro-Russian position. "Voters' motives are simple and terrifying: they voted for the Orthodox Christians as opposed to the Americans, for the Russian language and a union with Russia. There is no thought of Ukraine in these motives. There are no political, economic, social or ideological considerations. Instead of voting for Ukraine, they voted for Russia and against Ukraine." (Obozrevatel, August 8).
Experts are against Ukraine's orientation towards strategic partnership with Russia, viewing it as a threat to the country's sovereignty. "If everything is oriented towards appeasing Russia, Ukraine is hopeless. Russia will never do something for nothing. It has its own oil and gas interests. Russia wants one thing: to get rid of the Orange ideology and practices in Ukraine because they threaten Russia's so-called managed democracy." (Den, August 4).
MOLDOVA
The return of Moldovan wines to the Russian market remains one of the hottest topics. There are reports that the Russian Federal Service for Consumer Protection is studying a plan drafted by Moldova-Vin, the state agricultural agency, which lists measures Moldova is taking to ensure tough control over its alcohol production. The agency's director general, Valeriu Mironesku, said Russians' affinity for Moldovan wines would keep the latter on the Russian market. "Russians like Moldovan wines for their special taste and will never give them up. Russians have an innate feeling for Moldovan wines' quality," he said." (Infotag, August 3).
ARMENIA
Moscow will take advantage of the United States' preoccupation with the Middle East conflict to strengthen its influence in the South Caucasus, experts believe. "Russia-influenced zones in Georgia (Abkhazia, South Ossetia and supporters of former President Eduard Shevardnadze) are uniting again, and there is no doubt that Russia is behind all this. It is simply making it clear to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili that the wine war is not the end and that there are many ways to keep Georgia in Russia's orbit... The moment is very convenient, as the U.S. is stuck in the Middle East conflict." (168 zham, August 2).
"It is no coincidence that since Israeli troops invaded Lebanon, the situation on the Russian-Georgian border has deteriorated.... [Russia] needs to counterbalance the long chain of wars in the south by opening a 'northern front'". This is necessary because Russia is failing in its attempt to use an increasingly independent Iran in its bargaining with the West. On the other hand, Iran's weakened anti-Western stance and an eruption of hostilities against Israel and the U.S. would put Russia at risk of losing the entire South Caucasus and Central Asia." (Hayots Ashkhar, August 2).
GEORGIA
The media are increasingly writing about Russia's aggressiveness. Journalists point out that Russia's pressure on Georgia has recently reached a new high. "We are going through one of the most critical moments of our modern history. Russian imperialism is trying to do all it can to snare Georgia in order to occupy and annex it for a third time. The Israeli-Lebanese war has given Russia a good opportunity to annex Georgia." (Rezonansi, August 7).
"In the last few days, the Russian defense minister and his department have demonstrated a lack of political scruples. When talking about the legitimate government of Georgia, he used the adjective 'so-called', and presented the Sukhumi regime as legal. In this way, instead of acting as a mediator, 'peacemaking' Russia positioned itself as an adversary in the conflict, as a supporter of aggressive separatism. The Georgians have the gall to conduct a military operation on the border with Russia, and if they take one step towards the peacekeepers, they will regret it, Ivanov warned. But who asked Russia in which Georgian village we can temporarily put these or other authorities? There is no doubt that nothing can help Georgia until Russia gives up its aggressive attitudes or the world community silences it." (Sakartvelos Respublica, August 3).
AZERBAIJAN
Opposition publications believe that the Russian presidential administration, if not President Vladimir Putin himself, is behind the recent public statements by the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) and Deputy Speaker of the Duma, Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
"The words of the LDPR chairman, who wears a cap and bells at the Russian court, and his seemingly absurd statements are later manifested in the Kremlin's policy.... Observers think that because he mentioned the possibility of regime change in Azerbaijan, there must exist a scenario drawn up by the Kremlin.... By accusing Baku of a pro-Iranian policy, Zhirinovsky has voiced the Kremlin's warning to Azerbaijan, a warning which has been on the agenda since 1996 but has now been expressed in a clearer form.... The Kremlin intends to punish Baku if it does not change the pro-Western orientation of its policy, and if it continues striving for integration with NATO and the European Union." (Ekspress, August 2).
The media are pessimistic about the idea of setting up a Liberal International in the CIS. "Today, all democrats in the CIS are trying to unite. Thus, Russia's Union of Right Forces political bloc has recently suggested an idea to establish a Liberal International to include right-wing and centrist parties in the CIS.... But the situation with the consolidation of right-wing forces in the CIS is far from promising.... The prospects of cooperation between all CIS right-wing forces have been practically reduced to naught." (Zerkalo, August 3).
KAZAKHSTAN
The main topic of the week is the crash on Kazakh territory of the Russian-Ukrainian RS-20 Dnepr carrier rocket with 18 satellites from five countries on board.
Until the Russian side officially admitted the damage inflicted on Kazakhstan, the press had been writing about Moscow's initial attempts to conceal information about the catastrophe and its magnitude. "In the first hours after the crash, Moscow was giving contradictory information about the site of the accident, which made it difficult for the authorities to take adequate measures." (Kazakhstanskaya Pravda, August 3).
"The Russian side claims that the area around Baikonur is not contaminated with heptyl; the rocket fuel could have burned up completely upon collision with the ground. But the leader of the environmental organization Tabigat, Mels Yeleusizov, believes that Moscow stands to gain by saying that the Dnepr crash has done no damage to the environment of Kazakhstan because in that case Russia will not have to pay a huge fine.... The Russians are not particularly interested in the fragments, and always say that the fuel has burnt up to the last drop. So the Kazakhs should stop beefing - everything has been paid for in advance."
(Navigator-II, August 2).
KYRGYZSTAN
The opposition press is bewildered by the appointment of Kyrgyz former Prime Minister Nikolai Taneyev to the post of general director of Russia's Gazpromneft investment company. "In Kyrgyzstan Taneyev is accused of several crimes.... We do not understand why the Russians have supported the fugitive prime minister. His appointment to an important position in Russia's biggest company leaves too many questions...." (Enesay, August 4).
UZBEKISTAN
The press is concerned about the plans of Russian Aluminum (RusAl) to modernize the Tajik Aluminum Plant (TadAZ). There are fears that an increase in the plant's capacities may further damage the already polluted environment of Uzbekistan, which is within range of the plant's emissions.
"We are increasingly alarmed by the plans of Russian Aluminum to upgrade TadAZ.... An increase in its capacities would be tantamount to an ecological disaster." (Zerkalo XXI, August 4).
TAJIKISTAN
The press is commenting on the decree signed by the Russian president calling for measures to facilitate the voluntary return of "compatriots" residing abroad. The media are interested in how this will be done in practical terms.
"For Russia this is an opportunity to improve its demographic situation and upgrade the economy in a number of regions; for residents of the former Soviet republics this is a chance to change their social and economic status.... (But) who are these compatriots? Russians only, or all residents of the former Soviet Union, who had a common country and one big Fatherland?" (Vecherny Dushanbe, August 3).
