

The predictability of the election outcomes contrasts with unpredictability of Georgia’s further development.

The improvement in the U.S.-Iran relations was quite expected after Hassan Rowhani came to power. The main question today is that of mutual confidence and the genuineness of the intentions of the new Iranian president.

With revolutions across the Arab world, Russia’s chances for strengthening its position in the region look increasingly slim. The Kremlin must change course and ensure that its approach to the Middle East and Islamists reflects post–Arab Spring realities.

The tenth-anniversary Valdai Club meeting was named “Russia’s diversity for the Modern World.” Nevertheless, the issue of diversity was put to the side by other hot current issues: the recent Russian elections, corruption, and Syria.

The SCO summit will take place in the atmosphere of heightened international tensions brought on by the Syrian conflict, but the possible criticism of the United States will be quite meaningless.

Barack Obama has made a decision to “punish” Bashar Assad with a quick strike. Is taking on the role of the Supreme Arbiter and usurping the right to punish someone acceptable?

The majority of people, and particularly those in power, would like to skip over this “unnecessary anniversary.” People do not value August of 1991 because of a collapse that followed and a nightmare of bungled but inevitable reforms that took place right after.

Hosting the Olympics in close proximity to the restive North Caucasus is not just a test of Russia’s athletic prowess but also—and more importantly—of the Kremlin’s prestige and its ability to ensure security in the most challenging of situations.

Paradoxically, as the Central Asian authorities cite the Arab Spring to discredit democracy and justify the existence of authoritarian systems in the region, the events in the Middle East also made the local elites realize that changes are indeed necessary.

The Turkish protests have become a sort of a response to the Arab Spring. While in the Arab world the Islamism has gained strength, its moderate Turkish version has suffered a serious blow.