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open access

The Balkans and Russia

Description: This report discusses relations between Russia and the Balkan countries of southeast Europe. Efforts by Russia to gain influence and hinder the Balkan countries in their relations with the EU through "soft power" and intelligence activities are discussed.
Date: January 31, 2018
Creator: Morelli, Vincent L.
open access

Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons

Description: This report provides basic information about U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It begins with a brief discussion of how these weapons have appeared in public debates in the past few decades, then summarizes the differences between strategic and nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It then provides some historical background, describing the numbers and types of nonstrategic nuclear weapons deployed by both nations during the Cold War and in the past decade; the policies that guided the dep… more
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
open access

Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) Status for Russia and U.S.-Russian Economic Ties

Description: The change in Russia's trade status will require legislation to lift the restrictions of Title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 as they apply to Russia, which includes the “freedom-of-emigration” requirements of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. The process for Russia's accession has been completed. As a result, Members of the 112th Congress confront the issue of whether to grant Russia permanent normal trade relations (PNTR).
Date: January 30, 2012
Creator: Cooper, William H.
open access

Russian Political, Economic, and Security Issues and U.S. Interests

Description: This report discusses the current political and economic conditions in Russia, focusing on the impact of Vladimir Putin's leadership and the leadership of his successor/protégé, Dmitriy Medvedev, both of which have steered Russia away from democratization. The report also discusses the state of the economy since the Soviet collapse in 1999, how the recent global economic downturn has affected Russia, the state of Russia's military, and the current relationship between Russia and the United Stat… more
Date: January 29, 2010
Creator: Nichol, Jim; Cooper, William H.; Ek, Carl; Woehrel, Steven; Woolf, Amy F.; Hildreth, Steven A. et al.
open access

Stability in Russia's Chechnya and Other Regions of the North Caucasus: Recent Developments

Description: This report provides background information on terrorist attacks in Russia's North Caucasus that includes the formerly breakaway Chechnya and other ethnic-based regions--appeared to increase substantially in 2007-2009. The report discusses impact of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict and the recent development in the Northern Caucasus.
Date: January 27, 2010
Creator: Nichol, Jim
open access

Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons

Description: This report provides basic information about U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It begins with a brief discussion of the differences between strategic and nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It then provides some historical background, describing the numbers and types of nonstrategic nuclear weapons deployed by both nations during the Cold War and in the past decade; the policies that guided the deployment and prospective use of these weapons; and the measures that the two sides have take… more
Date: January 14, 2010
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
open access

Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the United States' and Russia's objectives when they began discussions on the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty and a summary of how they resolved these differences when concluding the negotiations. It then describes the key provisions in the Treaty, offers a brief assessment of how each nation fared in achieving its objectives when negotiating this agreement, and a summary of reaction from U.S. and Russian commentators.
Date: January 12, 2010
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
open access

Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons

Description: This report provides basic information about U.S. and Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It includes a brief discussion of the differences between strategic and nonstrategic nuclear weapons; provides some historical background about nonstrategic nuclear weapons deployed by both nations during the Cold War and in the past decade; reviews the issues that have been raised regarding the continued deployment of these weapons; and concludes with a review of policy options that might be explored b… more
Date: January 28, 2009
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
open access

Russia

Description: Vladimir Putin won reelection as Russian President in March 2004, in an exercise in “managed democracy” in which he took 71% of the vote and faced no serious competition. The pro-Putin Unified Russia party similarly swept the parliamentary election in December 2003 and controls more than two-thirds of the seats in the Duma. Also in March, Putin replaced long-serving Premier Kasyanov with a little-known bureaucrat, Mikhail Fradkov, indicating Putin’s intent to take the reins of the government ev… more
Date: January 6, 2006
Creator: Goldman, Stuart D.
open access

Democracy in Russia: Trends and Implications for U.S. Interests

Description: U.S. attention has focused on Russia's fitful democratization since Russia emerged in 1991 from the collapse of the Soviet Union. Many observers have argued that a democratic Russia with free markets would be a cooperative bilateral and multilateral partner rather than an insular and hostile national security threat. President Putin's 2004 proposal to restructure the government has been supported by international observers. The U.S. Administration and Congress have welcomed some cooperation wit… more
Date: January 28, 2005
Creator: Nichol, Jim
open access

Nuclear Weapons in Russia: Safety, Security, and Control Issues

Description: This report provides background information on the location of nuclear weapons at the time of the demise of the Soviet Union and their subsequent relocation to storage and deployment areas in Russia. It also provides a description of the safety, security, and control issues raised in 1991 and in more recent years. It includes a brief listing of the cooperative programs and assistance the United States has provided to Russia and the other former Soviet states in an effort to address concerns abo… more
Date: January 21, 2004
Creator: Woolf, Amy F.
open access

The Former Soviet Union and U.S. Foreign Aid: Implementing the Assistance Program, 1992-1994

Description: In fiscal year 1994, the new states of the former Soviet Union became collectively the second largest recipient of U.S. foreign assistance made available from all sources. Whether and how the assistance program is helping to bring about democratic systems and free market economies is increasingly a question of interest to Congress and the public at large.
Date: January 18, 1995
Creator: Tarnoff, Curt
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