CIS AND BALTICS PRESS REVIEW ON RUSSIA

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RIA Novosti, Russia
May 20 2005

ARMENIA

The statement of former Russian FSB colonel Alexander Litvinenko
that the shooting of the Armenian parliament on October 27, 1999 was
organized by Russian special services received a powerful reaction.
“Armenia’s National Security Council rule out the possibility that the
October 27 [incident] was organized by Russian special services… The
investigation and trial that received close attention did not reveal
even a hint at that.” (Aiots Ashkhar, May 11.) “The Russian citizen’s
[Litvinenko’s] statement is very serious and, of course, cannot be
ignored.” (Aravot, May 11.)

The media cite Western analysts who forecast Russia’s geopolitical
defeat due to the US policy in the CIS member states. “Russia is
being ousted from the post-Soviet states. The Kremlin itself, via
President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, has stated that the
CIS has failed as an integration structure and it is no more than a
presidential club for friendly meetings and discussions of topical
and less topical issues over a cup of coffee, as was the case at the
latest summit of some CIS leaders during the celebrations devoted
to the 60th anniversary of the World War II’s end in Europe.” (Golos
Armenii, May 17.)