Week in Review: Assassination in Moscow, Designated Bank Accounts, and More..

cover Photo: Pixabay, illustrative purposes

Orda has put together a brief synopsis of this past week's news.

Big Dismissal and Moscow Assassination

News about the Prime Minister took Kyrgyzstan by surprise. Akylbek Japarov, previously praised for his "notable" contributions, was sacked. Only ambiguous clarifications followed, but follow-up statements suggest potential office abuse.

Against this backdrop, Kyrgyzstan's National Security Head, Kamchybek Tashiev, openly acknowledged he has no intentions of throwing his hat in the 2026 presidential ring, reaffirming support for the incumbent, Sadyr Japarov.

Meanwhile, two activists in Kyrgyzstan, Kanykei Aranova and Zarina Torokulova, could be transferred to a maximum security prison. Both have been convicted for Facebook posts. They are not the only ones to encounter a similar predicament over posts on social media.

And the scope of liability will expand with the defamation law coming into play.

News about a Russian general's assassination also shook Russia. Igor Kirillov and his assistant were killed in an explosion on Ryazansky Prospekt, Moscow. Akhmadzhon Kurbonov, A national of Uzbekistan, was later detained as the main suspect.

Later in the week, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev contacted his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. 

He expressed condolences over the loss of the above servicemen and reaffirmed continuing cooperation between the nations' special services in countering terrorism and multifaceted cooperation. 

The alleged perpetrator's nationality spurred subsequent discussions among GosDuma deputies to usher in visa requirements that could extend to Central Asians and people from the Caucasus. This traditional narrative has caused a recent "diplomatic" backlash.

In parallel, Uzbek authorities listed two Russian nationals, natives of Chechnya, as wanted via Interpol channels.

They are suspected of involvement in the assassination attempt on Komil Allamjonov. 

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The notices contain nothing about the assassination attempt; both suspects have been charged with illegal arms and ammunition trafficking, along with failing to report a crime or concealment. Only one faces smuggling accusations.

An earlier investigation by Radio Free Europe suggested a "Chechen link," which Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov vehemently denied. The link concerned an entirely different suspect, though.

Russian Clampdown

Alexei Navalny's lawyers also face accusations over affiliations, though the grounds are questionable. Each could receive 5-5.5 years for participating in an "extremist" organization.

The investigation claims the lawyers facilitated communication between Navalny and "FBK" members, an organization known for combating and exposing corruption in Russia. It has been designated as extremist in Russia. 

Russia has adopted another law obligating "foreign agents" to use special bank accounts, a move experts see as another tool to target opposition. They restrict said agents' access to specific income, e.g. from "foreign sources" and property sales.

The GosDuma also finalized a law that will allow for the Taliban's removal as a terrorist organization. Clarifications followed that the Taliban is still listed as such, however.

Read also: A Grand Scandal Is Brewing: Bapi Comments on Nazarbayev's Meeting with Putin

The law is a mechanism for temporary suspension of bans on terrorist organizations, alluding to Moscow maintaining a future fail-safe.

Ukraine's Strategic Adaptations

On a separate diplomatic front, Zelenskyy gave Le Parisien an interview, admitting that Ukraine lacks the necessary capabilities to return territory occupied by Russia. Yet, he reaffirmed his nation's view that negotiations with Russia have to include Ukraine and that occupied territory must be returned via concerted diplomatic pressure on Moscow.

At the same time, NATO has taken over coordinating military aid for Kyiv amid fears that the US would cut financing. European nations have initiated discussions on deploying peacekeeping missions to Ukraine upon a ceasefire, though no concrete conclusions have emerged.

Although the generated revenue finances Russia's war machine, four EU nations, namely Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Italy, advocated for an extension of Russian gas transit via Ukraine.

Despite Azerbaijan's gas being envisaged as replacing Russia's, the efforts fell through. No mutual conclusion had been reached, and Kyiv did not see rebranding Russian gas as Azerbajaini as a solution.

Budapest later revealed that it was in talks with Kyiv and Moscow about continuing transits via Ukraine as long as the gas was not Russian. Bratislava did as well.

Notwithstanding, the failure to set up an arrangement with Azerbaijani gas suggests a similar outcome. Indeed, Hungary's hindering aid for Ukraine, coupled with  Hungarian and  Slovakian authorities' pro-Russian sympathies, gives the Ukrainian authorities reason for suspicion.

Tensions in The Caucasus

The EU has continued attempts to mediate peace in Georgia amid ongoing protests.

While the Georgian Dream Party boasted that the EU general secretary's visit validated the legitimacy of the elections, Salome Zourabichvili, the current president, reasserted that she would not step down on December 29, when her term is set to end.

Facing threats of criminal prosecution, Zourabichvili announced a timeframe for the current authorities to re-hold elections.

EU Secretary General Alain Berse said his visit was warranted due to the escalating situation on the ground, emphasizing his lack of authority to legitimize elections.

Against this backdrop, the breakaway nation of Abkhazia requested electricity supplies from Georgia. 

Abkhazia is a territory Tbilisi and the national community see as Georgian. Abkhazia has been experiencing electricity shortages and is operating under a rolling blackout plan.

Some see the underlying reasons as corruption and crypto mining. Incidentally, a heated discussion about crypto mining was the reason for the recent parliament shooting that claimed one deputy's life.

Abkhazia has also approached Russia for help, and Moscow has satisfied the request.

Given the Abkhazian parliament recently voted against an investment deal with Russia, such a scenario could have uninvited repercussions.

Old Habits Die Hard

Armenia and Azerbaijan continued to clash this past week.

While dismissing the Zangezur Corridor, Yerevan is exploring other options concerning railway communications with Ankara. Nevertheless, the ongoing disagreements between Azerbaijan and Armenia will hinder the opening up of communications in the area.

Türkiye could exert influence on Baku, though such efforts have not materialized. Moreover, Türkiye has little to lose from not acting in this capacity.

And Ankara looks to be more keen on engaging in Syrian-related matters. Ankara and Baku's more symbiotic relationship will also embolden Azerbaijan to maintain its current narratives and agendas vis-a-vis Armenia. 

In this context, The interview Azerbaijani President's interview is striking. He gave it to a well-known Russian propagandist, Dmitry Kiselyov.

Aliyev criticized the West for arming Armenia and said Russia is a reliable "partner" from which Baku is ready to continue arms purchases. Yerevan has spoken out about Moscow's failure to deliver such purchases and the CSTO's inability to act, underscoring Aliyev's choice of words, especially considering Russia's "crusade" against the West.

Before the interview, Aliyev made claims regarding "West Azerbaijan."

"West Azerbaijan" is an incendiary term used to describe sovereign Armenian territory. Aliyev also suggested  Armenia's constitution contains claims infringing upon Azeribaijan's territory; Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded in kind.

The uncertainty that arises explains Armenia's efforts to diversify arms imports. This holds water, considering Iran, a nation consistent in supporting Armenia, may prove unreliable as it dives into reshaping its regional strategies after Assad's fall, namely deterrence against Israel.

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