Eurasia / News
‘Velvet revolutionary’ Pashinian clear victor in Armenia’s general election
My Step Alliance takes 70.4% of the vote. ‘Old establishment’ Republican Party is crushed. ‘People power’ now represented in parliament.
Pashinian’s coalition heads for snap election landslide in Armenia
A non-violent revolution toppled the government in the spring but didn’t alter the make-up of parliament. The weekend vote looks odds-on to fix that.
Iran hit by rare suicide car bomber attack
Blame for terrorist bombing of Chabahar police HQ initially pinned on Sunni jihadi group Ansar al-Furqan.
Telia sells bribes-tainted Uzbek telecoms holding
Nordic parent company was hit by heavy fines imposed by US and Dutch regulators after becoming embroiled in a corruption scandal involving late president Islam Karimov’s daughter.
Iran’s missile launch tests Europe’s nuclear deal patience
Though France and the UK have stayed loyal to Iran in the face of the economic “war” waged on the country by the US, they hit out at Tehran’s “multi-warhead” rocket as “provocative”.
Georgian presidential runoff fallout: defeated candidate calls for mass protests, early general election
OSCE says campaign saw significant deviations from democratic principles. Winner, backed by Georgia’s richest man, “enjoyed an undue advantage”, it concludes.
Ruling party endorsed Zurabishvili wins Georgian presidency
Runoff prompts observers to question whether some voters were intimidated by Russia and Ukraine’s Sea of Azov clash.
Iraqi central bank bans citizens from taking dollars into Iran
Baghdad must balance competing demands of Tehran and Washington when it comes to abiding by US sanctions aimed at Iran.
Kazakh fugitive banker Ablyazov sentenced to life for orchestrating murder
A Kazakh court sentenced Kazakh fugitive banker Mukhtar Ablyazov to life in prison in absentia on November 27 for allegedly orchestrating the murder of ex-head of BTA Bank Yerlan Tatishev.
_Cropped_(1)_1543240576.jpg)
Rights groups reject UN finding that Uzbek cotton harvest now uses little forced labour
The practice is “still systematic and massive” says Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights.
CEO of Iran’s Azim Khodro faces fraud charges after non-delivery “of 8,000 pre-sold Chinese SUVs”
Millionaire behind car dealerships chain arrested after complaints mount up.
_Cropped_1542996945.jpg)
IMF says Uzbek economy shows early signs of overheating
Fund advises changes to macroeconomic policies that create excessive demand pressures in country back on the radar of international investors.
Catfight in Kyrgyzstan: President and predecessor show their claws
Almazbek Atambayev says he will seek to rein in Sooranbai Jeenbekov, the successor critics wrongly thought would turn out to be no more than a stooge.
Trump’s Khashoggi stance “bizarre” and “shameful” says Iran’s Zarif
Iranian foreign minister responds to US president’s move to stand by Riyadh despite brutal killing which the CIA has briefed was ordered by the Saudi crown prince.
Iran introduces petrol rationing to curb smuggling by profiteers
Collapse of rial in face of US sanctions has made country’s fixed-price fuel attractive on regional black markets.
Oligarch and party chief Ivanishvili buys Georgians’ bad loans ahead of election runoff
Eyebrows raised as tycoon’s foundation agrees to acquire in-default debt ahead of highly competitive November 28 vote faced by his favoured candidate.
Rogun turbine fulfils start of four-decade-old Tajik ‘mega’dream
Question mark over whether poor country has funds for other five turbines of project to include world’s tallest dam.
IMF sees inflation in Iran breaching 40% by year’s end
Repeating its warning that the country’s sanctions-triggered recession will worsen, the Fund also urges Tehran to align official currency-exchange rates with black market rates.
_Cropped_1542218172.jpg)
Austria opposed to hosting EU’s Iran SPV
Mechanism to enable sanctions-shielded trade with Islamic Republic can’t find a home. US scoffing at “paper tiger”.
Russia’s Sukhoi poised to scrap Iran’s Superjet order due to US components
Use of American parts means company would require Washington waiver to go through with delivery. Iranians searching high and low for planes they can acquire.