By Alima Bissenova (2/22/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

U.S. AMBASSADOR CRITICIZES KYRGYZ CONSTITUTION AS 'STEP BACKWARD'8 FebruaryIn a statement in Bishkek, U.

By Alima Bissenova (2/6/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

UZBEKISTAN CUTS GAS SUPPLIES TO TAJIKISTAN

24 January

Fathiddin Mukhsiddinov, a senior official of Tajikistan's state-owned natural gas distributor TojikGaz, said on January 24 in Dushanbe that Uzbekistan has cut its supplies of natural gas by one-third. Mukhsiddinov explained that the Uzbek decision to cut off gas supplies was due to the roughly $7 million in arrears that TojikGaz owes Uzbekistan. But he noted that the arrears arose from the fact that TojikGaz is owed some $5 million by the Tajik state-owned Barqi Tojik energy company, another $2.

By Alima Bissenova (1/25/2008 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Georgian prosecutors indict Patarkatsishvili for conspiracy, terrorism10 JanuaryThe Georgian Prosecutor General's Office has indicted businessman Arkady (Badri) Patarkatsishvili for a number of serious crimes, including conspiracy to overthrow the government, preparations for an attack on a political figure, and preparations for a terrorist attack, the Prosecutor General's Office told Interfax.  As Patarkatsishvili is outside Georgia at the present time, a summons to the Prosecutor General's Office for questioning will be delivered to his family, it said. (Interfax) 

KAZAKH MINISTER REPORTS ON FATAL MINE EXPLOSION13 JanuaryAt a press conference in the town of Abai in Karaganda Oblast, Kazakh Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Bozhko said on January 13 that the January 11 methane explosion at a local coal mine will result in the suspension of mining operations there "for many months.