General Assembly Highlights!

Putin's Youth Leagues

Youth Groups Created by Kremlin Serve Putin’s Cause

New York Times
By STEVEN LEE MYERS
Published: July 8, 2007
A youth movement seeks the ideological cultivation, some say indoctrination, of the first generation to come of age in post-Soviet Russia.

Sochi and the New Turkmen Persona

It's a fascinating time to be in Russia. Sochi just won the bid for Winter Games which baffled many of us. Putin's presentation to the Olympic Committee was the first time I had ever heard him speak English. I do hope this will push Russia to deal with issues of environmental degradation and it's role in the world (maybe it will even improve customer service) as the games approach. There's much to be done.

The NY Times also had an interesting piece on the new leadership in Turkmenistan.

Seeking the Persona of New Turkmen Leader

By C. J. CHIVERS
Published: July 5, 2007
Turkmenistan’s new president holds the keys to enormous gas fields and state coffers and has promised reform.