Tajikistan is demanding no less than $250 million a year from Russia for the lease of a military base on its territory, Kommersant reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed source. Russia and Tajikistan are reportedly having difficulties agreeing on terms for the base's lease, which is due to expire in 2014. Russia currently has 7,000 military personnel stationed at the base.

• July 12, 2012

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has today left his country an official visit to Azerbaijan, according to the press service of the state.

• July 11, 2012

Russian President expressed readiness to shift to “a new, mutually beneficial partnership level” with Kyrgyzstan. “Today I am asking you to report on prospect projects with Commonwealth partners, including possibilities of shifting to a new mutually beneficial partnership with countries, for example, with Kyrgyzstan,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday at the session of the Commission on Fuel and Energy Complex and Environmental Security.

• July 11, 2012

Russia and Kazakhstan are set to sign an agreement by the end of this year on the creation of a joint regional air defense system. The documents are ready and currently being agreed on at presidential administrations of the two states, Kazakh Air Defense Chief Nurzhan Mukanov told journalists on Wednesday, reports Itar-Tass.

• July 11, 2012

India has given state-run insurers approval to provide limited cover to its ships transporting Iran's oil, allowing refiners to avoid any interruption in supplies because of the constraints of an Iranian fleet struggling with tough Western sanctions.

• July 10, 2012

A senior Russian official said Monday that Moscow is halting its weapons sales to Syrian authorities until the situation there calms down.

• July 9, 2012

The President of Georgia received Prime Minister of Moldova Vladimir Filat. The meeting was held in an informal atmosphere in the estate of President Mikheil Saakashvili in Kvareli (Kakheti, eastern Georgia), the administration of President of Georgia said on Monday.

• July 9, 2012

New U.S., Canadian and European economic sanctions against Iran have taken effect over the last eight days, aimed at finally persuading Iran to give up its quest for nuclear weapons.

• July 9, 2012