As the Kyrgyz parliamentary elections near, Moscow’s attempts to influence the elections’ outcome is becoming more obvious. By using both its hard and soft power, the Russian leadership has been supporting favorable candidates, while marginalizing others before the vote on October 10.

• October 6, 2010

The Obama administration is hoping for an overwhelming Senate vote this year to ratify the new arms control treaty with Russia, the chief U.S. negotiator said Tuesday.

• October 6, 2010

Environmental group Greenpeace sharply criticised Swiss power stations Tuesday for using nuclear fuel from a Russian reprocessing centre at Mayak, claiming it was one of the world's most polluted.

• October 6, 2010

Russian gas producer Itera and oil company Zarubezhneft have planned to jointly explore offshore sites in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea until 2012, said Itera Board Chairman Igor Makarov on Monday.

• October 5, 2010

The Kremlin stepped up its criticism of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday, shortly after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused the autocratic leader of creating ill-will between the two nations.

• October 5, 2010

Ukraine's nuclear power plant state operator Energoatom and Russia's Atomenergomash, controlled by the state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, have reached an agreement to set up a consortium to launch local production of equipment for nuclear power plants.

• October 5, 2010

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is planning to visit Russia, Belarus and Iran to reinforce ties with some of his close allies.

• October 5, 2010

Latvia’s Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is seeking a cooperation deal with an opposition party backed by the country’s large Russian-speaking minority in a bid to broaden his government’s support base after a strong election win.

• October 5, 2010