Issue # 10
03/24/2014
Ukraine intends to appeal to international courts against Russia's illegal actions in Crimea. You can find more details in the section "SITUATION IN CRIMEA". READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 07.04.2014  |  External Relations
•  

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

Key points:

• Special report on Ukraine: A tense month dominated by political relations between Russia and Ukraine, and by commercial relations between Gazprom and Naftogaz, as debts and price negotiations leave Naftogaz in a difficult situation
• EU antimonopoly investigation into Gazprom could be delayed by crisis in EU-Russia relations; Gazprom’s deals in Germany and the UK come under renewed scrutiny in context of current international tensions
• Nord Stream: EU delays resolution of OPAL exemption
• South Stream: Uncertainties remain, despite Gazprom’s optimism and the signing of a contract with Saipem for the laying of South Stream’s offshore section
• Gazprom CEO expects to sign contract with CNPC in May
• Gazprom plans for access to Crimean gas deposits and a doubling of gas production in the region
• A month of milestones, as Gazprom celebrates 50m tonnes of LNG exports from Sakhalin-II and 100 bcm of gas exports via Blue Stream

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 03.04.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 1-15th 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• The death of another Gezi Park protester sends opposition protesters into the streets two weeks ahead of municipal elections.
• While the AKP has been hampered over the last year, polls indicate little change from past election results as opposition candidates lack the star power to counter the AKP’s leadership.
• Fethullah Gulen blasts the ruling government in an op-ed, calling its authoritarian tactics a challenge for Turkish democracy.
• The AKP-Gulen Movement split causes further mistrust between Washington and Ankara, as the White House openly rebukes Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan for mischaracterizing a discussion with President Barack Obama.
• Crimea secedes from Ukraine, though its Tatars sit out the referendum. Aside from expressing concern about their plight, Ankara has little leverage over their fate in the new Crimean Republic.

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 21.03.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Issue # 9
03/17/2014
The Autonomous Republic of Crimea has held a referendum in which the peninsula's population voted for joining the Russian Federation. Read more in SITUATION IN CRIMEA READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 20.03.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Issue # 08
03/10/2014
The Crimean parliament has decided on the autonomy's joining Russia as "a subject of the Russian Federation". Situation in eastern Ukraine remains unstable. You can find more details in the sections "SITUATION IN CRIMEA" and "DOMESTIC POLITICAL". READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 17.03.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher and Andrew Judge

Do such organisations exist beyond the ‘self fulfilling prophecy’ level? Amidst the current tensions about Russian military deployment in Crimea, there has been considerable speculation in the European and American media about the security of Russian gas supplies to the EU. Such speculation is generated by a combination of concerns over the level of dependency on Russian gas imports faced by several EU member states and fears that the Russian government considers gas exports to be an ‘energy weapon’ that can be deployed against its former Soviet neighbours. This short article will address the likelihood of a suspension of Russian gas supplies to Ukraine and the impact of such a suspension on EU gas imports. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 15.03.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during February 18-28th- 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• Ukraine loses control of the Crimean Peninsula, to the dismay of the region’s Muslim Tatar population.
• Turkey’s historical and cultural ties to the Crimean Tatars increase the chance that the conflict escalates. However, its connections may also offer a path for Turkish diplomatic efforts to intercede in further confrontation between Russia and the West.
• Leaked audio tapes appear to implicate Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan and his son of wrongdoing in the corruption scandal, though their authenticity remains disputed.
• Erdogan hits back following the recordings release, claiming that the international media, the Gulen Movement and other outside powers are behind the investigations.
• The peace process with the Kurds remains frozen as Abdullah Ocalan appears to warn the Gulen Movement against undermining the country by attempting a coup.

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 12.03.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Issue # 07
03/03/2014
The Russian military have seized Ukrainian weapons and gained control over Crimea, the media have reported. You can find more details in the section "SITUATION IN CRIMEA". READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 10.03.2014  |  External Relations
•  

A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics at the European University of St Petersburg

Key points:

• The calm before the storm: Gazprom fails to assuage EU concerns over pricing as EU continues preparing statement of objections in antitrust investigation
• Gazprom set to extend contract with Greece
• Gazprom agrees to withdraw from management of Amber Grid, and offers Lithuania lower gas price
• Russian loan to Ukraine strongly tied to Naftogaz’s debt to Gazprom
• Nord Stream AG completes feasibility study for expansion, with UK as target market
• South Stream consortium signs pipe supply contract for offshore section as Gazprom presses ahead with the project, despite uncertainties
• Gazprom and Shell sign roadmap for third LNG train at Sakhalin-II
• Gazprom HQ could relocate from Moscow to St. Petersburg by 2015

• EGF Editorial  |  Published on EGF: 27.02.2014  |  External Relations
•  

Edition #6
02/24/2014
On 23 February 2014, the Ukrainian parliament passed a resolution authorizing speaker Oleksandr Turchynov to act as the president of Ukraine until a new head of state is elected. The presidential election has been set for 25 May 2014. READ MORE

• Gorshenin Weekly  |  Published on EGF: 24.02.2014  |  External Relations
•