By Chemen Durdiyeva (9/7/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Not long ago, Mr. Niyazov fired Yolly Gurbanmuradov, his deputy prime minister over charges of embezzlement of major state funds, property theft and abuse of his government position. Mr.

By Alman Mir Ismail (9/7/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

This rather significant improvement in the registration process comes partly as a result of intense pressures from international organizations as well as a desire on the part of authorities to hold relatively freer and fairer elections to avoid velvet revolutions similar to those in Ukraine and Georgia. According to official statistics from the Central Election Commission, 2,237 persons applied to the district election commissions for signature forms, and 2149 of them have returned completed signature forms. Under pressure from the Council of Europe, the Azerbaijani Parliament earlier this summer adopted a number of amendments to the Election Code, one of which was the reduction of requirements for the candidates to get registered.

By Kakhka Jibladze (8/24/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

According to the announcement, the government will reclaim property from private owners if the owners do not develop the property within a set time frame. There have been no reports on when this initiative will begin, however reportedly the proposal aims to reclaim valuable enterprises and property if it is proven that the private owners are not employing enough workers or utilizing the property to its full capacity.

Economists and others in Georgia have spoken up against the plan, claiming it is will make Georgia less attractive to investors and further weaken the rights of property owners in Georgia.