By empty (5/14/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Russian Central Elections Commission (CEC) will provide all necessary assistance to the Election Commission of Chechnya to lay the groundwork for Chechen presidential elections, CEC Chairman Alexander Veshnyakov told the press on Friday. The election will be scheduled by the republic\'s Election Commission between August 15 and September 5, he said. If there is just one candidate, the election will be put off, Veshnyakov said.

By empty (5/13/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

US troops in Afghanistan have been accused of \"systemic\" abuse of prisoners by a human rights group. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it had documented \"numerous cases of mistreatment of detainees,\" similar to those reported in Iraq. The group said it had repeatedly warned Washington about the problems.

By empty (5/13/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Georgia\'s government is prepared to allow major Russian investors the opportunity to put their money into the Ajarian economy, Georgian Economics Minister Irakly Rekhviashvili told Mze television on Wednesday. Tbilisi and Batumi will soon host a Georgian-Russian economic forum, at which specific investment projects will be presented, Rekhviashvili said. \"Among priority projects are the development of the Batumi seaport, airport, oil refineries, a shipbuilding plant, and other large enterprises,\" he said.