By empty (4/15/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

National Accord Party (AMK) Chairman Artashes Geghamian, who went into hiding after police resorted to violence early on 13 April to disperse opposition demonstrators in Yerevan , convened a news conference at the parliament building on 14 April, RFE/RL\'s Armenian Service reported. He told RFE/RL that police who searched AMK headquarters and his apartment the previous day confiscated documents and even family photographs. Geghamian, together with two leading members of the opposition Artarutiun alliance, Albert Bazeyan and Viktor Dallakian, said the opposition will continue to campaign by constitutional means for the resignation of the present Armenian leadership.

By empty (4/15/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The website www.ingushetiya.ru reproduced on 14 April what appears to be a confidential memorandum to President Putin from Viktor Kazantsev, who was removed last month from his post as presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District.

By empty (4/15/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The UN Commission on Human Rights voted on 15 April to approve a harshly worded resolution calling on Turkmenistan to improve its treatment of ethnic minorities and overall human rights record. The resolution, which was proposed by the United States and the European Union, expresses profound concern at limitations on freedom of speech in Turkmenistan; the \"discriminatory practices of Turkmenistan\'s government toward ethnic Russians, Uzbeks, and other minorities\"; and \"state policy based on suppressing any political activity.\" Twenty-five countries voted in favor, 11 against, and 17 abstained, including Russia.