Newly Independent States (NIS) / Russia [2002-2004]

Year: Present-2005 | 2004-2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1990s

Jump to: General | CBW | Missile | Nuclear

General

Posted: July 13, 2004

The 2004 Russian Government Reforms

Since last February, when President Putin dismissed top Cabinet officials shortly before the Russian presidential elections, the Russian government has been undergoing major reforms.
CNS Feature Story by Cristina Chuen.

Posted: March 13, 2004

Overcoming Impediments to U.S.-Russian Cooperation on Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Report of a Joint Workshop

A joint product of the U.S. National Academies (of which Dr. William Potter is a member) and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Posted: May 16, 2003

The Duma Ratifies the Moscow Treaty

On May 14, 2003 the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly (the Russian parliament), ratified the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (also known as SORT or the Moscow Treaty) by 294 votes against 134 with 22 abstaining.
Report by Nikolai Sokov.

Posted: May 14, 2003

U.S. Efforts to Halt WMD Proliferation: Past Experience, Current Programs, and Future Priorities

Testimony by Clay Moltz
Subcommittees on Europe and on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights of the Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives

Posted: May 5, 2003

Russian Policy on the North Korean Nuclear Crisis

Russia is highly concerned about the recent turn of events on the Korean Peninsula and what it perceives as the U.S. escalation of tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
A report by Clay Moltz.

Posted: April 9, 2003

The Russian Nuclear Arms Control Agenda After SORT

"When the Russian Duma finally ratifies the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), will it mark the beginning of a new era of bilateral cooperation between Washington and Moscow or the closing chapter in arms control negotiations between Russia and the United States that sought to regulate the Cold War?"
An article by Nikolai Sokov for Arms Control Today.

Posted: February 17, 2003

Is This Russia's Chance to Return to Centre Stage?

"Many Russians feel the United States has pushed North Korea into a corner."
An op-ed by Cristina Chuen for the South China Morning Post.

Posted: February 17, 2003

Russia's Views On the Crisis in Iraq

In the wake of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's U.N. address on February 5, 2003, it quickly became evident that his presentation did not have an immediate effect on Russia's position.
Feature Story by Michael Jasinski.

Updated: January 2003

Weapons of Mass Destruction in Central Asia

Central Asian states are free of nuclear weapons, have signed and ratified major international nonproliferation treaties, and are making strides to either eliminate or to properly safeguard WMD material. There is still work to be done, however, particularly to strengthen the region's export and border control systems.
An issue brief by Kenley Butler for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Posted: September 9, 2002

John Wolf Interview: Details on G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of WMD

On August 28, Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation John Wolf spoke with CNS, regarding the agreement reached at the June 26-27 Kananaskis G-8 Summit to launch a Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
Feature Story by Leonard Spector.

Posted: August 12, 2002

The 10 plus 10 over 10 Initiative: A Promising Start, But Little Substance So Far

On June 27, 2002, the G-8 issued a statement outlining a new initiative, in which the G-7 would raise up to $20 billion over the next 10 years to fund nonproliferation projects in Russia and other nations. The so-called "10 plus 10 over 10" initiative, calls for the U.S. to contribute $10 billion, and the other original G-7 nations a combined $10 billion.
Feature Story by Cristina Chuen, Michael Jasinski, and Tim Meyer.

Posted: July 2002

The Treaty of Moscow

The U.S.-Russian summit held in Moscow and St. Petersburg on May 24-26, 2002 capped the process of rapprochement between the two states that began in earlier summits in Ljubljana, Genoa, Crawford, and Shanghai, with both aspiring to leave behind the logjams of the Cold War.
An issue brief by Victor Mizin for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

CBW

Posted: April 11, 2004

The Soviet Anti-Plague System

A report by Sonia Ben Ouagrham-Gormley, Alexander Melikishvili, and Raymond A. Zilinskas on the history of the AP system, covering the period from the late 19th century to 1992, including its accomplishments, organization, work programs, and responsibilities.

Posted: January 8, 2004

The EU Moves Closer to Establishing a European CDC

Should everything go according to plans, the European Union (EU) will have its European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) becoming operational by 2005.
CNS Feature Story by Alessandro Andreoni.

Posted: January 23, 2002

Ricin Found in London: An al-Qa`ida Connection?

In January, British authorities arrested seven men suspected of producing ricin in their north London apartment. At least one had attended an al-Qa`ida training camp in Afghanistan.

Posted: November 4, 2002

The Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis: Incapacitants and Chemical Warfare

Following the resolution of the hostage crisis, much has also been made of the Moscow theater incident with respect to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and even the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
Feature Story by CBWNP.

Updated: October 4, 2002

The 1971 Smallpox Epidemic in Aralsk, Kazakhstan, and the Soviet Biological Warfare Program

Occasional Paper No. 9, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, June 2002
by Jonathan B. Tucker and Ray Zilinskas.

Updated: August 26, 2002

Public Health Experts Comment on Analysis of the 1971 Smallpox Outbreak in the Soviet Union

CNS invited several leading microbiologists and public health experts to comment on the analysis of an official Soviet report describing a previously unknown outbreak of smallpox in 1971 in the city of Aralsk, Kazakhstan.
Feature Story by Jonathan B. Tucker and Raymond A. Zilinskas.

Posted: August 5, 2002

Conflicting Evidence Revives "Yellow Rain" Controversy

Two conflicting pieces of evidence--a declassified CIA report and a yellow-green shower in India--may revive the 20-year-old debate over Yellow Rain, which remains a lingering mystery of the Cold War.
Feature Story by Jonathan B. Tucker.

Posted: June 17, 2002

CNS Releases Secret Soviet Smallpox Report

CNS released the first authoritative English translation of an official Soviet report describing a previously unknown outbreak of smallpox in 1971 in the city of Aralsk, Kazakhstan, then located on the northern shore of the Aral Sea.
Feature Story by Jonathan B. Tucker.

Posted: March 19, 2002

Biological Decontamination of Vozrozhdenie Island: The U.S.-Uzbek Agreement

Washington D.C. Office 2002 Briefing Series, January 18, 2002

Missile/Nuclear

Posted: June 8, 2004

The Global Partnership and Submarine Dismantlement

Dismantlement of nuclear-powered submarines in Russia is a priority for the G8's Global Partnership project. The following report outlines the current state of dismantlement efforts and recommendations.
CNS Feature Story by Cristina Chuen.

Posted: March 13, 2004

Overcoming Impediments to U.S.-Russian Cooperation on Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Report of a Joint Workshop

A joint product of the U.S. National Academies (of which Dr. William Potter is a member) and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Posted: February 24, 2004

Military Exercises In Russia: Naval Deterrence Failures Compensated By Strategic Rocket Success

These exercises give a reasonably clear picture not only of what the Russian Armed Forces are now, but, more importantly, what they are likely to become in the future.
CNS Feature Story by Nikolai Sokov.

Posted: February 13, 2004

"Suitcase Nukes:" Permanently Lost Luggage

Although the allegations of al-Qaeda buying nuclear weapons from Ukraine are apparently groundless, it still seems advisable to continue closely monitoring the situation surrounding portable nuclear devices.
CNS Feature Story by Nikolai Sokov.

Posted: December 3, 2003

Russian Submarine Dismantlement Issues

Russia's decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines continue to present serious proliferation-related and environmental threats. Without foreign support it would take Russia many years to handle the problem.
Feature Story by Cristina Chuen.

Posted: October 10, 2003

Russian Ministry of Defense's New Policy Paper: The Nuclear Angle

In the end, the Ministry of Defense seems to believe that nothing but military power can guarantee Russia's security and interests, especially given the suspected propensity of the United States for unilateral, often not fully logical military escapades.
A report by Nikolai Sokov.

Posted: September 19, 2003

Russian-Ukrainian Missile Cooperation

On July 25, 2003, the last of 30 sets of boosters for SS-19 ICBMs were delivered to Russia by an Ukrainian state export company. Although not unprecedented, it may be a precursor to closer cooperation between Russian and Ukrainian ballistic missile design and production facilities.
Feature Story by Michael Jasinski.

Posted: June 26, 2003

Russia's Nuclear and Missile Technology Assistance to Iran

Russian assistance for the Iranian nuclear program has long been an irritant in the U.S.-Russian relations. The revelations concerning Iran's hitherto unknown uranium enrichment efforts, which propelled Iran's nuclear ambitions to the center of the world's attention, added a new dimension to the controversy.
By Michael Jasinski.

Posted: June 5, 2003

The Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program in the Russian Federation (MNEPR)

After four years of negotiations, the Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Program in the Russian Federation (MNEPR) Framework Agreement was signed in Stockholm on May 21, 2003.
Report by Egil Tronstad and Cristina Chuen.

Posted: May 16, 2003

The Duma Ratifies the Moscow Treaty

On May 14, 2003 the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly (the Russian parliament), ratified the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (also known as SORT or the Moscow Treaty) by 294 votes against 134 with 22 abstaining.
Report by Nikolai Sokov.

Posted: May 14, 2003

U.S. Efforts to Halt WMD Proliferation: Past Experience, Current Programs, and Future Priorities

Testimony by Clay Moltz
Subcommittees on Europe and on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights of the Committee on International Relations of the U.S. House of Representatives

Posted: May 5, 2003

Russian Policy on the North Korean Nuclear Crisis

Russia is highly concerned about the recent turn of events on the Korean Peninsula and what it perceives as the U.S. escalation of tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
A report by Clay Moltz.

Posted: April 21, 2003

Little-Known Commercial Enterprise Poised to Take Over Russian Plutonium Disposition

Securing funds for plutonium disposition was a challenge for Russia from the beginning.
Feature Story by Dauren Aben.

Posted: March 27, 2003

Russian Nuclear Exports to Iran: U.S. Policy Change Needed

On March 29, the State Department is scheduled to report to Congress on nuclear proliferation prevention in Iran.[1] Part of the report is likely to focus on Russia's role in Iran's nuclear development.
Feature Story by Cristina Chuen.

Posted: February 26, 2003

Russia's Approach to the U.S. Missile Defense Program

Russia considered the ABM Treaty as the cornerstone of strategic stability and one of the most important strategic documents between Moscow and Washington. U.S. withdrawal from the Treaty and the Bush administration's focus on the development of a nationwide missile defense system is seen by some Russian political and military elites as a resuscitation of the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative.
An issue brief by Victor Mizin for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Posted: February 26, 2003

Russian Spent Nuclear Fuel

The Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy plans to commercially import, temporarily store, reprocess, and repatriate spent nuclear fuel (material that has been withdrawn from a nuclear reactor following irradiation, or SNF). Illegal until July 2001, opponents continue to protest against the project, and fight to amend Russian laws yet again.
An issue brief by Cristina Chuen for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Posted: February 2003

Russia's Approach to the U.S. Missile Defense Program

Russia considered the ABM Treaty as the cornerstone of strategic stability and one of the most important strategic documents between Moscow and Washington.
An issue brief by Victor Mizin for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Posted: January 24, 2003

Russian Responses to the North Korean Crisis

Russian responses to the crisis in North Korea (DPRK) have ranged from strong concern about proliferation of nuclear weapons to sympathy for the North Korean viewpoint.

Posted: September 30, 2002

Central Asian States Achieve Breakthrough on Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty

"In a major step strengthening the global nuclear nonproliferation regime, diplomats from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have agreed on the text of a treaty establishing a Central Asian nuclear weapon-free zone (CANWFZ)."
Feature Story by Scott Parrish.

Posted: September 23, 2002

"Suitcase Nukes": A Reassessment

Attention to portable nuclear devices ("suitcase nukes") peaked in 1997-early 1998 following well-publicized allegations that an unknown number of these weapons could not be accounted for. This paper assesses the threat that a number of them could have fallen into the hands of terrorists or states that support them.
Feature Story.

Posted: September 9, 2002

John Wolf Interview: Details on G-8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of WMD

On August 28, Assistant Secretary of State for Nonproliferation John Wolf spoke with CNS, regarding the agreement reached at the June 26-27 Kananaskis G-8 Summit to launch a Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction.
Feature Story by Leonard Spector.

Updated: July 25, 2002

Resources on Russian Nuclear Submarines

Information on the Kursk accident, the Naval Reactor and Submarines Database, and related articles.

Posted: July 19, 2002

Ghost of Russia's K-19 Haunts Us

The K-19 is still with us, one of 190 decommissioned Soviet nuclear-powered submarines rusting at their piers. As many as 100 of them still have nuclear fuel on board, risking a reactor incident or diversion of material for a terrorist radiation weapon or "dirty bomb."
An op-ed by Cristina Chuen for the Los Angeles Times.

Updated: July 2002

Plutonium Disposition

The United States and Russia pledged to eliminate excess weapons-grade plutonium in order to prevent its theft or diversion for illegal nuclear programs and to prevent its reincorporation into their weapons programs. Plutonium is of the greatest concern because only 8 kilograms are needed to make a nuclear bomb. An issue brief by Elena Sokova for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Posted: June 26, 2002

Russian Floating Nuclear Reactors - Proliferation Risks

For the past 10 years, high-ranking officials from Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom) and Rosenergoatom have been expressing unequivocal support for construction of floating nuclear power plants in remote areas of the Russian Far North and East. Construction of Russia's first floating nuclear power plants is moving ahead.
Feature Story by Eduard Fesko.

Posted: June 14, 2002

Challenges in U.S.-Russian Cooperation

Paper by William C. Potter presented at the Conference on Cooperative Threat Reduction in the 21st Century, Oslo, Norway (June 1, 2002)

Posted: June 10, 2002

Russian Exports of Sensitive Equipment and Technology

Testimony by Leonard S. Spector
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee
Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services

Posted: May 27, 2002

Renewed U.S. - Russian Controversy Over Nuclear Testing

The uncertainty over the nature of activities at the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site in northern Russia has frequently been a factor in U.S. government decisions on stockpile stewardship and participation in international treaties. The lack of transparency at the two countries' test sites has contributed to mutual suspicions and calls by some parties in both countries for the resumption of testing.
Feature Story by Michael Jasinski, Cristina Chuen, and Charles Ferguson.

Posted: May 14, 2002

"START III": An End Or Beginning of Negotiations

"During their meeting on May 23-25, Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin will sign a new agreement on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons, often referred to -- especially in the Russian press -- as 'START III.'"
Feature Story by Nikolai Sokov.

Posted: May 1, 2002

Yadernoe Nerasprostranenie (Nuclear Nonproliferation)

A college-level Russian-language textbook, edited by Vladimir Orlov and CNS Senior Research Associate Nikolai Sokov, published 2000.

Posted: April 16, 2002

Workshop on Russian Nuclear Regionalism and U.S. Policy

On April 5, 2002, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies held a workshop in Washington, D.C., on the topic of "Russian 'Nuclear Regionalism' and Challenges for U.S. Nonproliferation Assistance Programs."

Posted: March 25, 2002

Russian Military Violating Nuclear Safety and Inventory Rules by Shipping Damaged Fuel

Feature Story.

Posted: March 4, 2002

Greater Attention Pledged to Russian Triad's Naval Leg

Feature Story.

Posted: March 2002

Illicit Nuclear Trafficking in the NIS

The events of September 11, 2001 have intensified concern that terrorist groups will attempt to steal weapons-useable nuclear material in order to build a nuclear weapon. Although stocks of these materialsplutonium and highly-enriched uranium (HEU)exist in many countries around the world, the largest inventory in the world is held in the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS). Owing to economic and political turmoil, this material is vulnerable to theft. An issue brief by Scott Parrish for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI).

Posted: February 18, 2002

Russia to Lease Two Nuclear Submarines to India

Feature Story.