This briefing sets out the general risk environment within which personnel from Western NGOs and foundations will be operating in Russia. The operating environment for human rights defenders and civil society activists in Russia has become even more constrained. Many activists have been subject to harassment and violence. Furthermore, the Russian president has repeatedly expressed his fear that Western countries use NGOs to manipulate Russian public opinion in order to stir up popular discontent.
Tag: Russia
Intelligence brief: Russia’s electronic warfare capability in Ukraine
Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have significant advantages over Ukrainian forces in the area of electronic warfare. Russian forces are effectively able to nullify the Ukrainian communications and GPS signals in the regions they are deployed to. The advantages the Russians are enjoying in this area are directly contributing to the losses suffered by the Ukrainian armed forces. Western supporters of Kiev might consider supplying the Ukrainians with defensive capabilities, including electronic countermeasures.
Iran seen from Beijing
China views Iran as a central element in its much-touted Silk Road Economic Belt, which aims to extend Beijing's influence overland through Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and Europe. This article for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Open Briefing analyst Kevjn Lim discusses Iran's importance to China, including the geostrategic Iran plays as China's most convenient non-Russian access route to open waters and the only east-west/north-south intersection for Central Asian trade.
The monthly briefing, April 2015: Summit of the Americas will test US relations with Cuba and Venezuela, relations between China and Myanmar sour, Iran and P5+1 reach outline agreement
Political and security risk updates from Open Briefing and Bradburys Global Risk Partners. This month: summit of the Americas will test US relations with Cuba and Venezuela; relations between China and Myanmar sour as conflict with Kokang rebels continues; Iran and P5+1 reach outline agreement on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme; and more.
Transnational organised crime monthly briefing, March 2015: Spotlight on Polar regions
Monthly intelligence briefing on transnational organised crime from Dr Mary Young. This month's spotlight on Polar regions highlights how transnational organised crime gangs are exploiting the Arctic's vast uninhabited areas and lack of dedicated police officers and criminal intelligence officers for human, drug and weapons trafficking and other illegal activities. It also discusses the US Coast Guard's evolving efforts to tackle such crimes in the Arctic.
The monthly briefing, March 2015: Philippines military engages militant Islamist groups, Hungary balancing between the East and West, fighting continues for control of key Syrian cities
Monthly briefing on political and security developments around the world. This month: Philippines military engages in large-scale offensives against militant Islamist groups; Hungary balancing between the East and West as prime minister seeks strong political ties with Russia; fighting continues for control of key Syrian cities as Islamic State kidnaps hundreds of Assyrian Christians; and more.
The monthly briefing, February 2015: China increases efforts to crackdown on separatist violence in Xinjiang province, political situation in Yemen unravels, regional task force to fight Boko Haram needs Nigerian support
Monthly briefing on political and security developments around the world. This month: China increases efforts to crackdown on separatist violence in Xinjiang province; political situation in Yemen unravels, spurring protest and domestic unrest; regional task force to fight Boko Haram needs Nigerian support; and more.
Why the EU wants Pakistan to condemn Russia. (And why it probably won’t.)
In December 2014, the EU envoy to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, urged the country to condemn Russia over what he characterised as ‘violations by a very aggressive Russia against Ukraine’. His intervention has been made at a time when there is a thaw in Pakistan-Russia relations after decades of animosity and mistrust. While the new friendship with Moscow is attractive for Islamabad, Wigemark’s warning puts Pakistan in a difficult position.
