Balkans

Vladimir Putin’s future is featured in IZVESTIA’s collection of opinion pieces. Russia says a sweet and tasty “no” to meddling in its affairs and are the enemies we have the enemies we deserve? These topics are addressed by Russian newspapers.

A so-called “Orange” coalition has been formed in Ukraine and plans to announce candidates for Parliamentary Speaker and Prime Minister. The coliation is made up of supporters of Yulia Timoshenko and the Our Ukraine People’s Self-Defence Bloc.

One of Russia’s radical opposition leaders, Garry Kasparov, has been released from jail in Moscow on Thursday after serving a 5-day sentence.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has officially suspended the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. The decision was previously agreed by the Russian State Duma in November.

The Partnership Cooperation Agreement between Russia and the European Union has expired. It was signed ten years ago and will automatically be extended, but Russia says there is a need for a new long-term deal.

Advertising, forecasts and opinion polls have finished – now Russian voters must decide who they’ll vote for in Sunday parliamentary election. 24 hours of campaign silence began Friday at midnight Moscow time. 11 parties are vying for 450 State Duma seats.

Russia’s parliamentary election is off and running. Polls are now open in five time zones in the country’s eastern regions, including Chukotka, Kamchatka and the port city of Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. 11 parties are competing for 450 State Duma seats.

President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Friday suspending Russia’s participation in a key post-Cold War arms treaty, a move which could allow it to deploy more forces close to western Europe.

SARAJEVO (Reuters) – Bosnia’s Serb, Muslim and Croat leaders averted a crisis at the 11th hour on Friday by agreeing to back a controversial voting reform measure requested by the country’s international peace envoy.

BELGRADE (Reuters) – The United States alone can choose whether the Balkans experience stability or lawlessness, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on Friday, after the failure of negotiations with Kosovo Albanians.