CIS spymasters take their orders from Moscow

World Bank to share best practices with CIS statistics committee 

As part of its International Comparison Program, the World Bank is sharing statistical good practice with the Commonwealth of Independent States' Moscow-based interstate statistical body. It relies on Russian consulting firms.

Russia pushes for defence focus within Eurasia's block 

Despite tensions between the heads of the CSTO, a Eurasian alliance intended to act as a counterweight to NATO, Russia plans to have its member states focus on defence through more concrete action away from political declarations.

Central Asian spymasters want to return Russia's focus to Afghanistan 

Silovik chief Nikolai Patrushev is still taking part in discussion forums run by Central Asia's intelligence chiefs worried about the Taliban security risk. But with all their efforts focused on the war in Ukraine, Russia's armed forces have been forced to gradually disengage from that part of the world.

• RUSSIA - Kremlin explores new foreign policy concept

• UNITED STATES - Senator Scott Young enlists DNI communications director.  

• FRANCE - French senators point to weak representation in international organisations. 

• KYRGYZSTAN - Bishkek's former spymaster to head embassy in Ukraine 

• FRANCE - Paris wants to join international scene of Chinese intelligence analysis 

Afghan tensions affords Bishkek spymasters strategic regional role 

Taking advantage of the renewed prominence of Central Asia following the Afghan outbursts, the Kyrgyz spymasters are seeking to consolidate their position and to assert the interests of Bishkek in the regional dynamics between Beijing, Islamabad and New Delhi.

Kyiv quietly fuming over Russian memorial to Soviet-era secret agent in Crimea 

Being both head of the SVR and chairman of the Russian Historical Society puts Sergey Naryshkin in a position to reinstate a number of Soviet-era intelligence officers and in doing so furthering the Kremlin's regional strategy.

Sergei Korolev to carry Shanghai Pact's anti-terrorism flag 

Russia has appointed rising intelligence star Sergei Korolev to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, as it renews its membership with the regional alliance and ramps up efforts to counter various groups it qualifies as terrorist or extremist.

Russian services regroup in Dushanbe as NATO withdraws from Kabul 

NATO's early withdrawal from Afghanistan, which should be complete on 25 June a few days before US troops pull out on 4 July, is enough to make Russia and its central Asian partners nervous about the road ahead.

Putin struggles to renew strategic guard in Middle East 

Faced with significant diplomatic and security stakes in that part of the world, the Kremlin is renewing the close guard of siloviki in charge of Russian strategy in the Midle East. But it is struggling to include the younger generation.