Stories written by Kester Kenn Klomegah
Kester Kenn Klomegah is the IPS Moscow correspondent. He covers politics, human rights issues, foreign policy and ethnic minority problems. His research interests include Russian area studies and Russian culture. Kester has worked for several years with the Moscow Times. He has studied social philosophy and religion and spent a year at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. He is co-author of ‘AIDS/HIV and Men: Taking Risk or Taking Responsibility’ published by the London-based Panos Institute. In 2004, he was awarded the Golden Word Prize for excellence in journalism by the Russian Media Union, a non-governmental media organisation in Moscow.

Greta Bagdasarian, an Armenian survivor of domestic violence Credit: Amnesty International

HUMAN RIGHTS: Ominous Silence About Domestic Violence

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Over a quarter of Armenian women have been hit or beaten by a family member and about two thirds have experienced psychological abuse, yet the state grossly fails to prevent, investigate and punish domestic violence, say researchers and rights activists.

ABKHAZIA: Russia Offers a Boost

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Russia is stepping up investment in Abkhazia and South Ossetia after recognising their independence last year.

TRADE: ‘‘Russia Should Extend More Preferences to Nigeria’’

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
As cooperation between Nigeria and Russia is strengthened, Russia should consider extending preferences to some goods from Nigeria to further boost trade between the two oil producers, according to the deputy director of the Russian Academy of Sciences’s Institute for African Studies, Professor Dmitri Bondarenko.

RUSSIA: In a New Gas War with Ukraine

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The Ukraine-Russia gas dispute has boosted plans for construction of the South Stream and North Stream gas pipelines that would eventually divert Russian gas supplies through the Black Sea and the Baltic seabed respectively to European consumers.

ETHIOPIA: Russian Business to Showcase Goods at Addis Ababa Fair

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
When the 13th Addis Ababa International Trade Fair officially opens tomorrow, the Russian trade delegation hopes to make its presence felt with participating industrial companies and business enterprises.

RUSSIA: Problems Rise With Falling Oil Prices

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The Russian economy is plunging into a crisis as oil prices fall and the government digs deep into its reserve fund.

RUSSIA: Looking for a Handshake with Obama

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Russian leaders are looking for new opportunities for improved relations with the U.S. under President Barack Obama, after a period of increasing tensions between the two countries.

TRADE: Russia Supplying Legal And ‘‘Illegal’’ Arms to Africa

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Russia's state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, plans to grow the volume of Russian armament and military equipment to Africa over the next four to five years. This comes on top of allegations that Russia is selling arms to smuggling and contraband rings, thereby contributing to conflict on the war-torn continent.

RUSSIA: Migrant Workers Forced to Head Home

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The worsening recession is hitting foreign workers from the ex-Soviet republics far harder than it is affecting Russians.

RUSSIA: The Bear Begins to Punch Again

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Through a difficult 18 years since the end of Soviet political dictatorship, Russia has steadily made its way back on to the global stage.

RUSSIA: Gas Dispute Raises Political Heat

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Disputes over gas supply from Russia to Europe have again taken on a political dimension.

BELARUS: Still Out in the Cold

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has failed to win the support of European Union (EU) member states and the United States following elections last month, that international observers found largely incompatible with democratic standards.
Alexander Milinkevich Credit:

Q&A: 'Little Hope of Fair Election'

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich fears signs that the elections due in Belarus this Sunday will not be free and fair. President Alexander Lukashenko's government continues to stifle the media, he says.

RIGHTS-SIBERIA: Young Ready to Change Mind On Death Penalty

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Young people in Siberia, the vast Russian region once notorious for its Soviet penal colonies, have shown readiness to give up their support for the death penalty as soon as they are exposed to views of opponents to capital punishment.

GEORGIA: ‘Provoked Into Aggression’

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvilli has become an uncertain sort of leader. At first, he won praise after successfully leading the popular 'Rose Revolution' in 2003 that catapulted him into power. Now he has received global condemnation for the military attack that he ordered in the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.

RUSSIA: Plan Putina Faces Pitfalls

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Now as Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin has started to pursue vigorously his own long-term strategic development plan that was used to garner votes during the last presidential elections.

AFRICA: Russia Behind China and Brazil in Building Relations

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The Soviet-era connections between Russia and some African states have collapsed into low levels of economic engagement between the former partners, with the arms trade remaining the exception.

ECONOMY-AFRICA: Russian Tourist Market Ripe For the Picking

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The number of Russian tourists visiting African destinations is steadily increasing due to rising incomes and the desire to have uncommon wildlife experiences, according to travel agencies.

RUSSIA: Tight Curbs Placed on Foreign Labour

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Russia is not increasing grant of work permits despite a growing demand for foreign labour.

RUSSIA: Chasing China in Africa

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
A 500 million-dollar development assistance package to Africa marks a new move by Russia to catch up with Chinese expansion into Africa.

UZBEKISTAN: 'Torture on the Rise'

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Use of torture has increased sharply in Uzbekistan following the last election of President Islam Karimov, a rights group says.
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