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.

DEATH PENALTY-BELARUS: Officials Hint Moratorium a Step Away

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Belarus - the last country in Europe to apply the death penalty - will eventually abolish capital punishment by presidential decree or parliamentary vote, rather than by calling on the people to decide the issue in a referendum.

RUSSIA: Youth Get a Push Towards Nationalism

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
A new plan has been set up to promote nationalism among Russian youth.

TRADE-RUSSIA: Ethiopia Seeks Preferential Treatment for Coffee

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
After several months of trade negotiations in the joint Russian-Ethiopian economic commission, Russia is considering allowing Ethiopia to bring in its different brands of aromatic coffees on a preferential basis.

RUSSIA: Non-Presidential Putin Prepares for New Power

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
In his last days as President, Vladimir Putin has prepared to bring federal representatives under control of the cabinet in an effort to influence policy after he takes over as Prime Minister.

RUSSIA: Where Migration Means Trafficking

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
New efforts have been launched to curb human trafficking across Russia and the ex-Soviet republics.

RUSSIA: Nuclear Deal with Egypt Signed

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
After years of diplomatic negotiations, Russia and Egypt finally signed an agreement Tuesday that paves the way for cooperation in the civilian nuclear energy sector.

RUSSIA: Not Seeing Eye-to-Eye with US on Missiles

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defence Robert Gates have held meetings in Moscow that some foreign policy and military experts say are unlikely to produce significant results.

RUSSIA: In a Quick New Embrace with Germany

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
In his first week as president-elect, Dmitry Medvedev has sought to build new bridges with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The reinforced relations rest on the pillar of a major energy deal.

RUSSIA: New Focus on Neighbourhood

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Foreign policy experts have raised concerns about Russia's relations with its neighbours after the presidential election that gave first deputy prime minister Dmitry Medvedev a landslide victory.

RIGHTS-UZBEKISTAN: ‘EU Must Take Away the Cover’

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Uzbek human rights activists have written a letter to President Islam Karimov challenging the unlawful detention of several of their colleagues.

RUSSIA: To the Putin-Medvedev Cocktail

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
First deputy prime minister Dmitry Medvedev overwhelmingly won Russia's presidential election with a wide margin in the first round Sunday.

RUSSIA: Putin’s Shadow Set to Rule

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Russians will vote in a new presidential election Sunday that opposition leaders and human rights activists have described as a roll-call for endorsement of a Kremlin sponsored candidate and of President Vladimir Putin's political strategy to keep power in the new administration.

RUSSIA: Disputes Arise Over Presidential Poll

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Russia is engaged in a new confrontation with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ahead of presidential elections due Mar. 2.

RUSSIA: Campaign to Elect New President Begins

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The political campaign for election of a new president has begun, with President Vladimir Putin setting social policy as the tone for his party candidate.

GEORGIA: Protests Rise Over Elections

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Leading opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze has accused the Georgian government of widespread fraud in the last presidential election after the Central Election Commission released the final results declaring Mikheil Saakashvikli winner and new president.

GEORGIA: President Re-Elected In Disputed Poll

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Mikheil Saakashvili has been elected to a second term of presidency amid electoral disputes. He leads with 55.23 percent of the vote, followed by opposition candidate Levan Gachechiladze with 23.86 percent.

UZBEKISTAN: Call to Boycott Slave Children Cotton

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
A group of civil society activists has called for immediate boycott of Uzbek cotton produced by forced child labour.

RUSSIA: The Meat of the Polish Dispute is Politics

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
When Russia agreed to lift its ban on import of Polish meat and dairy products, it was something of a diplomatic breakthrough.

RUSSIA: Putin Triumphs as Party

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
Notwithstanding accusations of vote manipulation and intimidation of opposition groups, the Dec. 2 vote for the state Duma has changed the political scenario in Russia: the Kremlin-backed United Russia has parliamentary majority, both the Communist and Liberal parties have strengthened their positions, and the Social Democrats - A Just Russia - enter the Duma for the first time.

RUSSIA: Putin Stronger After ‘Farcical’ Election

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
The Kremlin-backed United Russia party overwhelmingly won Sunday's parliamentary elections, paving the way for President Vladimir Putin to remain in control after his term expires next May.

ELECTIONS-RUSSIA: Putin Warns Against Interference

By Kester Kenn Klomegah
On the eve of the parliamentary elections here, the United States, UK and European Union are questioning the legitimacy of Russia’s democratic institutions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded by issuing strict warnings against external interference in domestic political affairs.
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